News & market updates

CSE indices fell sharply — ASPI down 197.31 points to 21,208.10 and S&P SL20 down 56.46 to 5,943.22 — despite turnover rising to Rs.2.63bn. Turnover was driven by crossings in CT Holdings (Rs.561m), Cargills (Rs.544.95m) and Lanka Milk Foods (Rs.232m), while price losses in Dialog, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Carson Cumberbatch led the ASPI decline.

Colombo bourse snapped a three-day decline as the ASPI rose 0.14% to 21,447.57 with turnover near Rs.1.5bn and foreign net selling of Rs.26.9m; gains were led by DIAL, HAYC, CFIN, JKH and CTHR.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.50% to 21,424.71 with market turnover of Rs.1.089 billion and banks leading turnover at Rs.221.1 million. Merchant Bank (MBSL) set a rights reference price of Rs.0.30 and its stock closed down 5.31% at Rs.10.70.

The ASPI fell 1.07% (233.18 points) to 21,532.38 as investors sold amid renewed Middle East conflict concerns. Market turnover was over Rs 1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs 56mn, with banks and food & beverage sectors leading activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 1.07% (−233.18 pts) to 21,532.38 amid escalating West Asia tensions. Banks led selling with turnover at 1.04 billion rupees; Palm Garden Hotels reported non-compliance with minimum public holding and People's Leasing listed 59,766,864 scrip shares.

The ASPI edged up 0.01% to 22,256.49 with turnover above Rs.1.56bn and foreign investors net-selling Rs.225mn. Hemas, NDB and Hayleys Fibre were top turnover contributors (Hemas and Hayleys up, Panasian Power down).

Colombo market rose for a second session as the ASPI gained 0.22% to 22,436.14 on turnover above Rs.3.1bn, driven by elevated HNW activity with PKME, Dialog and NDB among top contributors; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.333.3m.

Colombo market edged up as the ASPI rose 0.04% (8.62 pts) to 22,385.91 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.17% to 6,210.72. Turnover was Rs.2.56bn on 107m shares, the banking sector led turnover and foreigners were net sellers of about Rs.12.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, with the ASPI up 0.04% at 22,385 and the S&P SL20 down 0.17% at 6,210; turnover was 2.5 billion rupees. Top positive contributors were CT Holdings, Lion Brewery and Hayleys.

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 Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.40% (85.54 points) to 21,461.63, with market turnover of 1.67 billion rupees. Bukit Darah, John Keells, Aitken Spence and Associated Motor Finance were positive contributors while C T Holdings and Melstacorp were among the largest decliners; capital goods led turnover at 469.3 million rupees.

Dividend · Rs 10.50 · XD May 25, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 10.5/share; XD 2026-05-25; record 2026-05-25; payable 2026-06-12; FY 2025 - 2026

ASPI fell 0.49% (110.70 pts) to 22,584.30 as Middle East tensions dented sentiment; turnover was over Rs.2.1bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.42m. CINS, CTHR, HHL and SAMP were top negative contributors while COMB, LFIN, PKME, ACL, REEF, GRAN and JKH featured among active names.

CSE All Share Index fell 0.49% (110.70 pts) to 22,584 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.31% to 6,225 as brokers said Middle East escalation spurred retail selling. Bank counters saw selling, turnover was Rs 2.15bn with crossings in JKH, COMB, LLUB and LFIN, and Colombo Dockyard narrowed its quarterly loss to Rs 428.1m.

The ASPI fell 0.89% (203.26 pts) to 22,570.03 as Middle East tensions and higher global oil prices weighed on the Colombo bourse. RIL Property, C T Holdings, Commercial Bank and Browns Investments were among top negative contributors while Hikkaduwa Beach Resort and other tourism counters saw notable retail turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down with the ASPI down 0.89% to 22,570.03 and the S&P SL20 down 0.66% to 6,222.79. Asiri Hospital (+12.37%), Melstacorp and Carson Cumberbatch led gains while RIL (-5.92%), C T Holdings and Dialog were top decliners; turnover Rs 4.11bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up as the ASPI rose 0.82% to 22,773.29 on Apr 17, 2026, led by gains in Central Finance (+5.83%), Hemas (+5.06%), Hayleys (+2.17%) and C T Holdings (+4.14%); NDB (-2.11%), HNB (-0.54%) and Commercial Bank (-0.47%) were top decliners.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.33% (73.06 pts) to 21,844.54, with net foreign selling of Rs.221.4m (weekly outflows Rs.1.9bn) amid Middle East tensions; IMF staff-level agreement on EFF reviews helped a partial late-session recovery.

ASPI fell 1.2% (258.31 pts) for the week and the S&P SL20 dropped 2% (124.30 pts); market turnover was about Rs.1.77bn with net foreign outflows of Rs.68.2m, while breadth was positive and activity was led by capital goods, banks, materials and food & beverage names.

Colombo market fell 2.05% (ASPI -448.91 pts to 21,419.94), wiping out Rs.173 billion after oil rose ~2% to ~$104/bbl amid escalating Mideast tensions. HNB, MELS, COMB, CTHR and JKH were the top negative contributors; turnover was near Rs.3.3 billion.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 2.05% to 21,419.94 on Thursday amid uncertainty over US‑Iran talks and Brent crude rising above $100. Hatton National Bank, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank and C T Holdings were top negative contributors; Commercial Bank announced scrip dividend allocations of 14,236,941 voting and 984,260 non‑voting shares.

The ASPI plunged 3.51% to 21,904.14 as panic selling and a >25% surge in crude to about $115/bbl on Middle East conflict hit the CSE; banking and blue-chip stocks (Commercial Bank, HNB, JKH, Sampath, C T Holdings) led declines while Lanka IOC rose.

Cargills Bank PLC's public float rose to 49.84% as at 19 Feb 2026 from 39.14% at 31 Dec 2025 after Cargills (Ceylon) and CT Holdings sold a combined 10.05%. The Central Bank has directed the bank to meet staged capital targets (Rs16bn by 31-Mar-2027 to Rs20bn by 31-Dec-2029) and to cut the two shareholders' combined holding to 45% by Mar-2027, 35% by Mar-2028, 25% by Mar-2029 and 15% by Dec-2029.

The ASPI rose 0.60% (134.03 pts) to 22,577.41 on bargain hunting after a prior session plunge, with turnover ~Rs.4.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.95.1m. Capital goods led turnover (Rs.1.5bn) while banking and diversified financials also drove gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.60% to 22,577.41 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.70% to 6,357.66; Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and C T Holdings were top positive contributors while Senkadagala Finance fell 24.98% after listing 4,313,992 ordinary voting shares.

The Central Bank has directed Cargills Bank to meet interim capital targets (Rs.16.0bn by 31-Mar-2027; Rs.17.5bn by 31-Mar-2028; Rs.19.0bn by 31-Mar-2029; Rs.20.0bn by 31-Dec-2029) and to cut combined holdings of Cargills (Ceylon) and CT Holdings from current ~50.66% to 45% by Mar-2027, 35% by Mar-2028, 25% by Mar-2029 and 15% by Dec-2029.

C T Holdings (CTHR.N0000) has appointed Indira Malwatta as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Malwatta has over 40 years' experience and currently serves on the boards of Samson International, Cargills and Kotmale.

Colombo bourse ended the week lower: ASPI down 0.40% (96.43 pts) at 23,773.64 and S&P SL20 down 0.32% at 6,721.47. Leading negatives were COMB, CTHR, MELS, BUKI and JKH; banking sector led turnover (23%) and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs. 11.3m.

The ASPI fell 0.07% to 23,882.82 in a volatile session with turnover of Rs.4.2bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.42.3m. Leading negative contributors were CTHR, PABC, DIMO, DFCC and RICH, while Softlogic Capital and Prime Lands led turnover.