ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a National Business Facilitation Centre under the Presidential Secretariat, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, to streamline investment approvals and remove administrative bottlenecks.

“Local investment in the country faces a number of challenges due to the existence of an approval process spread across various government institutions, institutions operating in isolation with minimal internal communication.”

These administrative delays are spread across project development, land allocation, environmental clearances, regulatory permits, water and electricity connections, and access to banking facilities.

Addressing questions regarding potential overlap with the Board of Investment (BOI), Jayatissa said launching an industrial project requires approvals from a wide range of state bodies—including the Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development Authority, Inland Revenue Department, and multiple line ministries-which exceeds the BOI’s standalone scope.

“This is not meant to replace the BOI. At present, the burden falls directly on the investor or industrialist to navigate all these separate institutions individually to get approvals and execute their investment,” Jayatissa said.

To manage cross-agency coordination, a national-level steering committee comprising ministry secretaries and heads of relevant institutions will be established under the Presidential Secretariat.

The center will be staffed through secondments from both the public and private sectors, as well as on a contract basis. (Colombo/Aug25/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers have approved a proposal to award contracts to 7 companies for the provision of security services to the National Savings Bank at a total cost of 1,116.82 million rupees (excluding value added tax).

14 bids were received when bids were called.

The contracts were awarded for a period of 2 years from 2026-10-01 to:

Brave Guard Security & investigation Services (Pvt) Ltd, Gajashakthi Security Service (Pvt) Ltd, X Force Security Services (Pvt) Ltd, Secure Security & Investigations (Pvt) Ltd, Crown Royal Security Services (Pvt) Ltd, Dilco Security and Investigation (Pvt) Ltd, REDFORCE Security (Pvt) Ltd. (Colombo/Aug25/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – A team from the Ceylon Chamber’s Sri Lanka–Australia–New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC) has visited Australia to seek new trade, investment and institutional cooperation.

The team met Australian parliamentarians, government agencies, trade bodies and the business community in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, the chamber said.

Representatives from the technology and AI, martech, venture capital, fisheries and logistics sectors, held discussions focused on areas where businesses in both countries could build stronger commercial connections.

In Canberra, they met Federal parliamentarians, including Cassandra Fernando MP, Chair of the Australia–Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group, representatives of Austrade, DFAT and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Discussions covered Australia’s trade priorities, Sri Lanka’s emerging business capabilities and the role of diaspora and commercial networks in expanding bilateral trade. A potential reciprocal trade mission was also discussed,” the chamber said.

In Melbourne, they met Global Victoria and Invest Victoria, as well as the Food and Beverage Association and the Australia Sri Lanka Business Council, with discussions covering trade, investment, food and beverage, technology and other areas of commercial cooperation.

The Melbourne programme also included a cocktail event, providing an opportunity for delegates to connect with members of the Australian business community and explore potential areas for collaboration.

The visit also included a networking session in Sydney, organised with the Chartered Accountants in Sri Lanka – Australia Chapter, connecting delegates with members of the Sri Lankan and Australian business communities.

The visit provided an opportunity to reconnect with Australia’s government and business community while identifying areas for continued engagement, President of SLANZBC Chandana Amaradasa, said.

He noted that the discussions would give the SLANZBC a basis to pursue sector-specific cooperation, reciprocal missions and stronger business connections between the two countries. (Colombo/Aug25/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading up on Tuesday morning, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up a marginal 0.01 percent.

The ASPI was up 2.59 points at 21,347.36, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was up 0.09 percent, or 5.16 points, at 6,014.56.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Commercial Bank of Ceylon (up 0.62 percent at 203.25 rupees), RIL Property (up 2.93 percent at 24.60 rupees), Browne’s Investments (up 2.00 percent at 5.10 rupees), and LOLC Holdings (up 0.69 percent at 475.00 rupees).

Cargills (Ceylon) (down 0.11 percent at 680.00 rupees) and Dialog Axiata (down 0.85 percent at 46.70 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 89.95 million rupees. Capital goods led turnover with 29.94 million rupees.

Resus Energy notified the Colombo Stock Exchange of a marginal revision to the allocation of proceeds from its Green Bond Issue 2025. The original allocation set out in its prospectus comprised 240.23 million rupees (24.02 percent) for settlement of term loans, now 235.43 million, 208.06 million rupees (20.81 percent) for settlement of commercial papers, now 212.86 million, and 551.71 million rupees (55.17 percent) for financing solar power projects, now 551.71 million.

Shares of Resus Energy were trading down 1.16 percent at 8.50 rupees. (Colombo/August25/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Marathon 2026 has received international competitive status after being validated by World Athletics and the competition has been registered for publication on the World Athletics Global Calendar as a World Rankings Competition.

“Being recognised as a World Rankings Competition and included on the World Athletics Global Calendar is a significant milestone for Sri Lankan athletics. It allows our athletes to compete on home ground at a globally recognised event, while placing Colombo firmly on the international road-running map,” Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said.

With the recognition marathon performances from the event become eligible to contribute towards the official World Athletics World Rankings, subject to the applicable requirements.

The Colombo Marathon 2026 will take place on September 13 at Baladaksha Mawatha, with the race starting at 6 am.

More than 4,000 local and international participants are expected to take part across four categories: the Full Marathon (42 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km Road Race and 5 km Fun Run.

International technical expertise is being brought together with Sri Lankan officials as the organisers work towards ensuring that the course and race arrangements meet the requirements associated with the event’s World Athletics status.

More than 100 qualified officials from Sri Lanka Athletics will support the conduct of the race, with preparations also involving the Department of Sports Development, Sri Lanka Athletics and the Institute of Sports Medicine.

The technical work covers course measurement, technical officiating, athlete safety, medical preparedness, and race-day operations.

The recognition strengthens the Colombo Marathon’s potential to attract international participation and support Colombo’s wider ambitions as a destination for sports tourism.

Colombo Marathon 2026 is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports together with the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

The event is presented by Union Assurance, powered by Elephant House, supported by Nations Trust Bank and City of Dreams Sri Lanka, with Rupavahini as the Official Media Partner, DC Group as the Creative Partner, Nestomalt as the Energised Partner and IPG Group as the Sports Innovation Partner.

Registration and Enquiries: Register at www.colombomarathon.lk or contact Mr Jayalal Rathnasooriya – +94 71 812 8900 or Mr Thushara Perera – +94 71 837 5993 | Email: colombomarathon@gmail.com. Registration closes on 1 September 2026.

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted at 328.45/70 to the US dollar in the spot market on Tuesday, stronger from 329.00/10 the previous day, while bond yields dropped ahead of the auction, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 10.40/45 percent, down from 10.45/50 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2030 was quoted at 10.60/65 percent, down from 10.75/85 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 was quoted at 10.60/70 percent, down from 10.80/90 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2032 was quoted at 11.10/20 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.01.2033 was quoted at 11.20/28 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 was quoted at 11.60/70 percent, down from 11.70/75 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.08.2036 was quoted at 11.90/95 percent, down from 11.97/12.02 percent. (Colombo/Aug25/2026)