SenFin Research – News Updates – 1 October 2026

Sri Lanka inflation breaches CB’s upper limit for third month in Sept; remains at 37-mo high
Sri Lanka’s overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), rose to more than three-year high of 8.0 percent in September 2026, steady from previous month, breaching the Central Bank’s upper inflation target rate of 7 percent for the third month, data from the state statistics office showed.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-inflation-breaches-cbs-upper-limit-for-third-month-in-sept-remains-at-37-mo-high-285233/

Sri Lanka regulator cracks down on illegal plantation deposit schemes
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has initiated legal enforcement and frozen bank accounts of six institutions accepting unauthorized deposits under the guise of plantation and forestry cultivation projects, Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-regulator-cracks-down-on-illegal-plantation-deposit-schemes-285199/

Sri Lanka govt fuel subsidy, surcharge on vehicles imports helped curb inflation: CB chief
Sri Lanka government’s fuel subsidy and surcharge on vehicle import tax helped to curb inflation, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-govt-fuel-subsidy-surcharge-on-vehicles-imports-helped-curb-inflation-cb-chief-285157/

Sri Lanka’s slowing private credit still sufficient for economic growth: CBSL
Slowing private sector credit growth would still be sufficient to spur Sri Lanka’s economic growth, a top Central Bank official said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-slowing-private-credit-still-sufficient-for-economic-growth-cbsl-285137/

Sri Lanka Central Bank keeps policy rate steady; expects inflation high until Q1-2027
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank left its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 8.75% citing higher inflation was due to the pass-through of the energy shock across multiple sectors of the economy following the Middle Eastern escalation.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-central-bank-keeps-policy-rate-steady-expects-inflation-high-until-q1-2027-285027/


Sri Lanka’s corporate debt swells to US $ 86.5bn as IIF flags data gaps
Sri Lanka’s non-financial corporate debt is estimated to have risen to 72.0 percent of GDP or US $ 86.5 billion, by June 2026, the highest among the South Asian economies tracked, with the ratio rising in every quarter since early 2024, as per the data from Washington-based Institute of International Finance (IIF).
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Sri-Lankas-corporate-debt-swells-to-US-86-5bn-as-IIF-flags-data-gaps/273-351324


Small vehicles dominate Sri Lanka’s auto demand as consumers turn selective
Sri Lankan vehicle buyers are overwhelmingly gravitating towards smaller cars and compact crossovers, latest registration data show.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Small-vehicles-dominate-Sri-Lankas-auto-demand-as-consumers-turn-selective/273-351420


Budget 2027 to be presented on 12 Nov.; final vote on 14 Dec.
The President, in his capacity as Finance Minister, will present the 2027 Budget in Parliament on 12 November, 2026, Parliament said. The final vote is scheduled for 14 December.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/business/Budget-2027-to-be-presented-on-12-Nov-final-vote-on-14-Dec/34-798019

CPC raises fuel prices.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) raised the prices of diesel and Petrol 92 Octane with effect from last midnight, with Super Diesel posting the sharpest increase.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/CPC-raises-fuel-prices/44-798003

Fuel and vehicle imports expected to ease: CBSL.
Vehicle imports slowed in August, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) expects the trend to continue due to tighter loan-to-value (LTV) rules and a Government surcharge, Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday. LTV rules limit how much of a vehicle’s price can be financed with a loan.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Fuel-and-vehicle-imports-expected-to-ease-CBSL/44-798002

Construction PMI eases in August as bitumen shortage slows roadworks
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) yesterday said the construction sector continued to expand in August, though at a slower pace than in July, as a persistent shortage of bitumen held back road construction.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Construction-PMI-eases-in-August-as-bitumen-shortage-slows-roadworks/44-798005

Port City Colombo builds investment momentum across UAE, Oman, and Qatar
Port City Colombo hosted an exclusive investor forum at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi on 25 September 2026, bringing together senior UAE business leaders, investors, and institutional stakeholders for a focused morning of dialogue on Sri Lanka’s investment proposition and the opportunities available within Port City Colombo’s Special Economic Zone.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/business/Port-City-Colombo-builds-investment-momentum-across-UAE-Oman-and-Qatar/34-798021

Middle East escalation threatens Sri Lanka on 6 economic fronts: ADB
Sri Lanka faces a multi-pronged economic threat from any further escalation of the Middle East conflict, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said, as it warned that the fallout could simultaneously hit the import costs, exports, remittances, tourism, foreign reserves and the government’s fiscal position.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-main/Middle-East-escalation-threatens-Sri-Lanka-on-6-economic-fronts-ADB/245-351328

Sri Lanka Treasury bill yields rise across maturities, Rs80bn sold
Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields rose across maturities at Wednesday’s auction, with all offered 80 billion rupees of bills sold, data from the Public Debt Management Office showed.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-treasury-bill-yields-rise-across-maturities-rs80bn-sold-285205/

Sri Lanka rupee closes at 330.65/80 to US dollar spot, bond yields lower
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 330.65/80 to the US dollar in the spot market on Wednesday, from 330.70/90 the previous day, while bond yields closed lower, dealers said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-at-330-65-80-to-us-dollar-spot-bond-yields-lower-285222/

CSE, GGGI step up push for sustainable bonds
Sri Lanka’s sustainable debt market is set for a fresh push, with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) opening a new technical assistance programme aimed at bringing more Green, Social, Sustainable and Sustainability-Linked (GSS+) bonds to the market.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/CSE-GGGI-step-up-push-for-sustainable-bonds/273-351418

Sri Lanka stocks close flat, turnover Rs1.55bn
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat on Wednesday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down a marginal 0.02 percent.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-flat-turnover-rs1-55bn-285203/

Control failures emerge from NDB’s Rs. 13.64bn fraud probe
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) yesterday disclosed it has received the final Deloitte forensic report into its multi-billion-rupee fraud, confirming losses of Rs. 13.64 billion and identifying control failures, technology lapses and governance weaknesses linked to the incident.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Control-failures-emerge-from-NDBs-Rs-13-64bn-fraud-probe/273-351419

WindForce pulls plug on Rs. 4bn green bond issue
WindForce PLC yesterday announced it has shelved its planned Rs. 4 billion green bond issue, due to adverse market conditions, nearly six months after unveiling the proposed capital raising.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/WindForce-pulls-plug-on-Rs-4bn-green-bond-issue/273-351417


Resus Energy bids for 16 MW of battery storage
Resus Energy PLC has bid to add 16 MW of battery storage to its existing solar plants, the company said, as it seeks a slice of a 150 MW tender for storage systems attached to the country’s ground-mounted solar farms.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/business/Resus-Energy-bids-for-16-MW-of-battery-storage/34-798018

Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing Rs10bn debenture sale oversubscribed
Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing & Finance PLC said its debenture issue to raise 10 billion rupees was oversubscribed, announcing the basis of allotment in a market filing.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-peoples-leasing-rs10bn-debenture-sale-oversubscribed-285056/