SenFin Research – News Updates – 18 April 2026

Sri Lanka better placed to provide support to those hurt from energy shock – IMF
IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan on Thursday said that Sri Lanka has made significant improvements in boosting tax revenues and revenues as a share of GDP.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/18/breaking-news/981650/sri-lanka-better-placed-to-provide-support-to-those-hurt-from-energy-shock-imf/

IMF Reaffirms Support for Sri Lanka, Commends Progress Amid Global Headwinds
The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, has engaged in productive discussions with senior leadership of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings 2026, along with meetings with rating agencies and investors.
Source: (News 1st) https://english.newsfirst.lk/2026/04/17/imf-reaffirms-support-for-sri-lanka-commends-progress-amid-global-headwinds

Sri Lanka manufacturing expands in Mar 2026 on seasonal demand: PMI
Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in March, supported by heightened activity related to seasonal demand, registering a value of 66.7 on a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank, compared to 56.8 the previous month.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-manufacturing-expands-in-mar-2026-on-seasonal-demand-pmi/-/267329/

Sri Lanka services expansion in Mar 2026 driven by financial activity: PMI
Sri Lanka’s services sector activities expanded in March 2026 driven by financial services, with a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank registering an index value of 59.4, compared to 54.4 the previous month.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-services-expansion-in-mar-2026-driven-by-financial-activity-pmi/-/267338/

Crude oil was never bought at US$ 286 a barrel – CPC
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D. J. Rajakaruna stated that a barrel of crude oil was not purchased for US$ 286 when importing fuel into the country.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/18/breaking-news/981637/crude-oil-was-never-bought-at-us-286-a-barrel-cpc/

Sri Lanka receives first crude shipment after Middle East escalation
Sri Lanka received its first crude shipment for its solo Iran-built refinery after the start of escalation in the Middle East, Deputy Energy Minister Arkam Ilyas said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-receives-first-crude-shipment-after-middle-east-escalation/-/267412/

Oil falls by 11% after Iran’s foreign minister declares Strait of Hormuz open
Oil prices plunged by about 11% on Friday, extending earlier losses, after Iran's foreign minister said that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of ‌Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/international/Oil-falls-by-11-after-Irans-foreign-minister-declares-Strait-of-Hormuz-open/107-338068

Iran says Strait of Hormuz open to commercial vessels amid ceasefire
Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for all commercial vessels during the current ceasefire period, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Source: (Newswire) https://www.newswire.lk/2026/04/17/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-open-to-commercial-vessels-amid-ceasefire/

Sri Lanka rupee closes weaker, bond yields edge up slightly
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 316.50/70 to the US dollar in the spot market Friday, weaker from 315.85/316.10 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields edged up slightly.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-weaker-bond-yields-edge-up-slightly/-/267402/

Sri Lanka sells extra Rs25.5bn Treasury bills after auction
Sri Lanka has sold 25,522 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at average rates of 8.15 percent and 8.52 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold last week to 84 billion rupees.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-sells-extra-rs25-5bn-treasury-bills-after-auction/-/267358/

Sri Lanka stocks close up, as global markets dip on uncertainties
The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Friday, driven by positive sentiment among investors hopeful of a US-Iran ceasefire and Israel Lebanon ceasefire continuing.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-as-global-markets-dip-on-uncertainities/-/267392/

Sri Lanka’s NDB, central bank to engage global firm for forensic audit
Sri Lanka’s central bank has said it was finalizing arrangements with National Development Bank to engage an international firm to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, after the lender disclosed an internal fraud of 13.2 billion rupees last month.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-ndb-central-bank-to-engage-global-firm-for-forensic-audit/-/267414/

Sri Lanka’s WindForce debt issue rated A(lka) by Fitch
Fitch Ratings has given Sri Lanka energy firm WindForce’s proposed senior unsecured redeemable debentures of up to 4 billion rupees a National Long-Term Rating of A(lka).
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-windforce-debt-issue-rated-alka-by-fitch/-/267364/

Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank lists new shares after scrip dividend
Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank said it has listed 14,236,841 voting shares and 984,260 non-voting shares after a scrip dividend.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-commercial-bank-lists-new-shares-after-scrip-dividend/-/267323/