SenFin Research – News Updates – 27 March 2026

Export earnings up 4.2% YoY to $ 1.4 b in Feb.
Sri Lanka’s total export earnings in February raked in over $ 1.4 billion, reflecting a 4.22% year-on-year (YoY) growth.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Export-earnings-up-4-2-YoY-to-1-4-b-in-Feb/44-790138

Sri Lanka services exports up 14.68-pct in Feb 2026, helped by ICT/BPM
Sri Lanka’s services exports in February 2026 are estimated to have increased by 14.68 percent to 334.9 million dollars, the island’s Export Development Board said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-services-exports-up-14-68-pct-in-feb-2026-helped-by-ict-bpm-265277/

Labour participation dips in 4Q 2025; unemployment declines to 3.8%
Sri Lanka’s labour market in the fourth quarter of 2025 recorded lower unemployment even as labour force participation declined, with employment increasing during the period, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Labour-participation-dips-in-4Q-2025-unemployment-declines-to-3-8/44-790136

No decrease in foreign remittances
Despite the war situation in the Middle East, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has been able to maintain inflation at the five per cent level as predicted, Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/27/business/973529/no-decrease-in-foreign-remittances/

Forex, trade controls not the right way to tackle Sri Lanka war fallout : CB Governor
Imposing external controls is not the right way to tackle any fallouts from Middle East conflict on Sri Lanka, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, with the government taking action to raise fuel prices to balance external and domestic demand.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/forex-trade-controls-not-the-right-way-to-tackle-sri-lanka-war-fallout-cb-governor-265235/

Sri Lanka CB will intervene in FX only to manage excess volatility: Governor
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank will intervene in the foreign exchange market to ease day-to-day volatility but will stick to the flexible exchange rate as per the current inflation-targeting monetary policy framework, Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-cb-will-intervene-in-fx-only-to-manage-excess-volatility-governor-265226/

No restrictions on vehicle imports – CBSL Governor
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that there is no need to restrict vehicle imports at this juncture as the country’s gross official foreign exchange reserves has increased to US$ 7.3 billion by end last month.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/27/business/973405/no-restrictions-on-vehicle-imports-cbsl-governor/

Three key acts to be amended and approved by Parliament
Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said that with the aim of ensuring transparency in Sri Lanka’s financial sector and further strengthening its relations with the international financial system, the government has taken steps to amend three key financial laws.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/27/business/973564/three-key-acts-to-be-amended-and-approved-by-parliament/

Sri Lanka meets international assessment, targets preventing money laundering
In accordance with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the country’s preliminary measures to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, which are expected to be adopted at the annual general meeting of the Asia-Pacific Anti-Money Laundering Group (APG) to be held in July next year, have been implemented according to the scheduled dates and planed.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/27/business/973523/sri-lanka-meets-international-assessment-targets-preventing-money-laundering/

Russia ready to support Sri Lanka, agrees to supply fuel
Russia has agreed to supply fuel to Sri Lanka and is ready to immediately provide refined petroleum products, following discussions between Sri Lankan authorities and a visiting Russian delegation, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Russia-ready-to-support-Sri-Lanka-agrees-to-supply-fuel/44-790139

Tourism: Arrivals near 700,000 in 2026
Nearly 700,000 tourists have visited Sri Lanka so far this year, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) announced. The SLTDA reported that a total of 692,744 tourists visited the country between 1 January and 22 March.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/6CKRTcyHFrIva2FtYkZE

ADB pledges additional $100mn to shield Sri Lanka from West Asia conflict shocks
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide 100 million dollars in additional budget support as part of a financial package to help Sri Lanka mitigate the economic and financial impacts resulting from the conflict in West Asia, its President Masato Kanda has said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/adb-pledges-additional-100mn-to-shield-sri-lanka-from-west-asia-conflict-shocks-265325/

OECD cuts global growth outlook on energy shocks, inflation risks
Global economic growth is expected to slow as higher energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict feed through to inflation and demand, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Economic Outlook Interim Report released in March 2026.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/OECD-cuts-global-growth-outlook-on-energy-shocks-inflation-risks/44-790134

GGGI continues support for Sri Lanka’s sustainable capital markets through thematic Bond partnerships
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has said that is continuing to strengthen Sri Lanka’s sustainable finance ecosystem through technical support to financial institutions issuing thematic bonds.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/financial-services/GGGI-continues-support-for-Sri-Lanka-s-sustainable-capital-markets-through-thematic-Bond-partnerships/42-790149

Fifth and Sixth Review: IMF delegation arrives
A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrived in the country yesterday (26), and is to remain in Sri Lanka until 9 April to complete the combined Fifth and Sixth reviews under Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, as confirmed by IMF Director of Communications Department Julie Kozack.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/SNkko2vrtTIHhjzn49nf

ADB warns West Asia conflict threatens Asia-Pacific growth
The conflict in the Middle East could lower economic growth in developing Asia and the Pacific by up to 1.3 percentage points over 2026-2027 and raise inflation by 3.2 percentage points if energy market disruptions last more than a year, according to new research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/adb-warns-west-asia-conflict-threatens-asia-pacific-growth-265344/

‘Don't make recovery hinge on new loans’: UN
In view of climate vulnerabilities following cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka must avail of climate resilient debt clause tools, which may enable the Government to seamlessly fund recovery and deter accumulating long-term costs in the process.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/g7u90mlJPFCT1nu6DXhD

Oil settles up nearly 6% as investors fear further Middle East escalation
Crude futures closed higher on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's losses, as hopes for a swift end to the war in the Middle East faded.
Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-oil-prices-rise-investors-assess-middle-east-de-escalation-2026-03-25/

Sri Lanka rupee weaker, bond yields up
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 314.30/70 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday, depreciating from 313.80/314.50 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields closed up.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-weaker-bond-yields-up-265336/

Sri Lanka stocks close down 2-pct, as US-Iran talks seem uncertain
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Thursday, in reaction to the contradicting statements about peace talks between the US and Iran, analysts said. Brent prices rose above $100 per barrel again.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-down-2-pct-as-us-iran-talks-seem-uncertain-265330/

Vallibel Finance to raise Rs. 2.12 Bn to reinforce capital base and drive expansion
Vallibel Finance PLC has announced plans to raise approximately Rs. 2.12 billion through a Rights Issue of new ordinary voting shares, in a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening its Tier I capital and supporting the company’s next phase of growth and expansion.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/27/business/973561/vallibel-finance-to-raise-rs-2-12-bn-to-reinforce-capital-base-and-drive-expansion/