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Consumer sentiment in the country continued its gradual stabilisation in August 2026, improving marginally to 81 from 80 in June, marking the third consecutive monthly rise since May 2026, according to the Consumer Sentiment Survey conducted by Prosoft Research and Insights.

This marks the first instance since January 2026 of consumer sentiment stabilising gradually over three consecutive months, the survey showed.

The uptick tracks movements in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), which rose only marginally to 209 in the same period, indicating that overall price levels are stabilising.

However, the August 2026 sentiment reading remains lower than the corresponding figure for August 2025, consistent with elevated year-on-year inflation during the period.

The Consumer Sentiment Index reached its highest level, 90, in September 2024, coinciding with the appointment of President Dissanayake. Its lowest point, 56, was recorded in June 2022, at the height of the Aragalaya protests and in the aftermath of the 9 June unrest that year.

The Consumer Sentiment Survey is conducted monthly by Prosoft Research and Insights, based on a sample of 200 respondents.

The Colombo stock market yesterday shrugged off a three-day losing streak to end the week in green.

During the week, the ASPI and the S and P SL20 lost 1.1% and 0.9% respectively. Yesterday, despite losers edging gainers 100 to 99, The ASPI ended up 0.12% or 25 points at 21,382.74, but the S and P SL20 ended marginally 0.02% down, or 1.46 points at 6,002.46. The positive contributors to the ASPI were HAYC, CARG, SAMP, LOLC, SEMB and DIMO.

Market turnover was over Rs. 1.1 billion on over 57.7 million shares traded with foreign investors emerging net seller on a net outflow of over Rs.50.5 million.

First Capital said the market recovered amidst cautious trading. It said the Colombo bourse opened on a negative note, weighed down by continued concerns over rising global oil prices, before gradually recovering during the second half of the session.

The market managed to move into positive territory for the first time in three sessions, as it clawed back its earlier losses and gained momentum towards the close. Turnover remained low as investors continued the wait-and-see approach observed in the previous session, with retail participation remaining subdued. Although several crossings contributed to market activity, overall trading remained muted amid cautious investor sentiment.

The capital goods sector led the daily turnover with a share of 30%, followed by the materials, and food beverage and tobacco sectors collectively contributing 28%.

St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia will host an exciting rugby tournament today (12 September), bringing together eight school teams for a full day of competitive action.

The participating teams have been divided into two groups. Group A comprises Wesley College, STC Mount, St. Anthony’s College and STC Bandarawela, while Group B consists of Thurstan College, St. Thomas’ Preparatory School, Isipathana College and Science College.

The tournament will commence at 9 a.m., with the opening encounter seeing Wesley take on STC Bandarawela. STC Mount will meet St. Anthony’s in the second game, followed by Thurstan against Science and St. Thomas’ Prep against Isipathana.

The group-stage matches will continue throughout the morning, with each team playing three games to determine the final group standings. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Cup quarter-finals, while the remaining sides will also have an opportunity to compete for the Plate.

Katunayake’s Davindra Mendis Playground came alive with music, flavour and celebration as Coca-Cola Sri Lanka hosted the Coke Kottu Beat Party on Sunday, 6 September 2026. The event brought together food and music lovers for an evening of lively entertainment, a plethora of mouth-watering culinary offerings and refreshing Coca-Cola, creating a vibrant celebration of Sri Lankan flavours and rhythms. The gathering reflected Coca-Cola’s commitment to bringing people together through shared moments and memorable experiences.

Sri Lanka’s policy-driven distortions in the vehicle market are reducing the country’s attractiveness to global automotive manufacturers, with authorised distributors warning investment decisions are increasingly being assessed against a market in which they effectively control only a fraction of total vehicle business.

Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) representatives in a media briefing on Thursday, flagged the issue went beyond the immediate impact on distributors, extending to foreign investment, skills development, employment and Sri Lanka’s ability to build a stronger automotive ecosystem.

Associated Motorways Ltd., (AMW) Group Managing Director Jawahar Ganesh speaking from the perspective of an investor representing longstanding Japanese brands, he described Sri Lanka’s market structure as highly unusual, with around 30% representing ‘normal business’ for authorised distributors and the balance 70% operating through other channels.

The issue has become particularly significant since vehicle imports were reopened, with Ganesh saying nearly 30,000 Nissan and Suzuki vehicles had entered Sri Lanka through channels outside the authorised distribution network.

He asserted that international manufacturers consequently assessed Sri Lanka based on the portion of the market in which their authorised partners actually operated. ‘Those cars were not sold by the authorised dealers or manufacturers. So they look at the Sri Lanka market, not from that prism. They look at the 30% of the market where we play,’ he said.

Ganesh said a more predictable and properly functioning market would give international manufacturers greater confidence to maintain and expand their commitments to Sri Lanka.

‘We have committed billions. We will invest in much more. Our intention is to do that, but the market size has to be there,’ he stressed.

However, he said that manufacturers and authorised distributors could not confidently justify major capital commitments without a predictable market and a level playing field.

‘In order to have a say towards the manufacturers, and the investors; we need to have a proper market. Simple as that,’ Ganesh said.

Moors SC led by Pasindu Sooriyabandara pulled off a memorable 25-run win over SSC to crown themselves champions in the Major Club 50-over tournament.

In the final played under lights at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium yesterday, Moors SC invited to bat first ran up a decent total of 260 with the major part of their batting coming from the 79-run stand for the sixth wicket between Ramesh Mendis (85 off 91 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Milan Rathnayaka (43 off 61 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes). Following Rathnayaka’s dismissal, Mendis carried on to take Moors SC to a total which they were to successfully defend.

The wickets for SSC were taken by their two left-arm bowlers – seamer Mihiranga Silva (3/36) and Prabath Jayasuriya (4/44).

Given the way SSC had scored in their previous matches leading up to the final, the score was attainable with their strong batting line-up led by their captain Avishka Fernando who came into yesterday’s game with back to back hundreds (138 and 160) under his belt. But Rathnayaka showed how deadly he can be with the new ball. He struck thrice in his opening spell sending back Ron Chandraguptha (11), Avishka Fernando (6) and Nuwanidu Fernando (1) to have SSC reeling at 40-3.

It soon became 110-6 when the spinners came into play. Nipun Dananjaya (98 off 112 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Kavindu Nadeeshan (44 off 53 balls, 4 fours) mounted a counter attack with a partnership of 94 for the seventh wicket. But left-arm spinner Induwara Udena (4/44) not only got rid of both batsmen but kept the SSC run rate in check with some tidy bowling. With the asking rate mounting to over 10 an over the tail found it extremely difficult to find the boundaries and SSC were eventually dismissed for 235.

Despite the loss it was a good comeback to the Major Club fold by SSC and reach a final. They were relegated to Tier B following an indifferent 2024-25 season where they finished at the bottom two of their group in the Major Club 3-day league, but made a determined bid in 2025 to regain their lost prestige. They won the Tier B 50-over final beating Moratuwa SC by four wickets and made giant strides towards gaining promotion to the Major Club division by winning the Tier B 3-day league and finishing runner-up to Malay CC in the Tier B T20 final.

A five-day training course on the Sovereign Risk and Debt Sustainability Framework (SRDSF), held in Colombo, focused on developing the technical skills of Sri Lankan officials and international participants.

The IMF South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Centre (SARTTAC) organised the training on the SRDSF at the Taj Samudra from 7 to 11 September, as part of the IMF’s capacity development program.

The event brought together international participants alongside officials from several Sri Lankan institutions, including the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

‘The training focuses on enhancing participants’ technical skills to assess sovereign risks, evaluate debt sustainability, and measure the impact of macroeconomic and financing shocks on public debt, while fostering knowledge sharing and the exchange of international best practices,’ the Finance Ministry said.

PDMO Director General Udeni Udugahapattuwa highlighted the importance of robust analytical capabilities in guiding sound, evidence-based public debt decisions. ‘The training offers a vital opportunity for local officials, particularly within the PDMO, to adopt international approaches to debt sustainability analysis and sovereign risk assessment,’ the Director General said.

The expertise gained through the training will strengthen Sri Lanka’s ability to identify and manage emerging sovereign risks within a sustainable financial framework, the Ministry said.

The South Asian University (SAU) has signed an MOU with the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo, in a landmark step towards strengthening regional cooperation, to foster research networks, partnerships and collaborations for transformative change across South Asia.

This is the first agreement SAU has signed with an independent research think tank in Sri Lanka, and is particularly significant given the regional character of both institutions.

A joint release issued by the two parties said the MOU aims to nurture regional consciousness and the idea of ‘Southasianness’ among young minds, facilitate joint research, strengthen capacity-building networks, and promote knowledge exchange and meaningful regional engagement.

Speaking at the virtual launch, SAU President Prof. K.K. Aggarwal described the MOU as an important step in strengthening SAU’s relationship with Sri Lanka. He reaffirmed SAU’s commitment to taking the SAARC mandate forward and exploring campuses across South Asia, particularly in Sri Lanka.

RCSS Executive Director Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha highlighted the partnership’s potential for joint research, knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, publications, conferences and opportunities for young scholars.

RCSS Board Member, former Foreign Secretary and SAARC Secretary-General Ambassador Esala Weerakoon recalled that SAU was founded to enhance mutual understanding, challenge assumptions and develop perspectives beyond national boundaries. He noted that the MOU represents a commitment to knowledge, research and dialogue as instruments of regional consciousness.

RCSS Board Member and University of Colombo Professor Emeritus of International Relations and former RCSS Executive Director Prof. Amal Jayawardane highlighted the potential of the two institutions to create a strong platform for collaborative research and regional engagement.

The virtual launch was joined from Delhi by SAU Vice President (Academic) Prof. Kapil Sharma; SAU Vice President (Innovation and Strategy) Prof. Ritu Gaur; SAU Centre for International Collaboration and Outreach Director Prof. Ritu Gupta; SAU Faculty of International Studies Officiating Associate Dean Dr. Medha Bisht; and SAU Centre for International Collaboration and Outreach Project Lead and Deputy Director Dr. Shweta Singh.

From Colombo, the launch was joined by the Board of Directors and staff of the RCSS, including RCSS Research/Program Officer Chamika Wijesuriya, an alumna of SAU. The MOU was facilitated through the active engagement of SAU Department of International Relations Associate Professor (SG) Dr. Shweta Singh, and the outreach efforts of the SAU Centre for International Collaboration and Outreach.

The partnership marks an important step in strengthening the historic, cultural and academic ties between India and Sri Lanka and advancing greater regional cooperation across South Asia.

A notice of injunction was delivered by the Colombo District Magistrates Court yesterday against the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee from attempting to reduce the number of participating teams in the Major Club tournament from 14 to 10.

Badureliya CC had sought a notice of injunction against the reduction of teams as it violated Sri Lanka Cricket’s earlier decision to reduce the teams down to only 14.

However, after the Transformation Committee took over they decided to reduce the number of teams in the Major Club tournaments to 10.

According to the new tournament rules the promotion and relegation of teams in the Major Club and Tier B will take place on the weightage of points taken from all three formats – 3-day league, 50-over and T20.

On their performances so far in the two Major tournaments conducted thus far, Badureliya CC have finished at the bottom of their group in the Major Club 50-over without a single win, and in the Major Club T20 tournament they ended up sixth out of seven teams in their group which puts them in danger of relegation to Tier B with only the Major Club 3-day league tournament yet to be played.

SLC Transformation Committee sources said they are confident that no restraining order will be given when the case is taken up again on 30 September.

The Kingsbury is inviting couples planning a Hindu wedding in Colombo to celebrate their Kalyanam with a limited-time offer created around the scale, traditions and family-centred nature of the occasion. Starting from Rs. 8,500 nett per person, the offer is applicable to weddings held during September, October and November 2026. Couples can choose from The Kingsbury’s established wedding venues, allowing them to plan both intimate ceremonies and larger celebrations within the hotel’s acclaimed event spaces.

The dining experience is built around dedicated vegetarian and non-vegetarian Kalyanam menus, bringing together South Indian and Sri Lankan favourites, traditional accompaniments, action stations and desserts designed for a generous wedding feast. Beyond the meal itself, The Kingsbury also offers the flexibility to host indoor celebrations or an outdoor Mandap ceremony, giving couples the opportunity to shape the event around their preferred format while keeping the ceremony, dining and service within one coordinated experience.

For couples looking to bring together sacred rituals, family traditions and a well-organised celebration in the heart of Colombo, this offer provides a timely opportunity to secure a preferred wedding date at The Kingsbury. With dedicated menus, multiple venue options and experienced banquet support, the hotel is equipped to take care of the details that matter most on the day. Celebrate your Kalyanam with the traditions you cherish, the people who matter most and a setting worthy of the occasion.