Thailand has ended visa-free entry for Sri Lankan ordinary passport holders from 15 September. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, continues to waive tourist ETA fees for 40 countries. The question is not whether tourism should be made difficult, but whether the policy is delivering enough measurable value.
Foreign purchases from Singapore rose from Rs. 2.6 billion in the year before the 2025 Invest Sri Lanka Forum to Rs. 7.7 billion in the year after. The increase is encouraging, but the bigger question is whether Sri Lanka can turn investor engagement into sustained participation.
The Satynmag Women-Friendly Workplace Awards 2026 concluded on 21 August in Colombo, recognising 31 organisations alongside the She Wins and She Grows honours for progress in women’s careers and workplace innovation.
Sri Lanka welcomed almost as many tourists in July 2026 as a year earlier, but tourism earnings remained noticeably lower. The next stage of recovery may depend less on arrival numbers and more on who visits, how long they stay and how much value the economy captures from each trip.
The EU–India FTA has not yet entered into force, giving Sri Lanka a valuable preparation window. The real challenge is not losing EU access, but protecting competitiveness as Indian exporters gain stronger tariff advantages.
Sri Lanka is moving towards attracting investors for Mannar Basin gas development. The resource could improve energy security, but success depends on commercial viability, environmental safeguards and ensuring gas supports rather than delays the renewable transition.
The global wellness economy is forecast to approach US$9.8 trillion by 2029. Sri Lanka already has recognised natural, cultural and traditional-health assets, but capturing the opportunity requires more than promoting retreats.
Sri Lanka currently shares a 10% US Section 301 tariff with several apparel competitors. But Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia have been promised a pathway to Section 301-free quotas that Sri Lanka does not currently have.
Hela Apparel raised billions through an IPO and rights issue, secured international development financing and repeatedly restructured debt. Four years after listing, it says it can no longer pay its debts. What happened between growth and the balance sheet?
Sri Lankan banks are expanding credit while facing higher operating costs, cyber risks and rapidly changing technology. A recent Asian Business Review commentary offers a useful framework for transforming without weakening trust or resilience.
