Product & Service Launches / Business Expansions
View all(103)SriLankan Airlines Resumes Daily Flights to Riyadh and Dubai ✈️
The national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, has announced the resumption of regular daily operations to two major Middle Eastern hubs following a temporary suspension due to regional conflict. • Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): Daily flights resume tonight, March 9. • Dubai (UAE): Daily services commence tomorrow, March 10. Operational Details: • Colombo–Riyadh: Departs 18:15 (UL265); Returns 22:35 (UL266). • Colombo–Dubai: Departs 12:40 (UL231); Returns 17:00 (UL232). This resumption is a vital step for aviation and labor migration sectors, ensuring the movement of the Sri Lankan workforce and supporting tourism connectivity. The airline noted that while flights have resumed, authorities will continue to monitor regional safety conditions to prioritize passenger and crew wellbeing. 📈
LankaPropertyWeb Launches AI-Driven 'Apartment Finder' Tool 📈
• Real Estate Technology: LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) has introduced a project-centric 'Apartment Finder' tool to streamline the search process within Sri Lanka’s largest apartment database, moving away from traditional scattered listings. • Financial Integration: A key feature allows users to filter properties based on home loan repayment values rather than just total price, integrating monthly affordability directly into the search experience. • Market Transparency: The tool offers three distinct viewing modes: • Map View: First-of-its-kind in Sri Lanka for location-based searching. • Table View: A data-driven approach for requirement matching. • List View: Enhanced project and unit-level information. • Data Intelligence: Developed by LPW’s Market Intelligence Team, the tool uses proprietary mapping to eliminate duplicate listings and group individual units under their respective developments for a cleaner user interface. • Industry Recognition: In 2026, the platform received multiple awards, including Best Use of AI-Powered Technology and Most Innovative PropTech Solution in Sri Lanka, highlighting the sector's shift toward digital transformation and ICT/BPM integration in property markets.
UAE-Based Web3Interactive & Immersive Labs Launch Real Estate Tech in Sri Lanka 📈
• Overall Strategy: Dubai-headquartered Web3Interactive and its R&D arm, Immersive Labs, are introducing advanced Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) visualization tools to the local market. The move aims to "leapfrog" traditional property marketing by applying proven Middle Eastern sales acceleration strategies. • Market Context: The launch leverages Sri Lanka’s steady 2025 real estate recovery, fueled by macroeconomic stabilization and lower policy rates. The initiative specifically targets Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the Global Diaspora, who currently account for a significant share of online property searches. • Key Tech Features: • Immersive walkthroughs allowing investors to experience properties pre-construction. • High-fidelity architectural visualizations designed to meet global standards. • Integration of ICT/BPM engineering talent from Sri Lanka with Middle Eastern domain expertise. • Economic Impact: By centralizing engineering in Sri Lanka while serving the MENA region, the group strengthens the local technology and software exports sector. For developers, these tools are expected to increase conversion rates and strengthen the appeal of Sri Lankan assets to international buyers. • Future Outlook: The group plans to expand these immersive solutions across broader development portfolios and diversify into other industry sectors beyond real estate. _Note: Based on current industry reports and company disclosures._
DMASL Named Official Festival Partner at ADFEST 2026 Thailand 📈
The Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka (DMASL) has secured a strategic partnership with ADFEST 2026, Asia’s premier creative and advertising festival, scheduled for March 19–21 in Thailand. • Strategic Recognition: This partnership positions Sri Lanka’s digital marketing and creative sectors within a major Asia-Pacific platform, fostering cross-border collaboration and regional connectivity. • Industry Impact: The move aims to elevate Sri Lankan talent and innovation on the international stage, aligning with DMASL's goal to establish the country as a regional hub for digital innovation. • Regional Integration: ADFEST leadership highlighted the "passion and ambition" of Sri Lanka’s digital community, emphasizing the role of emerging markets in the evolving Asian creative landscape. • Future Outlook: The collaboration serves as a precursor to the DMASL Digital Summit Asia – Sri Lanka 2026, focusing on professional development and strategic thinking within the ICT/BPM and creative services ecosystem. This milestone reinforces the growth of Sri Lanka's service exports and its commitment to global industry standards.
Sri Lankan AI Medical Device "JENDO" Piloted in Bahrain 📈
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain, in collaboration with the ICTA, has successfully facilitated the pilot testing of a home-grown cardiovascular screening device at the King Hamad American Mission Hospital. • Innovation: The device, trademarked as JENDO, uses Artificial Intelligence for the non-invasive early detection of cardiovascular conditions and vascular abnormalities through physiological signal analysis. • Pilot Details: Conducted from February 23–25, 2026, the trial focused on clinical integration and usability within Bahrain’s largest American Mission Hospital branch. • Economic Context: Developed by a team led by Keerthi Kodithuwakku, the project highlights the expansion of Sri Lanka's ICT/BPM and digital health sectors into international markets. • Recognition: The technology previously won the Presidential Gold Award in 2025, signaling a shift toward high-value, scalable medical exports for the Sri Lankan economy. • Strategic Impact: This collaboration underscores Sri Lanka's growing capacity for medical innovation and its efforts to commercialize indigenous technology globally.
Emirates Restores 60% of Route Network Following Airspace Re-opening ✈️
Emirates is rapidly scaling up operations following a partial re-opening of regional airspace, with a target to restore 100% of its network in the coming days. • Operational Status: As of 6 March, the airline processed approximately 30,000 departing passengers from Dubai. By tomorrow (7 March), it expects to operate 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, covering nearly 60% of its global network. • Regional Market Scaling: • India: Significant capacity deployment with 22 daily flights serving all nine Indian gateways by 7 March. This is a critical corridor for transit labor and regional trade. • United Kingdom: Operating 11 daily flights across five airports to meet high travel demand. • United States: Maintaining connectivity via seven American gateways. • Economic Context: The restoration of these routes is vital for Sri Lanka’s tourism and export logistics, as Dubai serves as a primary global hub for apparel & textiles and perishable goods (such as tea and seafood) destined for Europe and the Americas. • Advisory: Operations remain subject to airspace availability. Passengers are advised to travel to airports only with confirmed bookings as the airline prioritizes earlier bookings.
📈 Roar Global Launches Roar Labs to Drive AI Marketing Innovation
Roar Global, a prominent Sri Lankan-founded mar-tech venture builder, has officially established Roar Labs. This new initiative is designed to rapidly prototype and test AI-driven marketing products to stay ahead of structural shifts in the global digital ecosystem. • Core Objective: To identify emerging trends in automation and AI, translating these insights into experimental products within real-market environments. Successful projects may evolve into independent ventures. • Strategic Reach: Leveraging a group-wide team of 150+ specialists, the initiative supports over 5,000 clients across eight international markets. • Sector Impact: The lab strengthens the ICT/BPM and digital marketing sectors by moving beyond services into high-value intellectual property (IP) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) development. • Portfolio Synergy: Roar Labs will feed into the group's existing ecosystem, which includes Roar AdX, 3P Media, Roar Media, CreatorFlow, Apex AI, and BrandRadar.
📈 HP Unveils 5-Pillar Strategy for Sri Lanka’s Digital Growth
HP Inc. has reinforced its long-term commitment to Sri Lanka, identifying it as one of its fastest-growing markets in the region. The strategy focuses on accelerating AI-led transformation and digital inclusion across key economic sectors. • Market Position: HP currently holds a 27% market share in Sri Lanka (as of Q4 2025, IDC), with robust demand in banking, financial services, retail, and manufacturing. • The 5-Pillar Framework: Education: Aiming to bridge the digital divide by putting a PC in the hands of every child, utilizing AI-driven language capabilities for personalized learning. MSMEs: Supporting small and medium enterprises (a vital economic pillar) by enabling "AI on the edge" to enhance productivity and security. Local Enterprises: Partnering with businesses on "future-of-work" strategies and workforce enablement to retain emerging talent. Government Partnerships: Collaborating on national priorities, including healthcare diagnostics and scalable digital education models. Digital Inclusion: Targeting the "next billion users" by tailoring technology solutions specifically for high-growth emerging economies. • Economic Impact: The initiative focuses on digitization as a driver for resilience, aiming to unlock higher profitability for the MSME segment and modernizing the national technology infrastructure.
### Samsung Launches Galaxy S26 Series Pre-Orders in Sri Lanka 📈
Samsung Sri Lanka has officially opened pre-orders for its AI-driven Galaxy S26 lineup, including the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. This launch signals a push in the high-end ICT/BPM and consumer electronics segment with a heavy focus on next-generation AI integration. • Pre-Order Incentives: Customers can access price savings of up to Rs. 64,900 during the promotional period. • Device Protection: Exclusive benefits include a two-year, two-time front screen replacement (valued at Rs. 144,404) and a two-year, two-time back glass replacement (valued at Rs. 23,849). • Financial Terms: To support affordability in the local market, Samsung is offering "Easy Pay" monthly installment plans for up to 26 months. • Connectivity Partnership: Pre-orders include a free 2TB data bundle from Dialog (350GB/month for 6 months). This rollout emphasizes Samsung's strategy to capture the premium smartphone market in Sri Lanka by leveraging advanced AI features and localized financial incentives to drive adoption.
✈️ SriLankan Airlines Adds Extra London Flight Amid Middle East Disruptions
SriLankan Airlines has announced an additional scheduled service between Colombo and London on 8 March 2026. This move aims to facilitate travel for passengers impacted by recent flight cancellations stemming from the ongoing situation in the Middle East. • Flight Details (8 March 2026): Colombo to London (UL1205): Departs 06:50 hrs; Arrives 13:10 hrs. London to Colombo (UL1206): Departs 15:05 hrs; Arrives 06:55 hrs (next day). • Operational Context: The national carrier is actively monitoring regional instability and plans to deploy further additional flights on select routes to mitigate travel disruptions. This proactive capacity management is crucial for maintaining connectivity in the tourism and aviation sectors, which are vital for Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange liquidity. • Support Channels: Passengers can verify status via the 1979 hotline, WhatsApp (+94 74 444 1979), or official digital platforms. _Summary based on official airline scheduling data._
Sri Lankan Entrepreneur Rikas Usman Launches XPLOSA LLC in New York 📈
• Global Expansion: Sri Lankan industrialist Rikas Usman, Chairman of Xplosa Corporation, has officially expanded into the U.S. market with the launch of XPLOSA LLC in New York. This marks a strategic move to take Sri Lankan manufacturing excellence to the global industrial adhesives stage. • Sector Focus: The venture will operate under the flagship brand ARKEMIC, targeting high-growth sectors including packaging, woodworking, construction, and textiles. The product portfolio features advanced PVA, BOPP, and Styrene-Acrylic formulations. • Strategic Goals: • Establishing a full-scale adhesive manufacturing facility in the U.S. in the near future. • Delivering eco-friendly, next-generation adhesive technology compliant with EPA and international standards. • Strengthening the link between Sri Lankan polymer chemistry expertise and North American market reach. • Institutional Backing: Xplosa Corporation is part of the Kandyan Group, a prominent Sri Lankan conglomerate with over 40 years of heritage in manufacturing, FMCG, and logistics. • Economic Impact: The move highlights the potential for Sri Lankan industrial chemicals and manufacturing firms to diversify internationally, boosting the country's profile as a hub for technical entrepreneurship and specialized exports.
📈 SITREK Group & Singapore’s ST Engineering Partner to Bolster Sri Lanka’s Cyber Resilience
Sri Lanka’s SITREK Group has signed a strategic Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) with Singaporean technology leader ST Engineering to enhance national digital infrastructure and enterprise-level security. • Strategic Alliance: The partnership, announced at the SITREK Cyber & Tech Summit 2026, combines local expertise with global defense-grade capabilities to address evolving regional cyber threats. • Core Objectives: Focus includes technology integration, knowledge exchange, and the deployment of advanced cybersecurity systems aligned with international standards. • Economic Impact: The collaboration aims to drive skills development in the ICT/BPM sector, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s position as a burgeoning hub for cybersecurity excellence in South Asia. • Digital Trust: Initiatives target institutional capacity building to safeguard critical digital infrastructure, a vital component for national economic stability and boardroom-level risk management.