News & market updates

Colombo's ASPI fell 1.7% this week while turnover hit a 65-week low of about Rs. 722.64 million; top drags on the index included John Keells (JKH), PKME and NDB. Banking led turnover (notably Sampath Bank) and activity was concentrated in capital goods, food & beverage and energy names.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.03% to 21,417.80, extending a third straight day of losses on profit taking and net foreign outflows of Rs.36.7m. Banking led turnover (27%) while Haycarb, Chevron Lubricants, John Keells and Hayleys were among top contributors.

C.W. Mackie PLC appointed Asoka Piyadigama as an Executive Director effective 1 August 2026. He currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of York Arcade Holdings and Acme Printing and Packaging and sits on committees within the CFLB Group.

ASPI fell 0.4% (85.70 pts) to 21,461.47 as selling pressure reversed early gains; turnover was below Rs.1.7bn and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.55.9m. Major negative contributors were C T Holdings, Melstacorp, Ambeon, Access Engineering and Central Finance, while John Keells, Chevron Lubricants and Commercial Bank were top turnover names.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.67% to 21,547.17 with net foreign inflows of Rs. 22.6 million. Gains were led by selected blue-chip counters and heavy turnover in capital goods and food & beverage names, with notable moves in DIAL, BREW, CCS, ABAN and JKH.

ASPI fell 1.57% (340.85 pts) to 21,403.28 as the CSE opened in the red amid rising interest rates and Middle East tensions. Turnover was over Rs.2.6bn with foreign net outflows of Rs.54.1m; Melstacorp, Bukit Darah, Sampath and LOLC were key negatives while John Keells and ACL led turnover and HNB rose.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.24% to 22,256.26. Market turnover was LKR 1.67bn, capital goods led turnover (LKR 286.7m); notable movers included Dialog, RIL Property, HNB and Digital Mobility (up) while JKH and LOLC were down, and ACME reported a 63% rise in losses to Rs.313,538 with shares down 3.51%.

Acme Printing and Packaging PLC will cut stated capital by Rs. 1.6 billion — reducing stated capital from Rs. 2.26bn to Rs. 665m — to write off accumulated losses and reduce retained losses to about Rs. 9.2m, subject to shareholder approval at an EGM.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: ASPI -0.23% to 23,011.72 and S&P SL20 -0.30%, with turnover Rs.4.92bn and banks leading at Rs.3.04bn. Movers included Melstacorp, Hemas and CDB up while Ceylinco Insurance, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard fell; Laugfs Power commissioned a 2MW mini-hydro and ACME proposed a capital reduction (EGM Jun 11).

ASPI rose 0.65% (145.47 pts) to 22,695.00 while the S&P SL20 gained 0.6% to 6,244.64. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.8bn with Ceylon Tobacco Company dominating turnover (Rs. 2.4bn) even as foreign investors were net sellers, extending YTD foreign outflows to Rs. 27.6bn.

Singer (SINS.N0000) will acquire ACME Printing and Packaging PLC's factory premises in Piliyandala for Rs. 630,000,000 under a sale-purchase agreement dated April 28, 2026. Singer says the purchase is intended to expand its local manufacturing business.

Colombo Stock Exchange was up midday with the ASPI +0.05% at 22,631.02 and S&P SL20 +0.22% at 6,243.14. Top contributors included Sampath, Commercial Bank and Ceylon Guardian, while Vallibel One and Janashakthi lagged; turnover was Rs2.2bn and Singer agreed to buy ACME's Piliyandala factory for Rs630mn.

Singer (Sri Lanka) agreed to buy ACME Printing and Packaging's Piliyandala factory for Rs630 million to expand its local manufacturing. ACME said the sale is part of its restructuring; Singer reported a 47% rise in December-quarter profits to Rs2.1 billion.

ASPI rose 3.56% for the week but closed yesterday down 0.21% at 21,375.73 as the bourse ended a volatile week; foreign investors were net sellers of over Rs.1.2 billion and market turnover was about Rs.2.7 billion.

CSE extended its rebound as the ASPI rose 3.79% (797.62 pts) to 21,868.85, with market value gaining Rs.284.1 billion in the session and recouping about 48% of the Rs.1.1 trillion loss since the Middle East conflict began. Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Melstacorp, John Keells and Hayleys led gains; turnover topped Rs.6.4bn and foreigners were net sellers (Rs.525m).

The ASPI rose 3.47% (706.26 pts) to 21,071.23, recovering Rs. 244 billion on reports of a possible de‑escalation in the Middle East; the S&P SL20 gained 3.91% to 5,909.23. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.2 billion with gains led by Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Colombo Dockyard while foreigners were net sellers.

Rights issue · 6:1 at Rs 2.50 · XD Feb 5, 2026

Colombo stocks closed in red, with the ASPI down 0.39% (92.40 pts) to 23,690.62 and the S&P SL20 down 0.71% to 6,681.12 on turnover of nearly Rs.3.7bn. Price losses in John Keells, Melstacorp and Nations Trust Bank were key negatives while ACL Cables, Access Engineering and Dialog were top turnover names.

Colombo bourse dipped as the ASPI fell 0.21% to 23,870.07 despite net foreign inflows of Rs.37 million after 22 days of outflows. Capital goods led turnover; John Keells and Hayleys rose while Sampath, Colombo Dockyard, Dialog, DFCC and Commercial Bank were among the negative contributors.

Colombo stock market ended the week up as the ASPI rose 0.14% to 23,801.96 while year-to-date net foreign selling approached Rs. 11.8 billion. Turnover was nearly Rs. 9.1 billion, led by banks and large crossings (notably Commercial Bank) with gains in ACME, JKH, Sampath, HNB, KZOO, Colombo Dockyard and Teejay.

Colombo Stock Exchange turnover reached Rs. 11.11 billion in the session, led by John Keells Holdings which accounted for Rs. 4.31 billion of trades. The ASPI and S&P SL20 rose, 131 stocks closed higher, with Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata, Acme and Ceylon Land & Equity among the top positive contributors and HNB contributing Rs. 1.51 billion of turnover.

CSE ended flat for a second straight session: ASPI down 0.71 pts to 23,607.80 and S&P SL20 down 0.12% to 6,494.76. Top negatives included JKH, DOCK, DFCC, SFCL and HHL while Sierra Cables, Commercial Bank, CDB and RIL recorded gains; turnover ~Rs.4.9bn and foreign net inflow Rs.22m.