Local News:
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be sworn-in today in Anuradhapura (Daily Mirror)
Mr Rajapaksa, who contested the presidential election held on 16 November 2019 from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was declared as the President on 17 November 2019 upon his victory. President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be sworn in as the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka at the Maha Maluwa of the Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura today (18 November 2019).
http://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/Gota-to-be-sworn-in-today-in-Anuradhapura/155-177983

Economy and constitutional reforms priority: MR (Daily FT)
SLPP Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the twin focus of the newly elected President would be to turnaround the economy and initiate constitutional and legal reforms to address issues created by the 19th Amendment. Further he also pledged to keep the public informed of further developments in this regard in the coming days.
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Economy-and-constitutional-reforms-priority-MR/44-689761

Ministers resign in wake of polls loss (Daily FT)
Subsequent to the victory of President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa several United National Party (UNP) ministers resigned including MPs Sajith Premadasa, Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickrama and Kabir Hashim.
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Ministers-resign-in-wake-of-polls-loss/44-689758

Deal signed for largest-ever FDI of US$24bn (Daily FT)
The Board of Investment (BOI) has signed the agreement for largest-ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth US$24bn by Hambantota Oil Refinery Ltd.
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Deal-signed-for-largest-ever-FDI-of-24-b/44-689710

Local Economy News:
Sri Lanka’s External Trade Performance for September 2019 was released with export earnings decreasing -9.8% YoY to US$952mn and import expenditure decreasing -3.3% YoY to US$1,711mn. Consequently, the balance of trade deficit for September 2019 increased to -US$758mn.
https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/press/pr/press_20191115_external_sector_performance_2019_september_e.pdf

Results for the period ended 30 September 2019:
Cargills (Ceylon) (CARG) reported a 2Q20 net profit of Rs.485mn (+2% YoY), resulting in a 1H20 net profit of Rs.1,128mn (-8% YoY)
Softlogic Holdings (SHL) reported a 2Q20 net loss of -Rs.762mn (vs. a 2Q19 net profit of Rs.372mn), resulting in a 1H20 net loss of -Rs.1,515mn (vs. a 1H19 net profit of Rs.421mn)
Sri Lanka Telecom (SLTL) reported a 3Q2019 net profit of Rs.1,499mn (+30% YoY), resulting in a 1-3Q2019 net profit of Rs.4,985mn (+25% YoY)
Laugfs Gas (LGL) reported a 2Q20 net profit of Rs.17mn (vs. a 2Q19 net loss of -Rs.305mn), resulting in a 1H20 net loss of -Rs.251mn (vs. a 1H19 net loss of -Rs.537mn)
Softlogic Finance (CRL) reported a 2Q20 net profit of Rs.14mn (-54% YoY), resulting in a 1H20 net profit of Rs.41mn (-32% YoY)
Softlogic Life Insurance (AAIC) reported a 3Q2019 net profit of Rs.350mn (-85% YoY), resulting in a 1-3Q2019 net profit of Rs.1,559mn (-52% YoY)
Kotmale Holdings (LAMB) reported a 2Q20 net profit of Rs.37mn (-4% YoY), resulting in a 1H20 net profit of Rs.82mn (-2% YoY)
Colombo Dockyard (DOCK) reported a 3Q2019 net loss of -Rs.332mn (vs. a 2Q2018 net profit of Rs.161mn), resulting in a 1-3Q2019 net loss of -Rs.1,591mn (vs. a 1-3Q2018 net loss of -Rs.102mn)