The Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2026, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for the second consecutive year, commenced yesterday under the theme, “From Risk to Opportunity: Mainstreaming Climate Action into Sri Lanka’s Growth Story.”
Speaking during a session on “Is Sri Lanka Climate-Ready for Investment?”, Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi stressed the importance of fostering high-level dialogue among policymakers, financial institutions, and industry leaders to bridge the gap between technical preparedness and sustainable economic growth.
The Minister noted that alongside efforts to attract large-scale climate investments, the Ministry of Environment and the Central Environmental Authority are strengthening grassroots climate resilience and circular economy initiatives. Particular attention was given to successful national and provincial programs that recognize and build the capacity of Sri Lanka’s informal waste collectors.
Highlighting the need for inclusive and effective environmental management, Patabendi underscored the importance of integrating the informal waste sector into the country’s green economy. As part of Sri Lanka’s broader climate strategy, he announced that the Government has taken a landmark policy decision to double the industrial sector’s emission reduction target to 13%.
The enhanced target forms a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s long-term sustainability agenda, which includes achieving 70% renewable energy generation by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. The Minister emphasized that global climate goals should be viewed as an opportunity to modernize the economy, strengthen competitiveness, and drive sustainable industrial growth while protecting the nation’s ecological resources.
He further stated that climate compliance and economic development are mutually reinforcing objectives, forming the foundation of a resilient and globally competitive economy.
Also addressing the summit, Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of the regional office of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, said that “Building Back Better Before, During and Beyond” must serve as a guiding principle for resilience and sustainable development efforts. He noted that risk has become increasingly systemic across sectors and geographies, requiring both governments and businesses to better understand the economic impacts of disasters and climate-related shocks.
Toscano-Rivalta added that disaster risk reduction is evolving beyond traditional business continuity planning and is increasingly becoming an integral component of corporate strategy to enhance resilience, competitiveness, and long-term growth.
Meanwhile, Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Sri Lanka, highlighted that climate change is already influencing markets, trade, investment, supply chains, and human development. She emphasized that climate policy must be embedded within economic policy and that the private sector has a crucial role to play in implementation, resilience-building, and recovery efforts.
First Capital Named Leading Investment Banking Firm by World Economic Magazine
First Capital Holdings PLC, a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group) and a leading player in Sri Lanka’s capital markets sector, has been named the Leading Investment Banking Firm in Sri Lanka for 2026 at the prestigious World Economic Magazine Awards.
Organised by World Economic Magazine, a globally recognised platform that celebrates excellence, innovation and leadership across international markets, the awards recognise organisations that demonstrate exceptional strategic impact while contributing to economic development and industry advancement.
The awards programme honours outstanding institutions across a range of sectors, including banking, financial services, investment, fintech, governance and sustainability. Winners are selected through an independent evaluation process conducted by the magazine’s research and editorial team, which assesses factors such as business performance, growth, market presence, industry influence, leadership, innovation and strategic initiatives.
The recognition highlights First Capital’s continued leadership within Sri Lanka’s capital markets and its commitment to delivering innovative financial solutions, trusted advisory services and long-term value to clients. The accolade further strengthens the company’s standing as one of the country’s most awarded investment firms, known for its strong track record in performance, transparency and excellence across its operations.
Commenting on the achievement, First Capital Holdings PLC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dilshan Wirasekara said, “Being recognised as the Leading Investment Banking Firm in Sri Lanka by the World Economic Magazine Awards is a significant milestone for First Capital and a testament to the strength of our business model, the trust placed in us by our clients and the dedication of our team. This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering market-leading financial solutions, driving innovation across our operations and contributing meaningfully to the development of Sri Lanka’s capital markets.”
Over the years, First Capital has played a key role in shaping Sri Lanka’s financial services industry through its comprehensive range of offerings, including investment banking, wealth management, fixed income solutions and stockbroking services. The company has built a strong reputation for combining deep market expertise with a client-focused approach, helping individuals, corporates and institutions navigate evolving market opportunities with confidence.
Government Raises Industrial Sector Emission Reduction Target to 13%
