SenFin Research – News Updates – 9 April 2026

Vehicle demand to dip by 15-20% amid depreciating rupee and fuel worries
Sri Lanka’s automotive sector is bracing for a market contraction, driven by the recent depreciation of the rupee and lingering consumer anxieties over the fuel situation.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Vehicle-demand-to-dip-by-15-20-amid-depreciating-rupee-and-fuel-worries/273-337542

Foreign exchange: Official reserve assets decline by 3.5%
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets declined by 3.5% to $ 7,019 million in March 2026, compared to the $ 7,270 million recorded in February 2026, according to the latest Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/mRl23V3S7o0qkEO7rHIH

Gold rises 2.3%, extends gains
Gold extended gains on Wednesday as markets reassessed near-term risks after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks, easing fears of energy-driven inflation.
Source: (the morning) https://www.themorning.lk/articles/PWOZUMKFESEKzhXmnk77

Fuel import prices may triple war in Middle East prevails
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) sources said that Sri Lanka spends between US$ 4.5 billion and US$ 5 billion annually to import its fuel needs and that the amount could double or triple if the war in the Middle East continues.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/09/business/979762/fuel-import-prices-may-triple-war-in-middle-east-prevails/

Tea prices ease in March, extending year-on-year decline
Sri Lanka’s national tea sale average fell in March, extending a broader softening in prices both month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY), reflecting continued pressure on auction realisations across the elevations.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Tea-prices-ease-in-March-extending-year-on-year-decline/273-337540

Govt. allocates 40% of Rs. 95 Bn from Budget 2026 to promote entrepreneurs
Director General of the Development Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Manjula Hettiarachchi noted that forty per cent of Rs. 95 billion allocated by the government in the 2026 budget to promote entrepreneurs in the country has been disbursed to beneficiaries.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/09/business/979765/govt-allocates-40-of-rs-95-bn-from-budget-2026-to-promote-entrepreneurs/

NSO seeks another electricity tariff revision amid rising fuel costs
Sri Lanka’s National System Operator (NSO) has submitted an updated report on energy costs and generation schedules for the second quarter of 2026, citing rising fuel prices and operational constraints.
Source: (Newswire) https://www.newswire.lk/2026/04/08/nso-seeks-another-electricity-tariff-revision-amid-rising-fuel-costs/

Central Bank introduces stringent rules on bank outsourcing
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has introduced a comprehensive set of new regulations governing how the licensed commercial and specialised banks manage the outsourcing of their business operations.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Central-Bank-introduces-stringent-rules-on-bank-outsourcing/273-337543

Sri Lanka Treasury bill yields rise, Rs30bn bills sold
Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields rose across maturities at Wednesday’s auction, data from the Public Debt Management Office showed, with 30 billion rupees of bills sold.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-treasury-bill-yields-rise-rs30bn-bills-sold-266811/

Sri Lanka rupee slightly stronger, bond yields down
Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 315.30/40 to the US dollar in the spot market Wednesday from 315.40/50 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were down
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-rupee-slightly-stronger-bond-yields-down-266797/

Sri Lanka stocks close up 4.21-pct on ceasefire news
The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Wednesday, data from CSE showed, with banks pushing turnover.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-4-21-pct-on-ceasefire-news-266791/

Sri Lanka stocks pick up amidst ceasefire announcement
Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange opened up on Wednesday, as a ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-pick-up-amidst-ceasefire-announcement-266664/

LAUGFS Gas reaches market again
LAUGFS Gas PLC announced yesterday that the company has commenced island-wide distribution, releasing approximately 30,000 LPG cylinders daily following the resumption of filling operations at both the Hambantota and Mabima plants.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/09/business/979796/laugfs-gas-reaches-market-again/

Vidullanka acquires 100% stake in Bhoruka Power Lanka
Vidullanka PLC has announced the acquisition of a 100% equity stake in Bhoruka Power Lanka Ltd., which owns and operates the 4.5 MW Gurugoda mini hydro power plant situated in Aranayake, Sri Lanka.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/business/Vidullanka-acquires-100-stake-in-Bhoruka-Power-Lanka/34-790664

Board shake-up at Colombo Dockyard as MDL assumes majority control
Colombo Dockyard PLC has reconstituted its board following a shift in majority ownership, with India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) formalising leadership changes after acquiring a 51 percent stake in the Sri Lankan shipbuilder.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Board-shake-up-at-Colombo-Dockyard-as-MDL-assumes-majority-control/273-337541

US president Trump announces 2-week ceasefire, considers Iran’s 10 conditions
Brent prices plummeted below 90 dollars as US President Donald Trump announced a 2-week ceasefire on the condition that Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: (economynext) https://economynext.com/us-president-trump-announces-2-week-ceasefire-considers-irans-10-conditions-266654/

Wall Street ends sharply higher on US-Iran ceasefire
U.S. stocks closed sharply higher on Wednesday after a last-minute, two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran lifted investor sentiment.
Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/business/wall-st-futures-jump-relief-middle-east-ceasefire-2026-04-08/

US crude futures rise after settling previous session with biggest fall in six years
U.S. crude futures rose on Thursday morning after settling with the biggest fall since ‌April 2020 during the previous trading session, after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-crude-futures-rise-after-settling-previous-session-with-biggest-fall-six-2026-04-08/

Hormuz blocked again after Israel strikes Lebanon
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was halted yesterday amid Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency, raising fresh concerns over global energy flows.
Source: (Daily FT)https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Hormuz-blocked-again-after-Israel-strikes-Lebanon/44-790643

Trump signals possible easing of Iran sanctions
The US has indicated it may consider easing sanctions on Iran following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, with President Donald Trump saying Washington is in discussions with Tehran on both tariff and sanctions relief.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Trump-signals-possible-easing-of-Iran-sanctions/44-790644