Product & Service Launches / Business Expansions
View all(80)📈 Sri Lanka Launches First National Events Calendar
Sri Lanka has officially introduced its first-ever national events calendar, launched in Colombo on April 23, 2026. The initiative aims to centralize and promote key activities across the country to bolster economic and industry visibility. • Overall Objectives: The calendar is designed to serve as a unified platform for national events, facilitating better planning for both local stakeholders and international visitors. • Leadership: The project was launched under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti. • Sector Impact: This move is expected to support the tourism, industry, and entrepreneurship sectors by improving the synchronization of trade fairs, cultural festivals, and business forums. • Economic Context: By formalizing an events schedule, the government seeks to drive diversification in service-led growth and enhance the ease of doing business for SMEs. _Note: Summary based on initial launch reports; specific digital access details for the public were not included in the provisional data._
Michael Biopic Debuts Across 9 Sri Lankan Cinemas 🎬
• Entertainment Sector Update: The biographical drama Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, officially premiered in Sri Lanka yesterday, April 24, 2026. • Screening Network: The film is being showcased across nine major locations, including Kandy City Centre, Liberty by Scope, SCOPE Cinema (CCC & Havelock City), PVR, Ram Cinema, Regal, Lite Cinemas, and JP Cineplex. • Content Focus: The film chronicles Michael Jackson’s career from the Jackson 5 era through his 1980s peak. It stars Jaafar Jackson, focusing on the creative processes and personal complexities of the global icon. • Market Context: This wide release across multiple high-end retail and mall locations highlights the continued demand for international biographical content within the local cinema and leisure industry. 📈
📈 Hyundai Motor Targets China Market Revival with 20 New Models
South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor has announced an ambitious "product expansion" strategy in China to regain market share from domestic EV competitors. • Overall Strategy: Hyundai plans to launch 20 new models over the next five years in partnership with Beijing Automotive Group. This represents the company’s most aggressive expansion in the region to date. • Sales Targets: The company has set a firm annual sales target of 500,000 vehicles in China, aiming to more than double its current sales volume. • Product & Tech Highlights: • Launched the IONIQ 5 (China-specific EV) featuring autonomous driving technology from Momenta. • Confirmed the introduction of a new SUV model in 1H 2027. • Supply Chain & Localization: To compete with local manufacturers, Hyundai is deepening ties with CATL for battery supply and Momenta for software, focusing on the Electric Vehicle (EV) and Autonomous Driving sectors. _Summary based on provisional Reuters reports._
Dialog Enterprise & Star Garments: Driving 5G Smart Manufacturing 📈
Dialog Enterprise has partnered with Star Garments Ltd. to integrate advanced 5G-powered solutions into its production ecosystem, marking a major digital shift for Sri Lanka’s apparel & textiles sector. • Technological Focus: The collaboration deploys 5G connectivity to support Industrial IoT (IIoT), real-time analytics, and Industry 4.0 smart factory capabilities. • Operational Benefits: Key features include ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, enabling predictive maintenance, AI-driven quality control, and robotics integration. • Impact on Production: The transition to a "digital twin" model allows for real-time simulation and optimization, aimed at reducing downtime, lowering operational costs, and enhancing supply chain visibility. • National Context: This move empowers the apparel industry—a vital driver of employment and foreign exchange—to improve global competitiveness through faster response times and superior product quality.
📈 Seylan Bank Unveils Interest-Free Salary Advance via Accelerate
Seylan Bank PLC has introduced the ‘Seylan Accelerate Salary Advance Facility,’ providing salaried professionals with interest-free access to a portion of their monthly income to manage urgent liquidity needs. • Key Features: Interest-free advance on a percentage of monthly salary. No lengthy documentation or interest costs for eligible users. Automated registration for eligible customers followed by email activation. • Tiered Structure: The Seylan Accelerate proposition is categorized into four tiers: Entry, Plus, Prime, and Premier. The interest-free advance facility is a specialized benefit primarily targeting Prime and Premier tier customers. • Economic Impact & Financial Inclusion: Targets salaried professionals and young entrants to the workforce (18+ years). Aims to improve short-term liquidity and financial flexibility within the banking and finance sector by offering alternatives to high-interest short-term credit. Positions Seylan Bank as a partner in lifestyle-oriented banking through digital integration and premium service standards. • Eligibility: Available to individuals through branch visits or digital channels; specifically designed for those with salary-linked savings accounts.
SL Tourism Targets SE Asia at VITM Hanoi 2026 📈
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam and Andrew’s Travels Ltd. collaborated at the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) Hanoi 2026 to position Sri Lanka as a premier destination for the fast-growing Vietnamese outbound market. • Strategic Focus: The initiative aimed at diversifying source markets by tapping into emerging Southeast Asian demand, highlighting Sri Lanka’s pristine beaches, heritage sites, and wildlife. • Key Niches: Promoted the island as a destination for luxury, wellness, and adventure travel, alongside its unique cultural heritage and culinary tourism. • Market Engagement: Conducted extensive B2B meetings and networking sessions with Vietnamese travel agents, tour operators, and airlines to strengthen regional connectivity. • Economic Context: This partnership is part of a broader national strategy to drive tourism recovery and long-term inbound growth by exploring high-potential markets beyond traditional regions.
LilyLanka Launches Sri Lanka’s First Integrated Travel Ecosystem 📈
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath recently launched LilyLanka, a locally developed digital gateway designed to unify the tourism experience and retain foreign exchange within the national economy. • Platform Scope: The ecosystem allows travelers to independently manage itineraries, bridging the gap between global tourists and local service providers including homestays, boutique villas, and licensed guides. • Key Features: Digital Infrastructure: First local platform to integrate eSIM connectivity (via Dialog Axiata) and an SOS emergency feature. Financial Security: Aimed at reducing capital flight by minimizing reliance on international intermediaries, ensuring more revenue remains with local businesses. Industry First: Direct integration of travel insurance through a partnership with People’s Insurance, covering travelers from arrival to departure. • Economic Impact: By digitizing transport operators and small-scale providers, the platform supports the tourism sector's role as a primary source of foreign exchange and strengthens local participation in the digital economy. _Summary based on official launch data as of April 2026._
## 🏠 Dialog and OREL Partner to Advance Smart Living in Sri Lanka 📈
Dialog Axiata PLC and OREL Corporation Ltd. have entered a strategic partnership to integrate digital platforms with advanced device innovation, focusing on the ICT/BPM and electronics sectors. • Digital Entertainment: The Dialog Play Smart TV App will be pre-integrated into OREL Smart TVs. This allows users to access over 50,000 hours of content directly, removing the need for additional external hardware. • Smart Home Integration: The collaboration introduces co-branded smart home devices managed via the Dialog Smart Home App. The initial rollout features smart power strips, combining OREL’s local manufacturing and R&D with Dialog’s digital ecosystem. • Economic Impact: The partnership leverages OREL’s fully integrated design and hardware development capabilities in Sri Lanka. This move aims to accelerate the local adoption of "Smart Living" technologies and strengthen the national digital infrastructure. • Strategic Goal: To create a seamless, accessible ecosystem that merges entertainment and home automation, enhancing everyday digital interactions through locally relevant hardware and intuitive interfaces.
EFC Releases Latest Handbook of Industrial Relations 📈
• Overview: The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) has officially launched the latest edition of its Handbook of Industrial Relations, a vital resource for the Sri Lankan corporate sector. • Strategic Role: As the primary representative body for employers since 1929, the EFC continues to lead national efforts in industrial relations and labour law. This publication serves as a key tool for maintaining workplace harmony and compliance across diverse sectors. • Key Focus Areas: - Updates on labour and social issues impacting the domestic workforce. - Advocacy for employer interests at the national policy level. - Support for legal frameworks governing employment and social responsibility. • National Context: The handbook is essential for Sri Lankan businesses to navigate evolving labour dynamics, ensuring the country remains a stable environment for both apparel & textiles and emerging ICT/BPM service exports by streamlining workforce management.
## 💄 British Cosmetics Partners with Ethera Business for Global Expansion 🌍
Sri Lankan skincare and beauty leader British Cosmetics Ltd. has entered a strategic partnership with Ethera Business LLC to drive a disciplined, advisory-led entry into international markets. • Strategic Objective: The collaboration focuses on a structured "go-to-market" framework, moving away from simple exports toward precise market identification, regulatory navigation, and distribution structuring. • Core Sectors: The expansion will leverage the company’s established strength in premium skincare, cosmetics, and personal care products, catering to growing global demand for scientifically formulated beauty solutions. • Operational Focus: Ethera Business will provide commercial validation and positioning strategies prior to significant capital deployment to ensure sustainable growth. • Key Highlights: • Focus on high-standard manufacturing and regional credibility. • Move toward long-term, disciplined international positioning. • First market-specific distribution partnership announcement expected soon. _Source: Provisional data based on company announcement, April 2026._
SriLankan Airlines Awards Ground & Cargo Handling Contracts at Dubai Airport ✈️
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the renewal of service agreements with Dnata, the sole service provider at Dubai International Airport, to ensure continued operations for the national carrier. • Passenger & Ground Handling: Awarded to Dnata for a 3-year term (01-04-2026 to 31-03-2029) at an estimated cost of AED 33.04 million. • Cargo Handling Services: Awarded to Dnata for a 3-year term (01-07-2026 to 30-06-2029) at an estimated cost of AED 7.6 million. • Context: The previous passenger handling agreement expired on 31-03-2026, while the existing cargo agreement is set to expire on 30-06-2026. • Approval: The resolution was submitted by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation following recommendations from the Bid Evaluation and Higher Level Procurement Committees. These contracts are vital for maintaining SriLankan Airlines' presence in the Middle East, a key hub for migrant labor remittances and transit traffic. 📈
Union Bank Launches Virtual Deposit Card for Bulk Business Cash 📈
Union Bank has introduced a virtual deposit card designed to streamline bulk cash handling for corporates, SMEs, and proprietors. The digital solution enables high-volume deposits through Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) without the need for physical cards. • Efficiency & Capacity: Supports deposits of up to 200 notes per transaction at any Union Bank CDM, available 24/7 to reduce transaction delays. • Agent Management: Business owners can register multiple authorized representatives or agents to perform deposits. Owners retain full control to add or remove agents via a simplified digital process. • Security & Compliance: All nominees undergo a formal Know Your Customer (KYC) process. The system allows the bank to precisely identify the depositor for every transaction, enhancing audit trails and financial controls. • Tech Integration: The solution is mobile-based, aligning with the bank’s "digital-first" agenda to support the banking and financial services sector's modernization. This move is expected to improve liquidity management and operational safety for businesses handling significant daily cash volumes across Sri Lanka.