SenFin Research – News Updates – 25 April 2026

$ 6 b export gap and weak performance strains external stability: ADB
Sri Lanka’s export sector is operating well below potential, with an estimated $ 6 billion in unrealised export capacity, as weak trade performance continues to strain the country’s external position and weigh on currency stability.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/6-b-export-gap-and-weak-performance-strains-external-stability-ADB/44-791101

Trade: Exports record 5.2% y-o-y decline
Sri Lanka’s total exports, including both merchandise and services, reached $ 1,467.31 million in March 2026, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 5.2% compared to March 2025. However, on a month-on-month basis, exports increased by 9.0% compared to February this year ($ 1,346.2 million), indicating a recovery in export momentum during the month.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/5tTc6YYokd70T60KfFvb

Tea shipments weaken in March as demand softens across key segments
Sri Lanka’s tea export volumes fell sharply in March, extending a weak start to the year, although higher rupee-denominated prices helped soften the impact on earnings.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Tea-shipments-weaken-in-March-as-demand-softens-across-key-segments/273-338707

March tea output slides as all elevations weaken
Sri Lanka’s tea output lost momentum in March, with production falling sharply year-on-year across all elevations, showing early signs of a fragile supply-side recovery despite a modest improvement over the 2024 levels.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/March-tea-output-slides-as-all-elevations-weaken/273-338708

Demographic shift deepens as ageing, low fertility and inactivity reshape economy: Census 2024
Sri Lanka’s latest Census of Population and Housing points to a structural shift in the country’s economic foundations, with ageing, low fertility, and weak labour force participation emerging as the most critical pressures on future growth and fiscal stability.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Demographic-shift-deepens-as-ageing-low-fertility-and-inactivity-reshape-economy-Census-2024/44-791095

Cyberheist: Sri Lanka to recover maximum feasible $ 2.5 m
Sri Lankan authorities are to attempt to recover, to the maximum extent feasible, the $ 2.5 million in funds that had been fraudulently diverted by cyber criminals by way of breaching a computer system at the Ministry of Finance, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Harshana Suriyapperuma, told media yesterday (23).
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/gtDkqJpZDrBIsqXvNf3J

Sri Lanka sells extra Rs11bn Treasury bills after auction
Sri Lanka has sold 11,000 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at average rates of 8.27 percent, 8.23 percent and 8.52 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold last week to 121 billion rupees.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-sells-extra-rs11bn-treasury-bills-after-auction/-/268294/

Sri Lanka rupee falls, no spot fx market, after money printed through swaps
Sri Lanka’s forex markets are hamstrung with moral suasion with no active spot quotes, market participants said, replicating conditions seen in past episodes of currency trouble after credit driven by central bank re-finance.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-falls-no-spot-fx-market-after-money-printed-through-swaps/-/268361/

No spot fx market for Sri Lanka rupee; bond yields steady
No active spot quote was available for Sri Lanka’s rupee on Friday, but the spot next was stated as 318.25/319.00 to the US dollar compared to 316.75/317.00 the previous day, dealers said. Meanwhile bond yields were broadly steady.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/no-spot-fx-market-for-sri-lanka-rupee-bond-yields-steady/-/268481/

Sri Lanka stocks end the week flat
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week flat, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index down 1.05 point at 22,567.63.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-end-the-week-flat/-/268377/

CPC posts Rs. 36.4 b profit in 2025
The CPC reported a profit of Rs. 36.4 billion in 2025, marking its third consecutive year of positive performance, supported by the continuation of the cost-reflective pricing mechanism, the Central Bank said in its latest Annual Economic Review.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/CPC-posts-Rs-36-4-b-profit-in-2025/44-791098

Hayleys rights issue oversubscribed
Hayleys PLC announced that its Rs.9 billion rights issue has been oversubscribed by over Rs.2 billion.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Hayleys-rights-issue-oversubscribed/273-338706

Sri Lanka’s NDB appoints KPMG external auditor for 2026, replacing EY
Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank announced that KPMG Chartered Accountants has been appointed as the external auditor of the bank for the financial year ending 31 December 2026.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-ndb-appoints-kpmg-external-auditor-for-2026-replacing-ey/-/268356/

Asia-Pacific Ministers push food security, resilience amid global shocks at FAO meet
Agriculture Ministers from across Asia and the Pacific have called for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard food security and build resilient agrifood systems, as geopolitical tensions and climate pressures intensify risks to global food supply chains.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/business/Asia-Pacific-Ministers-push-food-security-resilience-amid-global-shocks-at-FAO-meet/34-791106

Asia could face increased food-cost pressures amidst prolonged US-Iran war: Fitch
Countries that are more reliant on imported food, like Sri Lanka, which is also heavily dependent on imported fertilizer, would see rising cost pressure across agribusiness and food supply chains if a prolonged US-Iran war pushes fertiliser supply disruption deeper into the planting season, Fitch Ratings says.
Source: (economynext)* https://economynext.com/asia-could-face-increased-food-cost-pressures-amidst-prolonged-us-iran-war-fitch/-/268324/