SenFin Research – News Updates – 6 October 2026

Tourism crosses 1.7 m arrivals, but remains behind 2025 pace
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has crossed the 1.7 million arrival mark for 2026, with over 23,000 visitors registered during the first four days of October, but arrivals remain about 2% below last year’s pace as the industry enters its crucial winter season.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/business/Tourism-crosses-1-7-m-arrivals-but-remains-behind-2025-pace/34-798240

Unemployment edges up to 4% as labour force outpaces job creation
Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate rose to 4% in the second quarter of 2026 from 3.8% a year earlier, as more people entered the labour force than the economy absorbed, even though employment grew and industry hired strongly, official data showed.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Unemployment-edges-up-to-4-as-labour-force-outpaces-job-creation/44-798231

External sector: Apparel export earnings fall by 7.4% in August
Sri Lanka’s apparel export earnings have declined by 7.4% in August this year compared to the corresponding month last year.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/1CvJ2MLLPaLafj7VYAai

Bank profits rise 13% as assets top Rs. 26 t
The banking industry lifted cumulative after-tax profit by 12.9% to Rs. 209 billion in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, as total assets grew 9.3% to Rs. 26 trillion on the back of a 25% surge in lending, latest Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data showed.
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Bank-profits-rise-13-as-assets-top-Rs-26-t/44-798233

2027 Budget will be within IMF parameters: Govt.
Finance Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday said the Government was committed to framing the 2027 Budget within the parameters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, the first of the conditions the Fund has set for Board approval of its next tranche of about
Source: (Daily Ft) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/2027-Budget-will-be-within-IMF-parameters-Govt/44-798237

IMF EFF seventh review: SL must let fuel price reflect global markets
Sri Lanka will need to heed the IMF’s call on avoiding suppressing domestic price signals for fuel, and instead allow the exchange rate to absorb the shock of global fuel price volatility experienced amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict, University of Colombo Professor in Economics Priyanga Dunusinghe said, speaking to The Daily Morning Business yesterday (5).
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/zGWfsje1pzCHZFmr51kJ

Maize shortage threatens poultry production ahead of festive season
Delays in granting approval for maize imports could result in an increase in chicken meat and egg prices during the upcoming festive season, according to the All Island Poultry Association of Sri Lanka.
Source: (Ada Derana) https://adaderana.lk/news/cmurty9sc0012356pkw2rmxqc

Sri Lanka rupee closes at 330.60/70 to US dollar spot, bond yields steady
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 330.60/70 to the US dollar in the spot market on Monday, weaker from 330.55/65 the previous day, while bond yields closed broadly steady, dealers said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-at-330-60-70-to-us-dollar-spot-bond-yields-steady-285656/

Sri Lanka stocks close down; ASPI drops 0.81-pct
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Monday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.81 percent.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-down-aspi-drops-0-81-pct-285649/