SenFin Research – News Updates – 27 April 2026

Inflation shows modest uptick in March
Sri Lanka’s inflation showed a modest uptick in March 2026, while key financial indicators presented mixed trends, according to the latest weekly economic highlights released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/27/business/985351/inflation-shows-modest-uptick-in-march/

Remittances in 1Q 2026 up by record of 27% to $ 2.29 Bn
The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau states that the amount of remittances sent by migrant workers to the country during the first quarter of this year has increased by 26.5% compared to the first quarter of last year.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/27/business/985370/remittances-in-1q-2026-up-by-record-of-27-to-2-29-bn/

Primary surplus almost doubles as Budget deficit nearly eliminated by end-Jan. 2026
Sri Lanka’s fiscal position strengthened markedly in January 2026, with a sharp expansion in the primary surplus and a near-elimination of the overall Budget deficit, according to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) last Friday.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Primary-surplus-almost-doubles-as-Budget-deficit-nearly-eliminated-by-end-Jan-2026/44-791125

Digital Economy Ministry says $ 2.5 m Treasury breach not system hack
Appearing to highlight a significant distinction, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne said the reported $ 2.5 million Treasury breach appears to be a sophisticated phishing and impersonation scam rather than a direct system hack.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Digital-Economy-Ministry-says-2-5-m-Treasury-breach-not-system-hack/44-791129

Govt. flags negligence and vulnerability in Treasury payments after $ 2.5 m theft
Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has pointed to “negligence and vulnerability in Treasury payments” following the $ 2.5 million cyber breach linked to a Government debt transaction, framing the incident as part of broader systemic weaknesses in public sector processes.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Govt-flags-negligence-and-vulnerability-in-Treasury-payments-after-2-5-m-theft/26-791121

French loan documents also missing amid Treasury hack probe – Report
According to The Sunday Times, documents linked to the future repayment of a French loan have reportedly gone missing from the Ministry of Finance computer systems, in a development investigators believe may be connected to the same hackers behind the recent USD 2.5 million Treasury fund breach.
Source: (Newswire) https://www.newswire.lk/2026/04/26/french-loan-documents-also-missing-amid-treasury-hack-probe-report/

Sri Lanka secures $300 Mn from ADB for tourism revitalization
In a significant boost for its tourism sector, the Sri Lankan government has successfully negotiated a comprehensive funding package worth USD 300 million with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/27/business/985331/sri-lanka-secures-300-mn-from-adb-for-tourism-revitalization/

Investor friendly labour laws retained in Port City
Flexible, investor-oriented labour regulations will continue to apply within Port City Colombo, officials confirmed during a recent session of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by Dr Harsha de Silva.
Source: (Daily News) https://dailynews.lk/2026/04/27/business/985344/investor-friendly-labour-laws-retained-in-port-city/

EPF assets cross Rs. 5trn mark, but returns moderate
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) reached a significant milestone in 2025 as its total asset base crossed the Rs. 5 trillion mark, representing a considerable expansion from the Rs. 4.4 trillion recorded at the end of 2024.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/EPF-assets-cross-Rs-5trn-mark-but-returns-moderate/273-338791

Sri Lanka welcomes over 100,000 tourists in first 23 days of April
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector showed clear signs of cooling in April, even as the country edged close to the 100,000 mark in arrivals during the first three weeks of the month.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Sri-Lanka-welcomes-over-100-000-tourists-in-first-23-days-of-April/44-791128

Sri Lanka’s tourism investments hit six-year high in 2025 amid substantial capacity expansion
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector recorded a massive resurgence in investor confidence in 2025, with realised investments reaching their highest level since 2019.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Sri-Lankas-tourism-investments-hit-six-year-high-in-2025-amid-substantial-capacity-expansion/273-338793

Transition to weekly fuel pricing urged to mitigate market distortions
Sri Lanka’s retail fuel sector could significantly benefit from a shift toward weekly price revisions to iron out severe market distortions caused by abrupt, large-scale price adjustments.
Source: (Daily Mirror) https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Transition-to-weekly-fuel-pricing-urged-to-mitigate-market-distortions/273-338792

Credit card base, balances see marginal growth YTD end-Feb.
Sri Lanka’s credit card base expanded in February, with the total number of active cards rising 1.3% compared to December 2025 to 2,193,380 from 2,166,186, according to latest data.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Credit-card-base-balances-see-marginal-growth-YTD-end-Feb/44-791122

Oil jumps, stock futures slip as US-Iran talks stall
Oil climbed on Monday while U.S. stock futures slipped as stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks prolonged the disruption of Middle East energy exports, unsettling markets ‌and policymakers ahead of a packed week of central bank meetings.
Source: (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/global-markets-global-markets-2026-04-26/

Janashakthi explains rationale for preferential allotment in IPO
Janashakthi Ltd., (JXG) has justified the decision to opt for preferential allotment in the ‘non-retail investors’ category in the highly successful Rs. 5 billion Initial Public Offering (IPO), which was oversubscribed by over three times.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Janashakthi-explains-rationale-for-preferential-allotment-in-IPO/44-791126

Abans Finance debenture issue closes today, initial Rs. 1 b offer oversubscribed
Abans Finance PLC yesterday announced that its debenture issue has been oversubscribed, having received applications exceeding Rs. 1 billion for the initial tranche.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Abans-Finance-debenture-issue-closes-today-initial-Rs-1-b-offer-oversubscribed/44-791124

Investor Jinadasa ups stake in Exterminators to 10.6%, now second largest shareholder
Famous tea industry figure and investor Dr. W. Jinadasa has upped his stake in Exterminators PLC to 10.66%, thereby emerging as the second largest shareholder.
Source: (Daily FT) https://www.ft.lk/business/Investor-Jinadasa-ups-stake-in-Exterminators-to-10-6-now-second-largest-shareholder/34-791136