SenFin Research – News Updates – 15 September 2026

Foreign reserves climb to five-month high of US$ 6.9bn on record Central Bank dollar purchases
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves rose to a provisional US$ 6,905 million by end-August 2026, the highest level in five months, as the Central Bank purchased a record volume of dollars from the domestic market amid strong remittance inflows. Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Foreign-reserves-climb-to-five-month-high-of-US-6-9bn-on-record-Central-Bank-dollar-purchases/273-350236

Sri Lanka worker remittances up 10-pct to US$748.6mn in August 2026
Sri Lanka’s official remittances from expatriate workers rose 10 percent to US$ 748.6 million in August 2026, while they reached US$6,131 million in the first eight months of the year with a 19.8 percent growth, Central Bank data showed. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-worker-remittances-up-10-pct-to-us748-6mn-in-august-2026-283479/

Severe equity price shock scenario would entail US recession: Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings: A severe AI-related equity price shock, combined with a retrenchment in capex, would entail a US recession according to a ‘What if?’ scenario analysis published by Fitch Ratings. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/severe-equity-price-shock-scenario-would-entail-us-recession-fitch-ratings-283471/

Foreign investors buy over US$8.5mn worth of Sri Lanka rupee bonds
Foreign investors bought a net 2,750 million rupees (US$8.5 million) worth of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week ended on September 11, Central Bank data showed, amid a steady rupee currency. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/foreign-investors-buy-over-us8-5mn-worth-of-sri-lanka-rupee-bonds-283481/

Arrivals dip marginally in first week of Sept. as Australia climbs to third
Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals slipped marginally in the first six days of September, with 31,885 visitors recorded against 32,246 in the comparable period last year, while Australia climbed to third place among source markets following Jetstar’s launch of its first direct low-fare service from Melbourne last month, as per Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data. Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Arrivals-dip-marginally-in-first-week-of-Sept-as-Australia-climbs-to-third/273-350241

Vehicle market chaos costs SL investor confidence: AMW
Sri Lanka’s policy-driven distortions in the vehicle market are reducing the country’s attractiveness to global automotive manufacturers, with authorised distributors warning investment decisions are increasingly being assessed against a market in which they effectively control only a fraction of total vehicle business. Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Vehicle-market-chaos-costs-SL-investor-confidence-AMW/44-797153

Heavy construction yet to pick up
While Sri Lanka’s residential construction sector is showing signs of movement, the country’s heavy construction segments have yet to gain momentum due to lacklustre State spending, the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) of Sri Lanka reveals. Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/mTnwTLiElpNI8iLJjxNc

Retailers brace for a tough festive season
As the crucial December festive season approaches, Sri Lanka’s retailers are bracing for a challenging peak trading period, with rising operating costs eroding margins while weak consumer demand leaves little room to raise prices. Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/K5EcBzSRNfmHSojJl96f

Saudi pipeline outage threatens loss of 4% of global oil supply
Saudi Arabia will run out of oil stocks for exports if it ‌doesn't restart its major pipeline to the Red Sea within days, leading to a loss of up to 4% of global supply, Saudi oil buyers and traders said. Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/saudi-pipeline-outage-threatens-loss-4-global-oil-supply-2026-09-13/?taid=6aa692a2c43a0b0001168970&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Hormuz shipping traffic falls to single digits, data shows
The vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday, from 11 the previous day, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Friday, well below the 10-day average of 15. Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Hormuz-shipping-traffic-falls-to-single-digits-data-shows/273-350112

T-bill yields signal reversal
Treasury bill (T-bill) yields showed signs of a reversal at last week’s auction, with the three-month rate climbing back above 9% after eight consecutive weeks of decline, amid a marked dip in investor demand. Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/5pZVut3M47GOMHqDwQlR

Sri Lanka rupee closes weaker at 329.15/35 to US dollar spot, bond yields up
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 329.15/35 to the US dollar in the spot market on Monday, weaker from the morning’s 328.90/329.00, while bond yields closed up, dealers said. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-weaker-at-329-15-35-to-us-dollar-spot-bond-yields-up-283488/

Stocks down on Monday, banks lead turnover
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Monday trading, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.32 percent. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/stocks-down-on-monday-banks-lead-turnover-283484/

Sampath Bank takes over Anilana Hotels; Company contests with legal action; says investor with Rs. 1.2 b available
Anilana Hotels and Properties yesterday disclosed that its resorts situated in Nilaveli, Trincomalee and Passikudah were acquired under the provisions of Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) Act but is contesting the move whilst revealing there was an investor with Rs. 1.2 billion. Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Sampath-Bank-takes-over-Anilana-Hotels-Company-contests-with-legal-action-says-investor-with-Rs-1-2-b-available/44-797256

Sathosa Motors achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification
Sathosa Motors PLC (SML), the authorized distributor for Isuzu vehicles in Sri Lanka, has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, marking an important milestone in the company’s continued commitment to quality management, customer satisfaction and operational excellence. Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Sathosa-Motors-achieves-ISO-90012015-Certification/273-350224

Sri Lanka’s Asia Asset Finance lists new shares after Rs1.5bn in rights issue
Sri Lanka’s Asia Asset Finance has listed 45,162,012 ordinary voting shares after a rights issue that raised 1.5 billion rupees, the company said in a market filing. Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-asia-asset-finance-lists-new-shares-after-rs1-5bn-in-rights-issue-283453/