SenFin Research – News Updates – 14 September 2026

Official reserves reach five-month-high $ 6.9 b in August
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets rose to $ 6.9 billion as of end-August 2026, up 4.6% from $ 6.6 billion a month earlier, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data released on Friday. Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Official-reserves-reach-five-month-high-6-9-b-in-August/44-797184

Fiscal performance improves despite Govt. back in red with Rs. 119 b Budget deficit in July
Sri Lanka’s Budget swung to a deficit of Rs. 119.23 billion in July, wiping out the Rs. 9.51 billion surplus the Government had accumulated over the first half of the year, as expenditure continued to outpace revenue collection into the third quarter, the latest fiscal operations data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) showed. Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Fiscal-performance-improves-despite-Govt-back-in-red-with-Rs-119-b-Budget-deficit-in-July/44-797183

Record workers’ remittances in August, first eight months
Workers’ remittances surged to a record high in August, driving one of the strongest eight-month performances in the country’s history, despite heightened economic uncertainty from the ongoing Middle East conflict, a region that hosts a large share of Sri Lankan migrant workers. Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Record-workers-remittances-in-August-first-eight-months/44-797182

Private operators push for fuel price hike
The government may consider a request by private operators to adjust their fuel prices according to the landed cost in view of the fluctuating world fuel prices, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. Source: (Sunday Times) https://www.sundaytimes.lk/260913/news/private-operators-push-for-fuel-price-hike-656962.html

Private borrowing slows to Rs. 169 b in July, down 31% from June
Private sector borrowing from Sri Lanka’s banking system slowed sharply in July, with net credit expanding by Rs. 169.1 billion month-on-month (MoM), down 31% from June’s Rs. 245.3 billion increase, provisional data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) showed.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Private-borrowing-slows-to-Rs-169-b-in-July-down-31-from-June/44-797186

Oil industry braces for years-long Iran war
Oil producers, traders, and refiners are bracing for a prolonged war between the United States and Iran in the Persian Gulf with little to no hope of a quick resolution. By extension, they are also preparing for higher prices for longer, a theme present at this year’s edition of the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference.
Source: (the morning)https://www.themorning.lk/articles/bTPTsRJ7Oc4UZx9mslez

Sri Lanka eyes Asia’s boat-manufacturing hub status
Sri Lanka is positioning itself as Asia’s next major boat-manufacturing hub, backed by a Rs 70 million investment in a Beruwala facility, to expand and grow exports of luxury boats to the international market, as the sector moves into higher-value luxury boat production, Sea Leisure Yachting Group (SLYG) Managing Director Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa said during a visit to the Koggala Free trade Zone on Thursday (10).Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/lkPIovVbaVo9MHhB3dzk

Sri Lanka records over 1.5 m tourist arrivals
Sri Lanka recorded a total of 1,567,007 tourist arrivals in the country between 1 January and 6 September 2026, according to a recent report issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/nwHAB4RhugCrb23BUoWD

Digitalisation: IMF to support Sri Lanka Customs’ paperless system
Representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to provide the necessary support to ensure the implementation of the Sri Lanka Customs’ Declaration Processing System scheduled to be implemented from 1 October 2026, during a recent (11) discussion held with representatives of the government institution.Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/fLOjP3KD17Fx2kyVgKv7

Carbon Trading: SL's carbon credit registry still in limbo
Sri Lanka is yet to introduce a carbon credit registry mechanism – awaiting the existing Government's own policy on carbon trading – following the previous Government's decision to cap the share of emission reductions that can be credited across several sectors, including renewable energy projects, at 50% and 25%, according to Ministry of Environment Director of Environment Planning and Economics Kumudini Vidyalankara.Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/xI6uj6Z1q96JoexubAUJ

CMTA urges action on automotive duty disparities and revenue leakage
The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), Sri Lanka’s oldest automotive association, is calling for immediate policy reforms to create a fair, transparent and consistent regulatory framework for vehicle imports. At a press conference summoned last week, the association warned that current valuation concessions and recent fiscal measures distort market competition and significantly undermine government revenue. Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/09/14/business/1038761/cmta-urges-action-on-automotive-duty-disparities-and-revenue-leakage/

DFCC Bank’s Rs. 12.5 b debenture issue oversubscribed
DFCC Bank PLC on Friday said its debenture issue of up to 125 million Basel III-compliant, Tier 2, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable five-year (2026/2031) debentures with a non-viability conversion feature, has been oversubscribed.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/DFCC-Bank-s-Rs-12-5-b-debenture-issue-oversubscribed/44-797181