SenFin Research – News Updates – 19 April 2026

Customs records Rs. 743 b revenue ahead of New Year
Sri Lanka Customs has recorded revenue of Rs. 743.6 billion in the lead-up to the 2026 Sinhala and Tamil New Year, surpassing targets set at the beginning of the year, according to Sri Lanka Customs Media Spokesperson and Director Chandana Punchihewa.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/9pryuwu8sMokBazdLZMP

Sri Lanka March tourism revenue plummets 37 pct as ME escalation bites
Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange revenue from tourism in Mrch 2026 plunged 37 percent from a year ago to US$223.7 million, the central bank said, quoting tourism promotion authority data.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-march-tourism-revenue-plummets-37-pct-as-me-escalation-bites/-/267424/

Limited impact on coconut exports due to ME crisis
The ongoing Middle East crisis has had a limited direct impact on Sri Lanka’s coconut exports, although shipping disruptions and increasing freight costs have created operational challenges for the sector, according to Coconut Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Shantha Ranathunga.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/nuD1pCp0LcLtCGT1NZvF

No plans to reconsider easing of vehicle import ban
Despite a recent dip in foreign worker remittances, the Government has no immediate plans to reconsider its decision to relax vehicle import restrictions as current import volumes remain within manageable levels, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development has revealed.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/tSZUQv6XocUqjddmbqIW

Yet another crisis, yet another Sri Lankan moment
Plenty of Sri Lanka’s recent economic memory is obviously and understandably coloured by the depths of the crisis we faced in 2022 and before that to some extent the economic impacts of the pandemic as well.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/4ikHFFIsmiIWjifchSQ0

ADB calls for stronger project execution
Sri Lanka must unlock its public investment potential, as the nation’s capital spending has consistently fallen short of budgeted levels, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) official said last week.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75764/adb-calls-for-stronger-project-execution/

Most urgent agri R&D priority is climate change: UOP Dept. of Crop Science Professor Buddhi Marambe
Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector contributed 8.4% to the annual GDP in 2025 while employing over a quarter of the nation’s workforce. As the sector expands, addressing disparities between research-level potential and field-level productivity is essential.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/N60uTFU4ntCFOL9Owckp

Sri Lanka’s GMT wake-up call
The world’s tax landscape has been turned upside down. The OECD’s Global Minimum Tax, known as Pillar Two or GMT, imposes a 15% minimum effective tax rate on large multinational enterprises operating in any jurisdiction.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75788/sri-lankas-gmt-wake-up-call/

Fuel purchase allegations: Bought diesel not crude oil for $ 286 a barrel, says CPC
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D.J.A.S. De S. Rajakaruna on Friday (17) issued a detailed clarification refuting claims that Sri Lanka had purchased crude oil at prices exceeding global market rates, describing such reports as misleading and based on a misinterpretation of fuel pricing data.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/G91aJVwjuH64SAhDv9rH

Sri Lanka settles US$ 330m PDI payment
Sri Lanka has settled a USD 330 million payment on the country’s Past Due Interest (PDI) bond, which fell due on April 15, Government officials told Sunday Observer Business.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75784/sri-lanka-settles-us-330m-pdi-payment/

T-bill yields rise for 4th consecutive week
Treasury bill (T-bill) yields rose for the fourth consecutive week at last week’s mid-week auction, as ongoing external market disruptions saw investors demand higher risk premiums on Government securities.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/WhtG2lnwDaiJxLxjqBJ2

Middle East conflict clouds Sri Lanka growth outlook
Sri Lanka’s economic growth is expected to moderate to 4.0% in 2026 and rise to 4.2% in 2027, following two consecutive years of strong 5.0% growth.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75783/middle-east-conflict-clouds-sri-lanka-growth-outlook/

Sri Lanka’s fiscal buffers face energy test
Sri Lanka has adequate fiscal buffers to face the impact of rising energy costs on households and businesses, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan said last week.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75767/sri-lankas-fiscal-buffers-face-energy-test/

NDB’s (gunless) heist: a masterpiece of staff collusion
It is not an exaggeration to say that fraud is a risk that walks through the doors of banks and other businesses each morning and evening.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75741/ndbs-gunless-heist-a-masterpiece-of-staff-collusion/

Mahindra Ideal Finance celebrates Debenture Listing at CSE
Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd (MIFL) has marked the official listing of its inaugural debentures on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) with a bell-ringing and market opening ceremony at the CSE trading floor.
Source: (Sunday Observer) https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/04/19/business/75763/mahindra-ideal-finance-celebrates-debenture-listing-at-cse/

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/