The government has signaled its determination to reform Sri Lanka’s health sector with region-leading stances on tobacco, while also showing a willingness to engage with private health care providers looking to tap into the country’s potential. Private health care in Sri Lanka is starting from a low base, but a number of factors will provide distinct opportunities for those looking to invest in…
Sri Lanka was the first country in South Asia to roll out a nationwide 4G network, its mobile market is highly competitive and it is home to a number of major tech companies. Connectivity is improving quickly, the environment for innovation is undergoing a positive transformation and the government is starting to make significant investments in e-governance. While Sri Lanka may not have the critical…
As Sri Lanka’s second-largest industry after textiles and garments, tourism represents an opportunity to generate revenue and create jobs. The country is fast becoming a popular destination for international travellers, as well as for expatriates returning home to visit friends and family, suggesting that Sri Lanka is in the process of moving from the margins of global tourism to becoming a primary…
Renewed growth in Sri Lanka’s construction industry is being supported by a combination of megaprojects with international partners, strong domestic demand and public investments in infrastructure. Following a slowdown in 2015, the sector is once again enjoying double-digit growth, possessing a strong order book with international investors increasingly present. Still, costs are high and rising,…
With a land area of more than 65,000 sq km, Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is characterised by small-scale farming and a tropical climate that is highly variable. Agricultural output comprises rice, fruit, vegetables and livestock primarily for domestic consumption, and export-focused products such as tea, rubber and coconuts. Around 55% of land is used for agriculture. Traditionally the backbone…
Having a strategic location along one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, Sri Lanka is well positioned to capitalise on rising Indian Ocean trade volumes. Under the auspices of the economic development strategy Vision 2025, released in 2017, authorities are moving to transform the country into a leading global trans-shipment and logistics hub. Sri Lanka benefits from a deepwater coastline,…
Industry in Sri Lanka has developed over the years by taking the high road. In part driven by necessity, the country has tended to avoid low-margin, high-volume production in favour of value addition and customisation. The result has been solid demand for its goods and a strong international reputation. Meanwhile, investment in infrastructure has improved the operating environment, reforms are ongoing…
With the economy expected to pick up pace in 2018, and steady expansion forecast over the coming years, the insurance sector is well placed to benefit. Regulatory changes are creating challenges for weaker firms, and encouraging even healthy companies to reconsider their positions, particularly in the non-life segment. This should lead to further consolidation, with the stronger players looking to…
Improving economic growth, an increasingly sophisticated domestic market and regulatory reform are the main factors shaping the Sri Lankan banking sector. Stability has become a watchword following a period of rapid credit growth, as a flourishing private sector boosted the development of a previously underbanked market. Although the sector has a healthy growth outlook, the central bank is keen to…
As the government continues its expansive reform agenda with Vision 2025, Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to record moderate improvements in 2018. In January 2018 the IMF projected that real GDP growth would increase to 4.6% in 2018 – up from 3.1% in 2017 – as the agriculture sector recovers from drought and flood, and construction is anticipated to lead robust services sector growth. Inflation…
