News & market updates

NDB Bank joined the ‘Revive Sri Lanka - Rising Stronger’ initiative at Kandy City Centre on 20 December to support SME/MSME recovery after Cyclone Ditwa. The event drew over 800 participants and included Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC and HNB among participating financial institutions.

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.

Sri Lanka launched its first Smart Bus Ticketing System enabling contactless cards, digital wallets and QR payments, implemented by Ceylon Business Appliances with Nimbus and partnered banks including Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and DFCC Bank.

NDB Bank participated in the "Revive Sri Lanka | Rising Stronger" initiative on 20 December at Kandy City Centre, joining over 800 participants to support SME/MSME recovery after the DITWA cyclone. The event brought together major banks (Commercial, Sampath, DFCC, HNB) and highlighted public-private collaboration and NDB's SME digital banking focus.

Colombo market gained Rs.89.4bn as the ASPI rose 1% to 23,527.13, leaving it 133 points short of the record. Turnover was Rs.12.3bn with real estate (37%) and banking/diversified financials (32%) leading activity while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.1.7bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up, with the ASPI rising 0.97% to 23,520, led by Wealth Trust's strong debut and gains in bank stocks. Top contributors included HNB, Sampath, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Central Finance, with turnover at LKR 12.32 billion.

Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance PLC (MBSL) recalibrated the MBSL Midcap Index effective 1 January 2026, setting the midcap market-cap range at Rs. 8.45 billion–Rs. 84.5 billion and selecting 25 constituents. New inclusions include Sierra Cables, Aitken Spence, Vallibel Finance, Lanka IOC, JAT Holdings and Prime Lands; Citizens Development, CIC, Ceylon Grain Elevators, John Keells, Hayleys Fabric, Teejay Lanka and Watawala Plantations were excluded.

Colombo market rose for a ninth straight session as the ASPI gained 1.21% to 23,292.91, with market turnover about Rs. 6.6bn; banking counters led activity and top positive contributors included HNB, COMB, JKH, NDB and SAMP.

DFCC Bank hosted an invitational Pro-Am on 4 January 2026 at Royal Colombo Golf Club as the opening event of the Faldo Golf Series 2026, acting as title sponsor for the second consecutive year.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange rose on the first trading day of 2026, with the All Share Price Index up 1.26% to 22,910.46 and the S&P SL20 up 0.63% to 6,195.95 on turnover of 5.1 billion rupees. Top contributors included ACL Cables, Commercial Bank, Access Engineering and DFCC Bank, with construction and bank shares drawing investor interest as reconstruction followed Cyclone Ditwah.

Government will launch a concessionary pledge loan scheme from 1 Jan to help SME paddy millers access loans up to Rs.50 million at 7% for 180 days. Fifteen banks will participate, including COMB.N0000, HNB.N0000, SAMP.N0000, DFCC.N0000, NDB.N0000, NTB.N0000, ABL.N0000, CBNK.N0000 and PABC.N0000; total disbursements ~Rs.10bn.

The WCIC Women Entrepreneur Awards 2025 will be held on 13 January 2025 at the Colombo Hilton to recognise outstanding women entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka and the SAARC region; event partners include DFCC Bank and Hayleys PLC.

Sri Lanka’s 2025 combined IMF-backed stabilization and reform gains with a late-November setback from Cyclone Ditwah. Key items include a Central Bank rate cut (lending window to 8.25%), DFCC’s sale of a 50% Acuity stake to HNB for LKR 6.5bn, and John Keells launching the $1.2bn City of Dreams resort alongside major energy project deals and rooftop-solar grid issues.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.29% to 22,132.33 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.06% to 6,037.79 on turnover of about Rs. 3.7bn and net foreign outflows of Rs. 200.5m. Colombo Dockyard, DFCC and Richard Pieris led gains while John Keells and Commercial Bank fell.

Colombo Dockyard and banking shares lifted the CSE All Share Price Index 0.29%, with the ASPI closing at 22,132.33 and Colombo Dockyard the top gainer at 171.75 rupees. Market turnover fell to 3.7 billion rupees and the exchange recorded a net foreign outflow of 200.46 million rupees led by John Keells.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed Friday with the ASPI up 0.50% (109.79 pts) to 22,068.84, re-entering the 22,000 mark. Turnover was over Rs.2.7bn, foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.18.9m), with banking counters and names like DOCK and RICH among top contributors.

DFCC Bank has partnered with Singhe Hospitals PLC to offer islandwide preferential healthcare benefits to DFCC Garusaru Senior Citizen Savings Account holders, covering specialist consultations, diagnostics, selected procedures, room concessions and ambulance/transport across Singhe’s network.

DFCC Bank received CBSL approval to acquire Standard Chartered Sri Lanka’s retail and wealth units in a Rs. 3.7 billion deal, expected to complete by Q2 2026. DFCC will now proceed with planned migration and integration activities.

Banks agreed to grant distressed businesses 3–6 month extensions on existing loan repayments without additional interest or fees following Cyclone Ditwah. They also agreed on low-interest concessional loans, a common implementation mechanism and a shared database to coordinate support.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.17% to 22,292.57 (down 37.12 points) with turnover of 2.3 billion rupees. Yaden raised its stake in Maharaja Foods to 10.04%; HNB will list debentures offering 10.25% and 11% on Dec 19; HDFC appointed K B Wijeyratne as chairman pro-tem; United Motors set a 10-for-1 share split date; JKH, CTC, BUKI and DFCC were top gainers.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.02% lower as the ASPI slipped to 22,329.69, with banks and capital-goods names dragging the market. LOLC Finance filed to list Rs 15bn of debentures; turnover rose to Rs 3.3bn and net foreign outflow was Rs 130.44m.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.17% (38.48 pts) to 22,333.25 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.31% to 6,071.12. Turnover was Rs 2.85bn on ~77.2m shares with foreign net outflows of Rs 42.8m; top contributors included DOCK, COMB, SAMP, MELS and DFCC.

Colombo Dockyard and several financials lifted the Colombo Stock Exchange 0.17% as the ASPI closed at 22,333.25. Market turnover rose to LKR 2.8bn with a net foreign outflow of LKR 42.76m; Lanka IOC had crossings of LKR 92.25m and Capital Alliance led turnover.

ASPI fell 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77, erasing Rs. 52.9bn of market value; top negative contributors were DOCK, CINS, COMB, CFIN and DFCC.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down with the ASPI falling 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77 and turnover Rs 2.22bn, weighed by declines in Colombo Dockyard, Commercial Bank, Central Finance and DFCC Bank. Colombo Dockyard said the SEC approved Onomichi's stake sale to Mazagon, subject to a mandatory offer.

DFCC Bank launched updated credit and debit card benefits offering up to 70% savings at partner merchants, up to 3% cashback, and credit card instalment plans of up to 48 months. Cards also include contactless payments, enhanced fraud protection, balance transfers and mobile-app controls.

DFCC Bank has rolled out POS terminals and ETIM solutions enabling QR, credit and debit card payments on buses to support the Ministry of Transport's national fare digitalisation. The bank will supply terminals to bus owners/operators and use compliant software and partners for real-time, secure fare collection.