News & market updates

EDB hosted a Singapore Food Agency delegation to advance poultry exports to Singapore; SFA audited Ceylon Grain Elevators and Bairaha Farms and EDB/DAPH have submitted company applications to SFA. Sri Lanka exported $5.4m of poultry in 2024 (up 37% YoY) and officials are optimistic on approval.

EDB hosted a Singapore Food Agency delegation on Aug 1, 2025 to progress audits and market access for Sri Lankan poultry; Bairaha Farms PLC and Ceylon Grain Elevators were audited/shortlisted and applications submitted to the SFA for export approval.

Indrajit Wickramasinghe has been appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO.N0000). He is an ex-CEO of Union Bank with over 36 years' management experience and currently sits on the boards of Three Acre Farms, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Overseas Realty.

Brand Finance published Sri Lanka's 100 Most Valuable Brands for 2025, ranking Bank of Ceylon top with a brand value of Rs.57,411m; Commercial Bank, Dialog and People’s Bank follow the top positions. The list covers firms across banking, telecoms, FMCG, healthcare, hospitality and other sectors.

ASPI fell 0.23% (41 points) to 18,000 as profit-taking weighed on the Colombo market, led by declines in HAYL, CTHR, DOCK, GRAN and SAMP. Turnover was Rs.5.6bn with capital goods (notably JKH, AEL) and banking among top contributors; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.48.3m.

Colombo stocks closed marginally down, with the ASPI falling 0.23% to 18,100 and the S&P SL20 down 0.22% to 5,347. Seylan Bank received in-principle CSE approval for a Rs15bn Basel III debenture issue, and Tal Lanka Hotels listed 32,228,524 ordinary voting shares after a private placement.

Three Acre Farms (TAFL) said its profits fell as chicken and egg prices declined over the past year despite improved broiler-farm efficiency. Parent Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN) cut feed prices, reported higher domestic maize costs/quality issues and spent Rs 270 million to retrofit an ammonia refrigeration system.

Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN.N0000) coordinated a chartered bulk maize vessel to cut feed procurement and shipping costs amid high Sri Lankan maize import taxes (25 rupee/kg), aiming to lower input costs for poultry producers.

ASPI rose 183.55 points (1.14%) to 16,314.79 as CSE turnover hit Rs.4.55 billion with over 180 million shares traded. Lanka Realty led activity (Rs.467m); JKH, LOLC and Commercial Bank saw heavy trading; Melstacorp, Sampath, Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Aitken Spence helped drive gains while several counters including Dipped Products, Ceylon Grain Elevators, Industrial Asphalts and NDB fell.

Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN.N0000) said maize import licensing and high duties are blocking poultry export opportunities and causing feed shortages, with locally grown maize meeting less than 50% of industry needs. The firm warned delayed permits and low-quality local maize raise costs and aflatoxin risks.

Ceylon Grain Elevators said per capita chicken availability rose to 11.3 kg in 2024 (from 10.6 kg) and eggs to 99 per year (from 86), and it cut feed prices (broiler -22%, layer -20%, cattle -10%) supported by rupee appreciation. The company said margins were compressed and it absorbed a 3% VAT rise; import controls on maize and past egg price controls have hit the layer sector.

Colombo market ended the session marginally down with the ASPI falling 10 points to 15,916 while both ASPI and S&P SL20 gained 0.4% for the week; turnover was about Rs.1.5–1.54 billion and Materials led activity. Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN) rose 6.06% and HNB gained, while HHL, TJL, SPEN and RCL pressured the index; ACME closed flat.

Three Acre Farms reported revenues fell 58% year‑on‑year to 1.3 billion rupees in the December 2024 quarter as demand for day‑old chicks slumped amid falling chicken and egg prices. Parent Ceylon Grain Elevators saw group revenues rise 56% to 7.05 billion rupees as feed demand increased, with costs also higher.

Dividend · Rs 8.00 · XD Jan 28, 2025

Final dividend of LKR 8/share; XD 2025-01-28; record 2025-01-28; payable 2025-02-18; FY 2024

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 2.08% to 14,500 and S&P SL20 rose 2.48% to 4,349 on Dec 16, 2024, with turnover of 8.2 billion. Top turnover generators included Ceylinco, John Keells, Sampath, HNB and Pan Asia; banking stocks rose after the ISB announcement and net foreign inflow was Rs 100 million.

Colombo market extended its pre-election rally as the ASPI gained 136 pts to 13,125 and the S&P SL20 neared 4,000 on turnover of Rs.7bn. Banking stocks led the advance (Sampath, DFCC, NDB, NTB, JKH, LOLC, MELS, CTHR among contributors) and several firms (ASIY, GRAN, TAFL, GLAS) announced interim dividends.

Dividend · Rs 15.00 · XD Nov 25, 2024

Dividend of LKR 15/share; XD 2024-11-25; record 2024-11-25; payable 2024-12-12; FY 2024

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up: ASPI +0.47% to 12,357 and S&P SL20 +0.95% to 3,663, with turnover Rs 2.3bn. Top turnover stocks included John Keells (JKH 203.00), Sampath (84.00), Commercial Bank (110.25), Hayleys (103.00) and Hemas (81.00); net foreign inflow was Rs 118m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +2.87% to 11,659 and S&P SL20 +4.09% to 3,367, with turnover Rs3.9bn and net foreign inflow Rs82.10m. Banking stocks led gains while foreign buying concentrated in Sampath, HNB, Bukit Darah and LOLC Finance and selling hit CIC, Nations Trust, hSenid, John Keells and Ceylon Cold Stores.

Colombo market closed modestly higher with the ASPI up 4 points to 10,575 and turnover of Rs.1.03 billion. Banking stocks made up 54% of turnover while Royal Ceramics, NDB and Asian Hotels & Properties led gains and Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank and Sierra Cables fell.

Colombo Bourse fell for a second week as the ASPI lost 0.9% and the S&P SL20 lost 1.5% amid election uncertainty, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.1.03 billion. Major laggards included Commercial Bank, HNB, John Keells and Windforce, while Ceylon Tobacco, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Cable Solutions gained.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: All Share Index down 0.23% to 10,775 and S&P SL20 down 0.46% to 3,021, turnover 449 million and net foreign outflow of 43.06 million.

The ASPI fell 1.4% to a six-month low of 10,720 and the S&P SL20 declined 1.7% as election uncertainty weighed on the market. Banking counters and heavyweights including Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, John Keells and Hayleys led losses while foreigners were net sellers.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the All Share Index dropped 1.38% to 10,719 and the S&P SL20 fell 1.69% to 3,006 on turnover of 615 million, with election-month political uncertainty weighing on sentiment.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell, with the All Share Index down 0.36% to 10,869 and the S&P SL20 down 0.38% to 3,058. Turnover was 759 million; top turnover/price moves included Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank (up), HNB, John Keells and Commercial Bank (down), with a net foreign inflow of 0.37 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: All Share Index fell 0.35% to 10,907 and S&P SL20 fell 0.83% to 3,070, with turnover around LKR 1 billion and a net foreign outflow of 25.6 million; top turnover stocks included Sampath, Hayleys, Teejay, Nations Trust and Commercial Bank.