SenFin Research – News Updates – 8 May 2026

CID summons 21 individuals over $ 2.5 m Treasury heist
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has so far recorded statements from 21 individuals in connection with the $ 2.5 million cyber theft involving the Finance Ministry, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/CID-summons-21-individuals-over-2-5-m-Treasury-heist/44-791646

Treasury admits to Rs. 248.79 m duplicate Aswesuma payments
Close on the heels of the $ 2.5 million phishing attack, the Treasury has now admitted that duplicate Aswesuma welfare payments amounting to Rs. 248.79 million were mistakenly made to thousands of beneficiaries after a payment file was uploaded twice during processing of festive allowances.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Treasury-admits-to-Rs-248-79-m-duplicate-Aswesuma-payments/44-791648

Sri Lanka cannot mistake calm for economic strength: CBSL cautions
Sri Lanka cannot afford to treat the absence of a crisis as a sign of strength, a top Central Bank official warned yesterday, as repeated global and domestic shocks are likely to continue testing the country’s economic resilience even as macroeconomic stability gradually returns.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business/Sri-Lanka-cannot-mistake-calm-for-economic-strength-CBSL-cautions/215-339740

ADB warns of lasting social scars from Sri Lanka’s overlapping crises
Sri Lanka’s repeated exposure to economic, climate and geopolitical shocks has reversed years of development progress and pushed more households into economic hardship, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business/ADB-warns-of-lasting-social-scars-from-Sri-Lankas-overlapping-crises/215-339739

ADB launches $70bn push to connect Asia’s power grids, digital networks
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will back $70 billion in new energy and digital infrastructure initiatives by 2035, aiming to connect power grids, expand cross-border electricity trade, and improve broadband access across Asia and the Pacific.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/adb-launches-70bn-push-to-connect-asias-power-grids-digital-networks/-/270354/

EU-funded Green Recovery Facility drives recognition for Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Bonds
Sri Lanka’s sustainable finance sector has gained regional recognition at the Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards 2026.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/EU-funded-Green-Recovery-Facility-drives-recognition-for-Sri-Lanka-s-Sustainable-Bonds/44-791640

Sri Lanka, Pakistan strengthen trade relations through business engagement
A business meeting between the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) was successfully held on 06th May 2026 at the EDB premises in Colombo, reaffirming the longstanding economic ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/05/08/business/991453/sri-lanka-pakistan-strengthen-trade-relations-through-business-engagement/

‘Maldives open, ambitious and ready to partner’
The Maldives currently runs a trade deficit with Sri Lanka of over $166 million. While this reflects the strong presence of Sri Lankan goods in the Maldivian market, it also signals an opportunity to deepen and rebalance the partnership through greater two-way trade, targeted investments and high-impact joint ventures, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Maldives told the Sri Lanka, Maldives Business Forum held in Colombo on Tuesday (5).
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/05/08/business/991456/maldives-open-ambitious-and-ready-to-partner/

Renewable energy producers hit by Rs. 10 b unpaid dues
The Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) yesterday demanded urgent intervention from the Finance Ministry and Treasury to release at least 50% of the Rs. 10 billion in unpaid dues owed by the National System Operator Ltd., (NSO) for electricity supplied since December 2025.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Renewable-energy-producers-hit-by-Rs-10-b-unpaid-dues/26-791649

Parliament approves free visa access for 40 countries in major tourism push
After much delay, the Parliament yesterday approved regulations under the Immigration and Emigration Act, paving the way for free visa entry for travellers from 40 countries in a move aimed at accelerating tourism growth and improving the country’s competitiveness as a global travel destination.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Parliament-approves-free-visa-access-for-40-countries-in-major-tourism-push/44-791641

Sri Lanka resumes sending workers to Israel after flight disruptions ease
Air travel between Sri Lanka and Israel has resumed after temporary disruptions caused by unrest in the Middle East, allowing Sri Lankan workers to resume travel for employment opportunities in Israel, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.
Source: (Newswire) https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/07/sri-lanka-resumes-sending-workers-to-israel-after-flight-disruptions-ease/

FRED urges settlement of dues to prevent catastrophe
The Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) warned that Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector is facing a “natural death” unless the Government urgently intervenes to resolve mounting payment defaults owed by them.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/05/08/business/991438/fred-urges-settlement-of-dues-to-prevent-catastrophe/

ADB says global value chains boost regional growth, but gains uneven in Asia Pacific
Greater specialisation in the stages of global production has helped Asia and the Pacific achieve economic growth, create jobs, and reduce poverty over the past quarter century, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asian Development Policy Report 2026 launched at ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/business/ADB-says-global-value-chains-boost-regional-growth-but-gains-uneven-in-Asia-Pacific/34-791637

Tax experts warn 20% ‘immunity’ rule could undermine IRD scrutiny
The proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act have sparked debate among tax experts, particularly over a provision that could limit the ability of authorities to scrutinise tax returns.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business/Tax-experts-warn-20-immunity-rule-could-undermine-IRD-scrutiny/215-339738

Sri Lanka must capture more of India’s outbound travel boom: Tourism Deputy Minister
Sri Lanka must urgently reposition itself to capture a greater share of India’s rapidly expanding outbound travel market, Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said, pointing out that despite 32.7 million Indians travelling overseas in 2025, only over 531,000 chose Sri Lanka as a destination.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/business/Sri-Lanka-must-capture-more-of-India-s-outbound-travel-boom-Tourism-Deputy-Minister/34-791639

“Poverty not just lack of money, but lack of opportunity, agency and dignity”
Executive Director of the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne said that poverty is not just a lack of money, it is a lack of opportunity, a lack of agency and a lack of dignity.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/05/08/business/991435/poverty-not-just-lack-of-money-but-lack-of-opportunity-agency-and-dignity/

Exclusive: Oil-price bets ahead of Iran war news totalled $7 billion, reporting shows
A series of well-timed market bets on falling oil prices totalling as much as $7 billion during March and April spread across multiple exchanges and types of fuel and derivatives just before major Iranian policy announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to traders, market experts and Reuters analysis of exchange data.
Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/oil-price-bets-ahead-iran-war-news-totalled-7-billion-reporting-shows-2026-05-07/

Sri Lanka sells extra Rs8bn Treasury bills after auction
Sri Lanka has sold 8,440 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at average rates of 8.20, 8.24 and 8.52 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold this week to 108,440 million rupees.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-sells-extra-rs8bn-treasury-bills-after-auction/-/270525/

Sri Lanka rupee closes weaker to dollar; bond yields down
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 321.70/85 to the US dollar in the spot market on Thursday, weaker from 321.00/30 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were down.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-closes-weaker-to-dollar-bond-yields-down/-/270495/

Sri Lanka stocks close up 1-pct, materials lead turnover
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Thursday trading, amidst reports of the US sending a one-page memorandum of understanding to Iran looking to end the conflict, analysts said.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-1-pct-materials-lead-turnover/-/270433/

Lanka Realty Investments builds Rs. 29.7 b property platform amid strong earnings, NAV growth
Lanka Realty Investments PLC (LRI) has delivered a transformational financial year ended 31 March 2026, supported by a materially enlarged asset base, stronger profitability, improved Net Asset Value (NAV) per share, and a lower loan-to-value (LTV) profile.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Lanka-Realty-Investments-builds-Rs-29-7-b-property-platform-amid-strong-earnings-NAV-growth/44-791644