SenFin Research – News Updates – 17 October 2026

Vehicle registrations up 18% in Sept. on two-wheeler rebound
Vehicle registrations rose 18% month-on-month to 54,214 units in September from 45,811 in August, driven mainly by a rebound in two-wheelers and three-wheelers, JB Securities said. Registrations rose across most major categories, though volumes remained below levels recorded earlier in 2026.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Vehicle-registrations-up-18-in-Sept-on-two-wheeler-rebound/44-798770

US invests $ 17 m to digitalise Colombo Port
The US will provide $ 17 million to digitise operations at the Port of Colombo, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), aiming to cut shipping delays and costs at one of South Asia’s busiest transshipment hubs, the US Embassy in Colombo said yesterday.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/US-invests-17-m-to-digitalise-Colombo-Port/44-798776

Tourist arrivals up 3% in 1H of October
Sri Lanka welcomed 77,868 tourists in the first 15 days of October 2026, a 3% year-on-year (YoY) increase, but cumulative arrivals for the year remain 1.31% below 2025 levels at just over 1.77 million.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Tourist-arrivals-up-3-in-1H-of-October/44-798777

High Grown Tea Production Slumps to an All-Time Low
Preliminary tea production data released by the Sri Lanka Tea Board confirms that September 2026 production declined to 20.2 Mnkg, down by nearly 9% compared with 22.1 Mnkg recorded in September 2025.
Source: (Ada Derana) https://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/high-grown-tea-production-slumps-to-an-all-time-low/

Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.07-pct on Friday, turnover at Rs1.14bn
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on Friday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 1.07 percent.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-1-07-pct-on-friday-turnover-at-rs1-14bn-286924/

Sri Lanka rupee closes at 331.25/35 to US dollar spot, bond yields edge up
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 331.25/35 to the US dollar in the spot market on Friday, weaker from 331.15/25 the previous day, while bond yields edged up, dealers said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-at-331-25-35-to-us-dollar-spot-bond-yields-edge-up-286932/

Sri Lanka’s Vidullanka secures $1.35mn mini hydro contract in Fiji
Sri Lanka energy firm Vidullanka has received a Letter of Acceptance for a 1.35 million US dollar mini hydro Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract in Fiji, the company said in a market filing.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-0-88-pct-carson-cumberbatch-dcsl-gain-286762/