Sri Lanka, May 17 -- Sri Lanka's Purchasing Managers' Index for Manufacturing (PMI - Manufacturing) has registered a significant decline, falling to 40.1 in April 2025.

This marks a notable downturn compared to the seasonal peak experienced in March.

Key indicators within the manufacturing sector all showed contraction during April. The sub-indices for Production, New Orders, Stock of Purchases, and Employment all decreased, contributing to the overall negative performance of the index.

Survey respondents indicated that the drop in New Orders was primarily due to the waning demand following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season, particularly impacting the food and beverage industry.

The decline in Production was largely attrib...