News & market updates

Dividend · Rs 1.99 · XD May 22, 2025

Final dividend of LKR 1.99/share; XD 2025-05-22; record 2025-05-22; payable 2025-06-11; FY 2024/25

Elephant House (Ceylon Cold Stores) is the Official Carbonated Beverage Sponsor of Sri Lanka Cricket, gaining exclusive pouring and sales rights at international matches in Sri Lanka through 31 March 2027. The partnership includes stadium pouring, signage, digital/on-ground activations and fan campaigns.

John Keells Foundation (CSR arm of John Keells Holdings PLC) marked its 20th anniversary on 25 April 2025, saying its programmes have impacted over 9 million people through 30+ projects across education, livelihoods, social health and biodiversity. The event highlighted partnerships including training at the Elephant House factory and biodiversity work with Cinnamon Hotels, and featured flagship initiatives such as Project WAVE and Plasticcycle.

Colombo market slipped for a third day as the ASPI closed at 15,544 (down ~12 points) while the S&P SL20 rose 0.05%; turnover was Rs.1.09bn, 57% below the monthly average. Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover, banking sentiment stayed weak; JKH, SUN, CCS rose while CFIN, DFCC and MELS lagged.

Colombo market ended the week with losses as the ASPI fell 0.6% and the S&P SL20 0.44% on low turnover of Rs. 841.2m and foreign net selling of Rs. 2.1m. Sampath, HNB, DFCC and Melstacorp were top negative contributors, while Commercial Credit, Central Finance, Lanka Milk Foods, Ceylon Cold Stores and Alumex drew buying interest.

Colombo market reopened after Avurudu with the ASPI up 99.68 pts (0.64%) to 15,626 and the S&P SL20 up 29.95 pts, on low turnover of Rs.792.8m; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.50.1m. Top contributors and turnover drivers included CFIN, NDB, CCS, COCR, CTC and HNB.

C.D. De Fonseka & Sons won the SLFPA 9th Annual Soft Ball Cricket Tournament held on 15 March 2025. Cargills (via Cargills Convenient Foods) and Elephant House (Ceylon Cold Stores) were among the event sponsors and participating companies.

The 91st Battle of the Saints (the first-ever three-day Joe‑Pete encounter) will be played 3–5 April 2025 at the SSC Grounds, with the 51st One-Day on 26 April; sponsors include Keells (John Keells Holdings), Aitken Spence, HNB, Alliance Finance and Ceylon Cold Stores.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 60 points to 15,848 despite net foreign inflows of Rs.133.8m and turnover of Rs.1.6bn (down 23.4% vs monthly average). Banking-led turnover (HNBN top at Rs.297m) saw HNB, CINS, JKH, DFCC and CFIN drag the market while CCS and Richard Pieris attracted buying.

Colombo market closed flat (ASPI -4) despite higher turnover of Rs.2.9bn led by Sampath Bank (Rs.1.2bn); banking drove 52% of turnover while capital goods and food/beverage/tobacco made up 26%. Foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.122m) and several large crossings dominated activity.

ASPI rose 33 points (0.2%) as turnover hit Rs.1.9 billion, led by crossings in Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank and CIC Holdings; banking stocks were the main drivers while materials also saw heavy trading.

Shivaan Kanag-Isvaran has been appointed to the Board of Dialog Finance PLC as an Independent, Non-Executive Director. He currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC.

ASPI rose 1.67% (256 pts) as turnover reached Rs.3.67bn, led by heavy Sierra Cables volume and buying in banking and diversified-financial stocks. Banking stocks and capital-goods names (notably Sierra Cables, John Keells, CDB, HNB) were key contributors.

Colombo market closed higher — ASPI +12 points, S&P SL20 +19 with turnover of Rs.1.25bn. Major contributors included Commercial Bank, HNB, Melstacorp, NDB and Sampath while John Keells, Hemas, Browns, LOLC and Ceylon Cold Stores were among laggards; foreigners were net buyers of Rs.14.2m.

Colombo market rebounded as ASPI rose 151 pts (0.96%) to 15,861 on turnover of Rs.24bn, led by banking and blue‑chip gains; top contributors included COMB, HNB, SAMP, HAYL and JKH while BOGA, JKH and SAMP led turnover.

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.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.27% to 16,123.10 as turnover slowed to Rs 2.3 billion. Top decliners included Ceylon Tobacco (down 5.9%), Ceylon Cold Stores (down 2.9%), Melstacorp, HNB and Browns Investments, while John Keells, Browns, Jetwing Symphony and Marawila Resorts were among the most active by volume.

ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 named Hayleys PLC overall winner and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC overall runner-up. Listed firms recognised in sector categories included Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations, Ceylon Cold Stores, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Citizens Development Business Finance, Resus Energy, Hayleys Fabric, Haycarb, Diesel & Motor Engineering, JAT Holdings and Aitken Spence Hotels.

John Keells Properties' VIMAN Street Cricket Cup 2025 concluded on 2 Feb 2025 at BOI Cricket Ground, Katunayake, promoting grassroots women's cricket with Devi Balika Vidyalaya (U16) and Anula Vidyalaya (U19) crowned champions. Sponsors included Union Bank of Colombo, Hatton National Bank and Ceylon Cold Stores (Elephant House), and the event ties into the VIMAN Ja-Ela property project.

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.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 2.95% (500.39 pts) to 16,456.10 on Feb 5 as profit-taking triggered broad selling. Top losers included HNB, Commercial Bank, NDB, Sampath, Teejay Lanka and Singer, while Ceylinco Holdings and Lion Brewery gained; turnover was Rs 6.3bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs 343m.

Colombo market opened February lower as the ASPI and S&P SL20 fell about 1%. Turnover was Rs.3 billion with foreigners net sellers of Rs.179.3m; key decliners included HNB, LOLC, BUKI, CARS and CFIN, while SPEN, TJL and CCS were notable gainers.

Sri Lanka stocks fell 0.97% as the ASPI closed down 166.24 points at 16,956 and turnover was Rs3bn, the lowest so far this year. John Keells, Browns Investments and Tea Smallholder Factories announced interim dividends and net foreign outflow was Rs179mn with foreign selling in several large stocks.

Dividend · Rs 1.51 · XD Feb 13, 2025

Third Interim dividend of LKR 1.51/share; XD 2025-02-13; record 2025-02-13; payable 2025-03-05; FY 2024/25

John Keells Consumer Foods Sector won 26 awards at the National Sales Awards 2024 (9 Gold, 5 Silver, 8 Bronze, 3 Merit). Ceylon Cold Stores and Keells Food Products were among the sector units receiving multiple category Golds and other awards.

John Keells Holdings' retail president said consumer demand is picking up but remains below pre-crisis levels (items per basket fell from 9 to 6.8), and Keells Super (run by Ceylon Cold Stores) is opening new outlets, including in Jaffna. The piece also noted currency moves and a central bank policy rate cut to 8.0%.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as banking stocks led gains after Fitch upgraded several Sri Lankan banks; the ASPI closed up 1.40% at 16,828.80. Turnover was LKR 10.66bn with a net domestic inflow of LKR 670m and a net foreign outflow of LKR 670m; notable movers included HNB, NDB, Browns and Ceylon Tobacco.

Colombo market opened bullish as the ASPI rose ~115 points (0.71%) to 16,373 on turnover of Rs.5.5bn. Banking and Capital Goods led activity with DFCC, HNB, NDB, Teejay Lanka, Sierra Cables, CIC and Ceylon Cold Stores among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as ASPI rose 0.71% to 16,373.15, led by banks and capital goods stocks. Heavy volumes included Sierra Cables, Teejay Lanka and LOLC Finance, with Teejay Lanka, NDB, DFCC and Ceylon Cold Stores among top contributors.