ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s services sector expanded at a slower rate in September 2026, according to a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank, which registered an index value of 60.5, compared to 65.6 the previous month.

“Business Activity increased in September 2026, reflecting improvements across several sub-sectors, led by financial services, with notable contributions from education and professional services,” CBSL said.

New businesses increased in September 2026, registering 60.9 from August’s 60.0, due to the expansion in the financial services, with positive contributions from the insurance, education, professional, and other personal services sub-sectors.

Employment increased in September, “as firms across several sectors increased recruitment to meet operational needs and support business expansion”.

Backlogs of Work declined in the month, although at a slower rate compared to the previous month.

Broader global economic uncertainties continued to pose downside risks to the outlook, CBSL said. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector expanded at a steady rate in September 2026, registering a value of 53.0 on a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank, same as the previous month.

“This indicates that manufacturing activities continued to expand at a similar pace during the month,” CBSL said, noting the outlook remains positive, driven largely by optimism on year-end seasonal demand.

The New Orders sub-index expanded in the month, registering 51.0, attributed to positive developments in both the food and beverages and textiles and wearing apparel manufacturing sectors.

The Production sub-index also registered 51.0, for the same reason.

The Employment sub-index expanded at a slower pace, registering 52.6, from the previous 54.8.

The Stock of Purchases sub-index moderated towards the neutral threshold, “indicating broadly unchanged inventory levels during the month,” CBSL said.

Suppliers’ Delivery Times sub-index remained lengthened in September. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed flat at 331.15/25 to the US dollar in the spot market on Thursday, while bond yields closed steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2030 closed flat at 11.35/40 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 closed at 11.40/45 percent, up from 11.37/43 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.02.2031 closed flat at 11.45/50 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed flat at 11.75/85 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 closed at 12.20/30 percent, up from 12.12/20 percent. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank plans to raise 10 billion rupees through the issuance of Basel III-compliant debentures, it said in a market filing.

Up to 100 million listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable 5-year (2026/ 2031) and 7-year (2026/ 2033) instruments will be offered at 100 rupees each.

The proposed instruments will carry a non-viability conversion feature, the company said.

Initially 70 million debentures will be issued, and another 30 million in the event of an oversubscription of the initial issue.

Fitch rates Sri Lanka Sampath Bank’s Rs10bn debenture issue A(lka)

The issue has received CSE approval.

The subscriptions list opens on October 20. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 7,206 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at average rates of 9.30 percent, 9.44 percent and 9.95 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold in the week to 73.332 billion rupees.

Total market subscription was 7,206 million rupees.

The debt office sold a 3-month bill at 9.30 percent.

The debt office sold a 6-month bill at 9.44 percent.

The debt office sold a 12-month bill at 9.95 percent.

On Wednesday (14) the debt office raised 66.12 billion rupees of 3, 6 and 12 month bills after offering 90 billion.

Read more
Sri Lanka Treasury bill yields rise on shorter term, less bills sold

The settlement date is October 16. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on Thursday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 0.88 percent.

The ASPI was up 175.09 points at 19,971.15, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was up 0.40 percent, or 22.59 points, at 5,699.02.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Carson Cumberbatch (up 6.79 percent at 700.00 rupees), Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (up 1.80 percent at 50.80 rupees), Commercial Bank of Ceylon (up 0.38 percent at 198.00 rupees), LOLC Holdings (up 1.99 percent at 410.75 rupees), and LOLC Finance (up 4.35 percent at 4.80 rupees).

Singer (Sri Lanka) (down 1.11 percent at 71.00 rupees), Cargills (Ceylon) (down 1.22 percent at 630.00 rupees), Vidullanka (down 0.94 percent at 21.10 rupees), Vallibel Finance (down 1.88 percent at 78.20 rupees), and Ceylon Cold Stores (down 0.21 percent at 117.00 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 1.5 billion rupees. The Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group led turnover with 377.58 million rupees.

Commercial Credit and Finance said it had obtained an unsecured subordinated redeemable five-year loan facility of 1 billion rupees, approved by the central bank, to strengthen its Tier II capital base and adhere to regulatory capital adequacy requirements. The stock was trading at 91.50 rupees, up 1.50 rupees.

Siyapatha Finance announced that deputy chairman Rushanka Silva will be appointed chairman of the company with effect from October 30, succeeding Palavinnege Sumith Cumaranatunga, who will retire on October 29 upon completing nine years of service. Since Silva is a non-independent non-executive director, the board has designated independent non-executive director Widanalage Deshal Praveen de Mel as senior independent director. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)