News & market updates

Dividend · Rs 0.50 · XD Jan 12, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.5/share; XD 2026-01-12; record 2026-01-12; payable 2026-01-26; FY Ending 31st March, 2026

Colombo market closed higher as ASPI rose 0.25% with turnover of Rs. 7.56bn, boosted by a ~7% stake crossing in National Development Bank. Banking drove activity (67% of turnover) while several banks and financials including NDB, Capital Alliance and others led contributions.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.11% to 19,826.57 with turnover of 3.2 billion rupees, led by diversified financials. Top movers included Colombo Fort Land & Building, Melstacorp and Agarapatana Plantations (up), while Dipped Products fell and Teejay Lanka rose.

Colombo market extended its positive streak to nine days as the ASPI rose about 34 points (0.17%) on turnover of Rs.5.28 billion. Key contributors included MELS, SEYB, CTC, ACL and SAMP; ACL rose Rs.6.50 while Access Engineering fell 30 cents, and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.36.2m.

Multiple plantation companies (Agarapatana, Elpitiya, Talawakelle, Hatton, Watawala, Kegalle, Kelani Valley, Maskeliya, Namunukula, Kahawatte and Balangoda) are running scholarship programs supporting hundreds of students; Elpitiya alone funds 100 university and 80 A/L students at a cost exceeding LKR 12.4m.

Agarapatana Plantations PLC is scaling mechanized tea harvesting—boosting plucking per worker by 50–60%, cutting plucking costs by ~Rs 50/kg (around a 20–25% reduction in operating costs) and targeting 30% acreage mechanized by end of next year. The company has invested ~Rs 75m in 451 machines and raised tech spend to Rs 200m in 2023/24, improving productivity, worker incomes and profitability.

Agarapatana Plantations' Diyagama West Estate produces over one million kilograms of made tea annually and is modernizing its factory into Sri Lanka's first fully automated upcountry Rotorvane unit. The estate, a Lankem Developments subsidiary, also runs a historic hydro power unit, holds sustainability certifications and supplies Dimbula teas to export markets.

The Colombo market paused its upward run as the ASPI fell 0.37% and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.5%, while foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.170 million. Turnover was Rs.1.5 billion with top contributors John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hayleys and the banking sector leading activity.

Colombo bourse closed the shortened week with the ASPI up 2.9% and S&P SL20 up 3.5%, average daily turnover Rs.3.67bn, led by gains in JKH, LOLC, CARS, EBCR and SAMP; foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.157.2m.

Colombo Bourse closed the week higher, with the ASPI up ~2% and finishing at 15,742 after a 126-point gain on Friday. Market gains were led by LOLC, RCL, NDB, SUN and MELS, with Friday turnover at Rs.2.4bn (Capital Goods, Food & Beverage and Diversified Financials leading) while foreigners were net sellers (Rs.103.6m).

ASPI rose 0.1% yesterday but is down 3.8% so far in March; turnover fell to Rs. 792.5m, led by Food, Beverage & Tobacco (28%), Banking (20%) and Capital Goods (18%). Agarapatana, Hayleys, Hemas and Sampath were among gainers while Bukit Darah, C T Holdings, Access Engineering and NDB were notable laggards.

ASPI fell 43 pts (0.27%) to 16,123 as turnover dropped to Rs.2.36bn. CTC, MELS, CCS and BIL were notable negatives while HAYL, SEYB, HHL and CARS led gains; John Keells dominated turnover and its share rose 10c.

Dividend · Rs 0.50 · XD Feb 27, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 0.5/share; XD 2025-02-27; record 2025-02-27; payable 2025-03-07; FY Ending 31st March, 2025

Colombo market closed the week higher as ASPI and S&P SL20 rose about 2% (ASPI 16,937, +358 pts) with turnover Rs.5 billion, led by banks, capital goods and food & beverage stocks ahead of the 2025 Budget.

Colombo market lost Rs.188 billion as the ASPI plunged ~500 points (3%) and the S&P SL20 fell 3.3%, taking market cap below Rs.6 trillion with turnover of Rs.6.35bn. Banking stocks were the main drag (Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Sampath Bank, NDB); Ceylinco, Teejay, Browns and JKH featured in top turnover.

ASPI closed up 0.26% at 16,257.31 as the Colombo bourse ended higher despite a net foreign outflow of 221 million rupees. Banks and consumer names drew interest; top foreign selling hit John Keells while DFCC, Dipped Products, Hemas and Commercial Bank were among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.07% to 14,810 and turnover hit Rs9.23bn, the highest since Feb 7. Top contributors included Central Finance, Ceylon Cold Stores, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants; net foreign outflow was Rs226m.

The ASPI rose 0.67% to 14,614 as the Colombo bourse closed higher with turnover of Rs. 6 billion and a net foreign inflow of Rs. 100.7 million. Banking led turnover (20%) and HNB, DIMO, Vallibel One, Central Finance and CTC were among the top positive contributors.

Dr. T. Senthilverl sold his 6% stake in Alumex PLC for Rs. 408 million. Buyers included Rayynor Silva, Aravinda de Silva and Ajith Devasurendra; Senthilverl also increased stakes in Agarapatana (over 10%) and Kotagala (5%) and exited a 10% stake in Asia Asset Finance.

Colombo Stock Exchange extended gains for a 10th day, led by heavy turnover and price rises in Asia Asset Finance (up Rs.4 to Rs.21), Hayleys (up Rs.6.25 to Rs.115.25) and Ambeon Capital (up Rs.3.40 to Rs.22.90).

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.40% to 13,613 and S&P SL20 gained 0.41% to 4,069 on Friday, with turnover Rs4.9bn and a net foreign outflow of Rs429m. Major contributors included Hayleys, Sunshine Holdings, LOLC, Access Engineering and Royal Ceramics; heavy volumes in HNB Finance and plantation stocks.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI hit an all-time high, up 1.29% to 13,511 and the S&P SL20 rose 1.90% to 4,016 on turnover of Rs5.2bn. Banks and bluechips led gains (Commercial Bank, Sampath, John Keells, DFCC, NDB, Lion Brewery) amid bullish flows and nearing debt restructuring.

Colombo market rose as the ASPI gained 0.84% (111 pts) to 13,340 with turnover of Rs.3.22bn and foreign net buying of Rs.85.3m. Top contributors included LOLC, CFIN, RCL, HNB and DIPD, while Agarapatana (+0.20 to Rs.9) and ACL Cables (+2.70 to Rs.98.50) saw notable activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up as ASPI rose 0.84% to 13,355, led by the food, beverage and tobacco sector (Rs783mn turnover). Top turnover movers included Agarapatana, Dipped Products, Central Finance, ACL Cables and CIC; Sunshine Holdings (amalgamation announced) also closed higher.