First Capital Investor Symposium explores Sri Lanka’s economic outlook for 2026

 First Capital Holdings PLC, a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group) and a pioneering leader in Sri Lanka’s investment landscape, successfully hosted the highly anticipated 12^th Edition of its First Capital Investor Symposium on 22^nd January, at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.

During the Symposium, First Capital presented its economic outlook for Sri Lanka in 2026, highlighting both growth prospects and plausible vulnerabilities. A central finding was the anticipated softening of Sri Lanka’s GDP growth, projected to decrease from 5.0% in 2025 to 3.0-4.0% in 2026. The main reason for this expected slowdown is the impact of the recent Cyclone Ditwah. The damage from the storm leads people to spend less, especially in areas beyond the main Western province, which affects the economy. While Sri Lanka's fiscal resilience and fundamental discipline, a trend since 2023, are anticipated to remain robust, the need for higher capital expenditure in post-Ditwah revitalization efforts creates challenges. The main point of concern is that with slower economic growth, it could become more challenging for Sri Lanka to continue making good progress on managing its national debt.

Concurrently, the symposium’s discussion spanned interest rate movements, exchange rate trends, and bond market developments. The event also provided a unique platform for investors, industry leaders, and experts to engage in critical discussions on the market forces that are shaping Sri Lanka’s economic future. Drawing over 300 invitees and 400 participants online, the event proved to be one of the largest and most influential investor gatherings in the country, further consolidating First Capital Holdings’ leadership in fostering economic discourse and empowering investors with strategic insights.

Dilshan Wirasekara, Managing Director/CEO of First Capital Holdings PLC, emphasized the organization’s steadfast commitment to shaping Sri Lanka’s investment landscape, saying, “At First Capital, we are dedicated to creating value within the industry through the generation of dependable, deep market insights and actionable strategies. Events like the First Capital Investor Symposium allow us to bring together thought leaders and investors and share knowledge while fostering a collaborative approach to achieving sustainable investment success.”

The event’s highlight was the panel discussion, moderated by Deshani Ratnayake, Vice President – Corporate Finance & Advisory of First Capital Advisory Services Pvt Ltd. The expert panel included Gihan Cooray, Deputy Chairman / Group Finance Director of John Keells Holdings PLC; Sabrina Esuffally, Managing Director of Hemas Consumer Brands; Nishal Ferdinando, Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director of JAT Holdings PLC; and Dimantha Mathew, Chief Research and Strategy Officer of First Capital Holdings PLC. The panelists offered a wealth of experience and expertise, providing attendees with comprehensive insights on how to navigate Sri Lanka’s evolving market landscape and capitalize on emerging investment opportunities. The symposium also featured a comprehensive presentation by Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research at First Capital, with Akna Tennakoon, Senior Research Analyst – First Capital, who delved deeper into market dynamics and key trends that investors should closely monitor in 2026.

Discussing First Capital’s meticulously crafted predictions and investment strategies for 2026, Dimantha Mathew, Chief Research and Strategy Officer of First Capital Holdings PLC, said “Our team at First Capital Research is committed to facilitating collaborations that yield highly accurate market predictions. This year, we have outlined a set of investment recommendations across bonds and equities that we believe will help investors make better informed, strategic decisions to maximize their returns in what will be a pivotal year for Sri Lanka’s markets.”

As one of the largest investor events in Sri Lanka, the First Capital Investor Symposium plays a key role in advancing the nation's economic development by educating and empowering investors. The success of the 12th edition of the symposium reaffirms First Capital’s position as a trusted leader in the Sri Lankan investment sector, committed to delivering market-leading research and exceptional client service.

Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research, First Capital Holdings PLC, presented an in-depth overview of the economic and investment outlook for 2026, outlining key market dynamics and investor considerations

Akna Tennakoon, Senior Research Analyst at First Capital Holdings PLC, reviewed the accuracy of the 2025 economic and investment outlook prepared by First Capital Research

Panel discussion (from left to right): Moderated by Deshani Ratnayake, Vice President – Corporate Finance & Advisory, First Capital Advisory Services; Gihan Cooray, Deputy Chairman / Group Finance Director, John Keells Holdings PLC; Sabrina Esufally, Managing Director, Hemas Consumer Brands; Nishal Ferdinando, Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director, JAT Holdings PLC; and Dimantha Mathew, Chief Research & Strategy Officer, First Capital Holdings PLC, who served as the panelists

Image Caption - Dilshan Wirasekara, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Capital Holdings PLC, delivering the welcome address

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