📈 Sri Lanka Rises in Ease of Doing Business & Tourism Perception

Sri Lanka's performance in the 2026 Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance reflects a dual narrative of rising economic accessibility and cultural appeal, despite a slight dip in overall global ranking. • Overall Standing & Business Environment • Global Rank: 100th (down from 97th in 2025) with a score of 33.8/100. • Ease of Doing Business: Ranked 79th globally, a significant signal of growing investor confidence in the regulatory environment. • Economic Stability: Perceptions of stability improved, supported by easing inflation and lower borrowing costs. • Tourism & Culture • Visit Appeal: Climbed 8 spots as a ‘great place to visit’. • Culinary: Rose 10 ranks for ‘food the world loves’. • Friendliness: Surged 13 places, highlighting the strength of the hospitality sector. • Sector Performance & Challenges • People & Values: Rose 7 places, reflecting improved public sentiment. • ICT & Media: A notable decline in influential media ranking (from 104th to 129th), indicating reduced global media presence. • Governance: Perceptions deteriorated, showing a gap between macroeconomic stability and the pace of institutional reform.