Foreign investors buy Sri Lanka rupee bonds for fifth straight week

Saturday September 27, 2025 3:01 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Foreign investors bought Sri Lanka government securities for a fifth straight week in the week ended on September 25 with the offshore holding in local bonds at two-year high, the Central Bank data showed, amid a surge in global investor appetite for government bonds.

Foreign investors bought a net 334 million rupee ($1.11 million) worth of government securities in the week ended on September 25, extending the inflows to a net 14,041 million rupee ($46.8 million) in the five weeks.

Government bond funds across the world saw a surge in demand as they saw a hefty USD 22.96 billion weekly net investment, the largest figure since at least 2022 amid a robust $10.01 billion weekly inflow in the short-term funds segment, Reuters reported.

Foreign holdings in Sri Lanka’s rupee bonds were at 120.6 billion rupees on September 25, their highest since December 2023, official data showed.

Sri Lanka suffered an outflow of 10.1 billion rupees ($32 million) in the two weeks soon after Trump’s tariff declaration in the first week of April and the rupee has fallen slightly since then.

The island nation has enjoyed a total inflow of around 51.3 billion rupees (around $171 million) into rupee bonds since December 26 last year through September 25, the data showed.

Sri Lanka’s deflationary policies have helped to see inflows amid curtailed imports, analysts have said.

The country witnessed foreign outflows worth 48.2 billion rupees in 2024 with 66 percent or 78.1 billion rupees worth outflow from the government securities in the first nine months of last year. (Colombo/September 27/2025)

Saturday September 27, 2025 7:11 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The High Commission of India in Colombo and the Indian Cultural Association, have organised the Viksit Bharat Run 2025 on Sunday (28) from 6 am onwards from Galle Face Green to promote social responsibility, civic participation, and community service.

“The event will feature a 5 km run from Galle Face Green, with the participation of Indian diaspora and Sri Lankan citizens in celebration of the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Sri Lanka,” the high commission said.

The run is part of Seva Pakhwada (Sep 17 – Oct 2), during which activities are organised in India and in over 150 cities across the globe.

The initiative marks the 75th birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Cultural performances of Indian music and dance will highlight India’s development journey. (Colombo/Sep27/2025)

Saturday September 27, 2025 12:37 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Classic restored films from Sri Lanka, France and India will be shown in Colombo on September 27 and 28, at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall, the French embassy said.

“The festival is dedicated to celebrating restored cinematic classics from Sri Lanka, India and France, and to highlighting the richness of their film heritage,” the embass said in a statement.

“It also seeks to raise awareness about the urgency of conservation, restoration and diffusion of these cultural masterpieces.”

Organized by the France India Sri Lanka Cine Heritage (FISCH), the film festival stems from an initiative of the embassies of France in Sri Lanka and India and the Film heritage Foundation launched to restore Sumitra Peries’ landmark film, Gehenu Lamai and train archivists and programmers launched in 2023.

The festival opens from Saturday, September 27 at 10:00am with a masterclass by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur from the Film Heritage Foundation, followed at 1:00pm by Manthan (Shyam Benegal, India, 1976), a landmark production funded by 500,000 farmers.

At 4:00pm, audiences will rediscover Maya Miriga (Nirad Mohapatra, India, 1984), before concluding the day at 6:30pm with François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups, France, 1959).

On Sunday, September 28, the program will begin at 10:00am with Hansa Vilak (Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka, 1980).

At 1:00pm, audiences will enjoy the French classic Cléo de 5 à 7 (Agnès Varda, 1962). The festival will close at 4:00pm with Bambaru Avith (Dharmasena Pathiraja, Sri Lanka, 1978). (Colombo/Sept27/2025)

Saturday September 27, 2025 12:00 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – A team of 18 Sri Lankan business leaders are set to visit Japan later this month, the Sri Lanka–Japan Business Council (SLJBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said.

The delegation is led by Krishan Balendra, chairperson of the chamber and John Keells Holdings, and the visit will coincide with the President Anura Dissanayake’s visit to Japan.

A key feature of the visit will be the Business Forum in Tokyo, organised in partnership with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The visit is aimed at facilitating new trade, investment, and collaboration opportunities between the two countries, the chamber said.

“The delegation will participate in targeted B2B sessions in Osaka, organized by the Export Development Board, enabling Sri Lankan companies to connect directly with potential Japanese partners.”

The team will also participate in “Sri Lanka Day” at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The SLJBC said the visit will play a role in deepening bilateral relations and unlocking new opportunities for investment and cooperation. (Colombo/Sep27/2025)