SenFin Research – News Updates – 1 November 2026

SenFin Research – News Updates – 1 November 2026

Sri Lanka construction activity PMI eases in Sept amid bitumen shortage
Sri Lanka’s construction sector activity expanded at a slower rate in September 2026 due to an ongoing bitumen shortage, with a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank registering a value of 57.8 compared to 59.4 in August.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-construction-activity-pmi-eases-in-sept-amid-bitumen-shortage-288388/

Govt. bankrolls drip irrigation, farm credit to combat El Niño
The Government is channelling subsidies and concessionary credit into micro-irrigation equipment, irrigation upgrades, and groundwater infrastructure as it moves to shield agricultural output, and with it food supply and prices, from an El Niño-driven dry spell expected to run into early next year.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/ZG1R2wIfbYkuBz63dWHp

Foreign investors dump Sri Lanka rupee bonds for second straight week
Foreign investors sold Sri Lanka rupee bonds for a second straight week in the week ended on October 30, Central Bank data showed, amid depreciation pressure on the rupee currency.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/foreign-investors-dump-sri-lanka-rupee-bonds-for-second-straight-week-288378/

Govt. raises Rs. 86.5 b at T-bill auction
The Government raised Rs. 86.48 billion at Wednesday’s (28 October) Treasury bill auction, falling Rs. 13.52 billion short of the Rs. 100 billion on offer, despite receiving bids worth more than twice the offered amount.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/BtXGjc7oHaBfBcz9qcjb

CSE backs IPOs for SOE listings
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has said that an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on a board suited to each institution would be the optimal route for bringing State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) onto the bourse, with its Catalyst Board available as an alternative.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/O3XbnludNuiaQJJwdoLa

Bourse rallies, but foreigners exit
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) staged a sharp recovery on Wednesday (28 October), with the benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) climbing 277.55 points, or 1.41%, to close at 19,970.22, two days after it sank to its lowest level of the year.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/YI1IfyQClYWmbAiF3enP