AGP Executive Report

FinTech Push: Sri Lanka is gearing up for its inaugural Sri Lanka FinTech Festival (2–3 Nov) to turn the country’s digital payments rails into a bigger engine for trust, innovation, investment, and international connectivity. Banking Wins: DFCC Bank picked up two ICC Emerging Asia Banking Awards 2026 in New Delhi—Best Performance on Growth and Best Performance on Profitability for Sri Lanka—highlighting growth alongside returns. Payments & Partnerships: JKH expanded its Salesforce collaboration to deepen customer experience across Keells supermarkets and John Keells CG Auto, using loyalty and data-driven tools. Climate & Food Risk: El Niño strengthening has Sri Lanka flagged for “elevated concern,” with experts warning of heavier-than-normal rainfall, flooding risk, and knock-on economic pressure. Agriculture Warning: A separate analysis warns agriculture is already under strain from erratic monsoons and drought, urging action before the next crisis hits. Energy-Efficiency Debate: Research notes air conditioning saves lives but can worsen warming and strain grids, as cooling demand rises fast. Disaster Response Training: The US and Sri Lanka kicked off Atlas Angel II (31 Aug–4 Sep) to improve humanitarian assistance and disaster response coordination. Minerals Policy: President Dissanayake called for faster, more transparent processes to unlock Sri Lanka’s mineral industry under the National Mineral Policy 2026, including easing investor licensing delays. Education Tech: AI Academy and Tomorrow University (Germany) are bringing German AI degrees to Colombo via a work-study model. Maritime Education Link: Maldives National University signed an MoU with Sri Lanka’s CINEC Campus to strengthen maritime training and joint research. EV Momentum: Evolution Auto and Sampath Bank teamed up to support Sri Lanka’s EV shift.

Disaster Preparedness: The US and Sri Lanka kicked off Atlas Angel II at SL Air Force Base Katunayake and in Kandy, training together on C-130 maintenance, urban search and rescue, incident command, landslides, and chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear/explosive hazard response. Climate & Health: A new Nature Health study warns that while air conditioning saves lives during heat waves, rising cooling demand could sharply increase planet-warming emissions. Economy & Inflation: Sri Lanka’s Colombo CPI rose 8% year-on-year in August, driven by food inflation (8.5%) as drought linked to El Niño and higher global wheat prices bite. Energy/Weather Risk: FAO-led regional assessment flags Sri Lanka as facing “elevated concern” from a strengthening El Niño, with heavier-than-normal rainfall and flooding risks possible later in 2026. Tech & Skills: AI Academy and Tomorrow University (Germany) will bring state-recognised German AI degrees to Colombo via a work-study model. EV Push: Evolution Auto and Sampath Bank signed an MOU to expand EV financing and adoption. Marine Science: An Indian Ocean deep-sea survey found 149 new species, including new sea cucumber and fish types, highlighting how much Sri Lanka-area waters still hold. Biodiversity Find: Researchers rediscovered a rare plant (Indianthus virgatus) in Sri Lanka after a record last seen in 1855. Port Growth: Colombo Port climbed into Alphaliner’s global top 20, handling 4.44m TEUs in H1 2026 (+11.9% YoY).

Colombo Port Growth: Colombo Port jumped into Alphaliner’s global Top 20, rising to 20th after handling 4.44M TEUs in H1 2026 (+11.9% YoY), with SLPA pointing to major infrastructure investment plans. Shipping Tech & Climate: With Red Sea disruptions pushing Asia-Europe traffic around the Cape, the Arctic Northern Sea Route is emerging as a new commercial lane—and Colombo’s role in future routing is now in focus. Housing Policy & Tax: A push is growing to restore housing loan interest relief in Budget 2027, arguing Sri Lanka’s personal income tax system doesn’t properly recognise home-financing costs. Agriculture Risk Planning: Farmers face a possible dry-to-wet Maha season swing, so delaying cultivation until November/December is framed as a water-management “insurance policy” against drought and later heavy rain. Business Facilitation: President Dissanayake ordered clearance of ~3,000 pending company registrations and urged faster legal reforms plus stronger export market access. AI for Enterprises: Texas-based Perituza launched an AI Assessment Services framework in Sri Lanka to help firms move from experimentation to measurable ROI. Data Privacy: Industry leaders flagged urgent PDPA readiness gaps as PDPA key provisions are set to start operating from 1 Jan 2027. Space Education: Sri Lanka joined a 108-nation women’s space education world record via Mission ShakthiSAT at Gautam Buddha University. Courts Modernisation: Cabinet approved remote witness testimony in civil cases using simultaneous audio-visual links to cut delays. Mobility Market Distortion: JB Securities says Sri Lanka’s vehicle tax structure limits access to popular hybrid models, distorting consumer choice.

Sri Lanka FinTech Push: Sri Lanka will host its inaugural Sri Lanka FinTech Festival 2026 (2–3 Nov) in Colombo, with tracks on AI in finance, digital assets, cross-border payments, tokenisation, digital identity, cybersecurity and fraud prevention—aimed at linking the local ecosystem with regional and global partners. Banking Innovation: Commercial Bank of Ceylon showcased telecom-inspired Open Digital Architecture at TM Forum’s DTW Ignite 2026 in Copenhagen, showing how composable, API-led systems can modernise legacy banking while keeping governance and compliance tight. Renewables Upgrade: PUCSL approved a new three-tier feed-in tariff and set a requirement to add at least 450 MW solar PV paired with battery storage by March 2027, with cost discipline for BESS procurement. Water Stress (Dry Zone): The Water Resources Board reports seasonal groundwater declines in Sri Lanka’s dry-zone areas, with Kalpitiya and the Jaffna Peninsula seeing the biggest drops (about 70–80% from peak seasonal levels). Public Health Warning: Health experts say substance abuse in Sri Lanka is linked to 80–100 deaths daily, alongside non-communicable diseases tied to drug and alcohol use. India–Sri Lanka Tech Links: The India–Sri Lanka Foundation approved 13 cross-border projects worth about LKR 21 million, including science and technology, after reviewing 650+ proposals.

India–Sri Lanka Foundation: The 41st ISLF board meeting in New Delhi approved 13 cross-border projects worth about LKR 21 million across education, culture, agriculture and science/technology, after 650+ proposals were submitted and 137 shortlisted. Renewables & Storage: Sri Lanka’s PUCSL approved a new three-tier feed-in tariff and ordered at least 450 MW solar PV paired with battery storage by March 2027, with cost discipline for BESS. Testing & Certification: India’s National Test House push aims to turn domestic labs into globally trusted testing and certification providers, with Sri Lanka named among countries sending samples. Digital Safety: Sri Lanka faces rising concerns over children’s exposure to online gaming, cyberbullying and gambling content, as experts call for stronger protections. Substance Abuse Health: Sri Lanka Police’s “Ratama Ekata” campaign highlights claims of 80–100 deaths daily linked to alcohol and substance abuse, with smoking flagged as a major gateway. Water Resources: Sri Lanka’s dry-zone groundwater is showing the usual seasonal decline, with Kalpitiya and Jaffna Peninsula reportedly down about 70–80% from peak levels. Tech & Governance: SLID’s Corporate Director Summit 2026 wrapped up, focusing on future-ready board leadership and oversight of emerging technology.

Renewables & Grid Reliability: Sri Lanka’s PUCSL approved a new three-tier feed-in tariff that puts battery storage at the centre of the next renewable push, directing the NSO to add at least 450 MW of solar PV paired with battery energy storage by March 2027, with cost discipline capped at Rs. 20/kWh for already offered 160 MW. Water & Climate Signals: The Water Resources Board says groundwater in Sri Lanka’s dry-zone areas is following the usual seasonal decline, with the biggest drops reported in Kalpitiya and the Jaffna Peninsula (about 70–80% down from peak seasonal levels). Coral Conservation: Sri Lanka is building a coral conservation centre and laboratory complex in Nilaveli, Trincomalee, targeting rare species like black and red coral, with construction due to finish by end-September and plans to open it as a museum and research facility. Child Online Safety: Sri Lanka is seeing rising concerns over online gaming, cyberbullying and children’s exposure to betting, with experts calling for stronger protections as smartphones and digital payments make risks easier to access. Substance Abuse Health Impact: Health experts estimate 80–100 deaths daily in Sri Lanka linked to alcohol and substance abuse, with smoking flagged as the leading pathway into harder drug use. India–Sri Lanka Tech & Testing Links: India’s National Test House (NTH) is being positioned as a global testing and certification body, with samples reportedly coming from Sri Lanka, while the India–Sri Lanka Foundation approved 13 science-and-technology-linked projects worth about LKR 21 million. Disaster Tech & Response (Regional): Nepal’s glacier-flood disaster continues to drive demand for specialised rescue and technical support, as India ramps up “first responder” aid deliveries to Nepal. Digital Economy Reform: Sri Lanka’s tax reforms are being framed as a shift toward digital enforcement, using e-invoicing and automated monitoring to close the gap between economic activity and tax capture.

Substance Abuse Toll: Sri Lanka’s “Rata Ma Ekata” operation highlights a grim health reality: experts say drug and alcohol use contributes to roughly 80–100 deaths daily, with smoking flagged as a major driver and illicit drug pathways often starting with legal substances. Child Digital Safety: A psychiatrist warns Sri Lanka’s growing digital life is exposing children to gaming addiction, cyberbullying, and early gambling content—especially as smartphones and digital payments make risky content easier to reach. Police vs AI-Driven Exploitation: Sri Lanka Police have intensified crackdowns on harmful social media, targeting groups sharing manipulated images and AI-generated videos of women and children, including arrests linked to Facebook groups. Market Pulse: The Colombo Stock Exchange edged back to gains as foreign buying returned, with ASPI and the All Share Price Index closing slightly higher on a volatile session. Marine Science: Sri Lanka is building a coral conservation centre and laboratory in Nilaveli, Trincomalee, aiming to conserve rare corals and later open as a museum and research facility. Governance & Tech Oversight: SLID’s Corporate Director Summit 2026 stressed “future-ready” board leadership, including oversight of emerging technology, as it concluded with broad participation. Nepal Flood Tech & Rescue Constraints: Nepal’s glacier-collapse floods are still unfolding—death toll reported around 579 with nearly 2,000 missing—while rescue teams face renewed risk from an overflow lake, and Nepal rejects foreign rescue teams, asking for financial support instead.

Child Online Safety: A Sri Lankan psychiatrist warns that excessive online gaming, cyberbullying and early exposure to betting/gambling content are putting children at risk, especially as smartphones and digital payments make access easier. Cyber Enforcement: Sri Lanka Police have intensified action against harmful social media activity, including AI-generated and manipulated content allegedly exploiting women and children, with arrests and account takedowns underway. Marine Tech & Research: Sri Lanka is building a coral conservation centre and laboratory in Nilaveli, Trincomalee, targeting rare black and red corals and using lab-grown conditions for later seabed transplanting; construction is due to finish by end-September. Governance for Innovation: SLID’s Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 wrapped up, pushing “future-ready” board leadership and stronger oversight of emerging technology. Digital Services: The Police Clearance Certificate online system was restored after a failure; applicants who applied on Aug 20 must reapply, with fees refunded. Health & Society: Drug and alcohol use is linked to 80–100 deaths daily in Sri Lanka, with smoking flagged as a key pathway into illicit drug use.

EU Trade Access: Sri Lanka will reapply for the EU’s GSP+ scheme by end-2028, aiming to meet requirements on human rights, labour, governance and the environment. Digital Services: The Police Clearance Certificate online system is back after an outage; applicants who applied on Aug 20 must reapply, with the Rs. 5,100 fee refunded to their card. Plantation Data: A new Decision Support System is being built to centralize data across tea, rubber, coconut and cashew agencies, with the goal of better monitoring and planning for district-level trends and climate impacts. Marine Research: Sri Lanka’s Nilaveli coral centre is set to open as a coral museum and research facility, expanding from conservation and restoration into wider marine ecosystem study. Disaster Response & Climate Risk: Nepal-Tibet floods have killed 392 with 1,400+ missing; Sri Lanka pledged USD 1 million in humanitarian aid, while reporting highlights how recovery gaps worsen the next disaster. Health & Safety: A new global model estimates snakebite deaths may be far higher than official records, with Sri Lanka researchers among the authors. AI & Video Infrastructure: Bengaluru AI startup BLUE says its semantic video infrastructure is cutting bandwidth, storage and compute costs, with deployments across India including Sri Lanka pilots. Sports Tech Angle: Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha’s unbeaten 133 helped secure a draw in the Colombo Test, keeping India’s WTC points tight.

Coral Science & Public Research: Sri Lanka’s Nilaveli coral centre is set to open as a coral museum and research facility, with construction expected to finish by end-September—aimed at coral conservation, restoration, marine ecosystem studies, and public awareness. Marine Biodiversity Discovery: A deep-sea expedition near the Christmas and Cocos islands identified 149 new marine species, highlighting how understudied Indian Ocean seamounts face mounting risks from warming, pollution, overfishing and deep-sea mining. Cyber Safety in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka CERT and police strengthened cyber security capacity for officers, as a separate report flags growing social-media groups trading intimate images without consent—raising urgent privacy and online safety concerns. Disaster Recovery Gap: Coverage compares Nepal flash floods and Sri Lanka’s recent floods/landslides, stressing a “recovery gap” where communities haven’t rebuilt before the next hazard hits. Digital Learning Access: Hoopla Digital and TED partnered to bring TED talks and TED-Ed lessons to public libraries in Sri Lanka via no-cost access with library cards. Economic Crime Index: A Cambridge-launched Economic Crime & Geopolitics Index (ECGI) frames economic crime as a governance and security threat, using human-factor and institutional trust signals. Sports Tech Angle: Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha powered a dramatic Test draw in Colombo, while rain forecasts keep India’s Day-5 finish hopes uncertain.

Cyber Safety: SLCERT and police are cracking down on exploitative social media groups in Sri Lanka that reportedly trade intimate photos of women without consent, pushing renewed debate on privacy and online ethics. Cricket & Weather: India are close to wrapping up the 2nd Test in Colombo, needing four wickets, but rain forecasts could still disrupt Day 5. Disaster Resilience: Sri Lanka and Nepal are highlighted as examples of why recovery speed matters as flash floods on the Nepal–Tibet border and Sri Lanka’s recent flood impacts show cascading risk. Health & Research: A new global study estimates far higher snakebite envenoming and deaths than previously thought, underscoring the need for better data and prevention in low-income rural areas. Education Tech: Superloop opened a digital learning lab at a Colombo girls’ school, upgrading STEM and digital literacy access from Grade 1 to 13. Energy & Industry: Sri Lanka’s offshore oil and gas licensing push is moving to global bidders with a targeted investor campaign for four offshore blocks. Governance & Infrastructure: The government warns new projects must be justified by resilience, productivity and real need—not just construction spending.

School Nutrition Pilot: Sri Lanka’s government says it will soon launch a cooked midday meals pilot, using mothers’ committees to procure ingredients locally and improve transparency, safety, and accountability. Offshore Energy Bids: Sri Lanka has opened international tenders for four offshore oil and gas blocks in the Indian Ocean, aiming to attract global investors as deepwater drilling becomes more feasible with newer technology. Drought Preparedness at UNCCD: Sri Lanka told UNCCD COP17 that drought resilience must start before crises, calling for better climate information, early-warning systems, capacity building, and predictable funding. Public Health Research: A new PLOS Medicine study estimates global snakebite envenoming and deaths are far higher than previously thought, with rural, low-income communities hit hardest. Deep-Sea Science: Researchers report 149 new deep-sea species from remote Indian Ocean seamounts, highlighting how understudied deep habitats face growing threats. Digital Learning in Colombo: Superloop opened a Future Minds Lab at a Colombo girls’ school, upgrading computers and adding STEM and digital literacy learning for Grades 1–13. Bank Governance: Chandana Guniyangoda assumed duties as new Chairman of People’s Bank under strengthened state-bank governance rules.

Drought & Water Resilience: Sri Lanka is urging stronger drought preparedness ahead of worsening conditions, calling for better climate information, early-warning systems, technology, capacity building and predictable finance at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia, alongside people-centred land and water efforts like tank village restoration and wetland protection. Snakebite Research: A new PLOS Medicine study with Sri Lankan researchers estimates global snake envenoming at 2.1–7 million cases and 274,000–513,000 deaths annually, with rural low-income communities hit hardest—highlighting the need for better data and treatment. Oil & Gas Bids: Sri Lanka has opened four offshore blocks in the Mannar Basin for international exploration, aiming to attract investors with updated deep-sea drilling technology and a push for responsible, transparent development. Prison Overcrowding & Tech: A Parliament committee asked Police for proposals to reduce remand delays and overcrowding, including using modern technology to disrupt drug networks and trace illicit finances. UPI at 10 Years (Regional Tech Link): India’s UPI marks a decade since 2016, with transaction volume and value surging massively and expanding beyond India, including acceptance in Sri Lanka. Governance & AI: A governance-focused report argues AI deployment needs stronger international safety and fair risk assessment frameworks before data-driven rollouts outpace regulation. HNB Finance Leadership: Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe appointed Chairman of HNB Finance from 28 August 2026, bringing deep experience across cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and governance.

Offshore Energy Bid: Sri Lanka has opened four offshore oil and gas exploration blocks in the Mannar Basin (about 34,000 sq km) to international bidders, aiming to restart investment after earlier commercial concerns; authorities say updated seismic data and newer deep-sea drilling tech could make the next push more viable. El Niño Preparedness: With models pointing to a potentially record-strong El Niño in 2026-27, Sri Lanka has arranged water deliveries for nearly 72,000 people across seven drought-hit districts, while global agencies warn of major health and food-system impacts. Water Safety Tech in Action: Colombo and Gampaha water supply was temporarily suspended after an emergency Kelani River water-quality issue; NWSDB says lab tests (with support from the armed forces) confirmed standards before restoring supply. Cancer Care Procurement Delay: Sri Lanka’s cancer radiation treatment machine procurement has been delayed for nearly five years, with claims of stalled purchases of linear accelerators and reliance on older cobalt-based systems. Herpetology Legacy: Anslem de Silva, Sri Lanka’s pioneering herpetologist, is preparing to host the world’s first snake conference, continuing decades of research and conservation work. UPI Milestone (Regional Tech Signal): India’s UPI marks 10 years, with transaction value rising to about ₹314 lakh crore and 741 banks live on the network—another reminder of how fast real-time payments can scale. Sports Tech Angle: India bowling coach Morne Morkel praised Prasidh Krishna’s mental growth into a “world-class” bowler during the India vs Sri Lanka Test in Colombo.

Care Economy Financing: A roundtable with Sri Lanka’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus pushes Parliament to back childcare, elder care and disability support, citing strong returns for investing in the care sector. Tax Administration: Commentary argues Sri Lanka’s tax base expansion must go beyond registration to focus on keeping taxpayers active and compliant as digital systems roll out. FX Strategy: Multiple pieces warn Sri Lanka must shift from managing foreign exchange to creating it, stressing the need for structural growth in tradable earnings. Digital Health Tech: A report highlights the “blind spot” in digital stethoscope use and calls for fixes so AI-assisted care doesn’t miss critical signals. Green Energy Tensions (Mannar): Communities in Mannar fear wind and other renewable projects are worsening floods, noise impacts and fish declines, even as authorities seek proof. eVTOL Push: EHang launches a fast-track pathway to speed international certification and commercialization of pilotless electric air taxis, with Sri Lanka flagged as an early adopter. Brand & Finance Tech: NSB stays among Sri Lanka’s top five most valuable brands; Asia Asset Finance wins a CRIB data management and compliance award. Maritime & Trade: Sri Lanka’s offshore oil push faces institutional and investment hurdles; shark-fishery rules need stronger data and enforcement; and regional port talk spotlights Vizhinjam’s potential to cut export transit times. Market Pulse: CSE turnover jumps to LKR 16.85bn, but much of it is driven by large crossings as ASPI slips below 21,350. El Niño Watch: Sri Lanka’s drought risk is tied to a strengthening El Niño, with scientists tracking Pacific and Indian Ocean shifts.

Energy Security & Climate Tech: Sri Lanka is moving to protect electricity supply as dry weather and El Niño risks rise, with a 160MW battery energy storage system due to connect to the grid between October and December, plus procurement for another 250MW and plans for extra ground-mounted solar and incentives for large rooftop solar operators to add storage. Public Health & Nutrition: PM Harini Amarasuriya says the school nutrition programme must go beyond free meals to build healthier habits and nutrition awareness across the whole school system, linking it to preventive healthcare as non-communicable diseases spread. Research Infrastructure: Cabinet has approved urgent reconstruction and stabilisation work at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) in Hanthana, handing planning, geotechnical assessments and procurement to NBRO under a direct contract, after cyclone-related landslide damage. Digital Tax Rollout Watch: The Committee on Public Finance flags roadblocks in the Inland Revenue Department’s digital POS and real-time VAT invoicing push, noting missing hardware/software specs, device compatibility, service-provider readiness and small-business arrangements—full onboarding expected to take about two years. Cyber & Payments: DeltaSpike launched a subscription managed detection and response service for SMEs, while Sri Lanka also faces ongoing implementation challenges in digital POS systems. STEM Education in Space: SriLankan Airlines sponsored Sri Lankan student participation in Mission ShakthiSAT, an all-girls lunar satellite programme training students in CubSAT fundamentals and operations. Animal Welfare Law: Sri Lanka’s long-delayed animal welfare bill is finally approved, reigniting debate over elephant chaining and how the law will regulate religious procession practices.