News & market updates

Ambeon Capital's subsidiary Ambeon Essentials signed an agreement to acquire a 51.11% controlling stake in Harischandra Mills (price undisclosed). Harischandra shares jumped Rs.1,396 (25%) to Rs.6,982 after the announcement.

Mabroc Teas (part of Hayleys Group) launched TeaTrace, a QR-linked digital traceability platform providing batch-level supply-chain visibility to meet European ESG and sourcing requirements. Hayleys says the platform aligns with its digital transformation and sustainability priorities and will be expanded to other markets.

Lee Hedges PLC appointed Hisham Jamaldeen and Archie Warman as Non-Independent Executive Directors. Both have 20+ years in corporate finance and real estate and hold directorships at On'ally Holdings and Lanka Realty Investments; Jamaldeen has also served at Hayleys PLC.

Hayleys-owned Mabroc Teas has launched TeaTrace, a QR-linked digital traceability platform providing batch-level visibility from estate to retail to meet European ESG and sourcing demands. The platform, unveiled at Anuga 2025, is intended to support compliance, sustainability verification and market access.

EFC's National Best Employer Awards 2025 honoured SPEN.N0000, COMB.N0000, DIAL.N0000, HNB.N0000, HAYL.N0000, HHL.N0000, JKH.N0000 and others as Best Employer winners; honourable mentions included CTC.N0000, LLUB.N0000 and LION.N0000.

ASPI rose 0.03% (7.45 pts) to 23,813.77 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.02% to 6,617.85; turnover was Rs.8.3 billion and foreigners were net sellers with a reported net outflow of Rs.144.6 billion. Top contributors included HNB, DFCC, UML, RICH and ASCO, with DOCK, HAYL and SFCL dragging the index.

CIM has appointed a Sri Lanka Professional Member Support Committee led by Dr. Lewie Diasz; the panel includes senior marketing executives from Lion Brewery, Hayleys, National Development Bank, HNB, DIMO and The Kingsbury.

Hayleys PLC announced a Rs.9 billion rights issue (three new shares for every 50 at Rs.200) and a Rs.6 per-share dividend (Rs.4.5 b) for FY26. Proceeds will fund new investments and partial debt settlement; the rights issue requires CSE and shareholder approvals.

Hayleys PLC approved an interim dividend of Rs.6 per share and proposed a Rs.9.0bn rights issue (45,000,000 shares at Rs.200) to fund new investments and part-settlement of debt. Ex-dividend 30 Jan, record 2 Feb, payment 12 Feb; rights issue subject to CSE and shareholder approval.

ASPI closed at an all-time high of 23,806.32, up 0.77% (182.58 pts) on turnover above Rs.9.8bn. Gains were led by Hayleys, Colombo Dockyard and Sampath Bank, with the capital goods and banking sectors among the top contributors.

Hayleys Plc will raise Rs9 billion via a rights issue of 45,000,000 ordinary voting shares (3 new for every 50) priced at Rs200 each to fund new investments and part-settlement of debt; the issue is subject to CSE and shareholder approvals.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally up as the ASPI rose 0.03% to 23,813 with turnover Rs 8.32 billion. Top contributors included HNB and DFCC; Hayleys fell after announcing a Rs6 dividend and a 3-for-50 rights issue, while Renuka rose after disclosure of a 24.78% non-voting stake sale.

Rights issue · 3:50 at Rs 200.00 · XD Mar 18, 2026

Dividend · Rs 6.00 · XD Jan 30, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 6/share; XD 2026-01-30; record 2026-02-01; payable 2026-02-12; FY 2025/26

Colombo Dockyard drove turnover and traded higher after India’s Mazagon Dock bought a 41.73% stake; the ASPI rose 0.76% to 23,803 with market turnover Rs9.81bn, of which DOCK accounted for Rs2.65bn.

Colombo market ended flat as the ASPI fell 0.02% to 23,623.74 with turnover near Rs.5.17 billion and foreign investors net sold about Rs.91 million. Top negative contributors were SFCL, JKH, BUKI, CTHR and DFCC, while DOCK, ACL and RHL led turnover and HAYL and DOCK supported index performance.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.02% at 23,623.74 as speculative interest in Colombo Dockyard drove turnover. Colombo Dockyard listed 323,365,158 new ordinary voting shares after its rights issue; top contributors included Hayleys, Dockyard, ACL Cables, Commercial Bank and Nations Trust Bank.

Hayleys PLC (via Hayleys Fentons / HayWind One Limited) has begun construction of a 50 MW wind farm in Mannar to supply electricity to the national grid under a PPA with the Ceylon Electricity Board. The project is expected to save about Rs.4.7 billion in annual fuel costs and offset ~186,300 tonnes of CO2.

Hayleys PLC launched construction of the 50 MW Hayleys Fentons wind project in Mannar, expected to generate 207 million kWh/year at a tariff of $0.0465 per unit and due for completion in March 2027.

Hayleys PLC's unit Hayleys Fentons launched construction of a 50 MW wind power plant in Mannar, expected to generate 207,000,000 kWh/year and supply electricity at USD 0.0465 (LKR 14.37) per unit, scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.43% as the ASPI gained 100.90 points to 23,708.70, led by Dialog Axiata and gains in banks, capital goods and telcos; market turnover increased to Rs9.2bn.

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings was appointed the exclusive Sri Lanka distributor for Evonik Industries AG’s specialty animal nutrition portfolio, giving Hayleys PLC exclusive rights to introduce Evonik products (GUTCARE, SPEOCARE T60, GUANAMINO) to the local poultry industry.

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.

Colombo market rose as the ASPI gained 0.66% (150.67 pts) to 23,014.75, with market value up Rs.58.89 billion and turnover ~Rs.5.8 billion. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, ACL Cables, Dipped Products, Carson Cumberbatch, LOLC and Sampath, and foreigners were net buyers (~Rs.87.8m).

Hayleys PLC's logistics arm, Hayleys Advantis, signed a Terminal Service Agreement with SLPA Terminals and CMA CGM to formalise vessel scheduling and cargo handling, aiming to increase container volumes and improve terminal efficiency at the Port of Colombo.

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.

A 26-member Sri Lankan delegation, including Cargills (CARG.N0000), Hayleys (HAYL.N0000) and CIC (CIC.N0000), participated at FoodAG 2025 in Karachi (25–27 Nov 2025) to pursue sourcing, distribution and trade partnerships. Meetings covered livestock import regulation talks and efforts to strengthen trade under the Pakistan–Sri Lanka FTA.

Hayleys Fentons, part of Hayleys PLC, was named Sri Lanka's Best Integrated Solutions Provider in Engineering Services at the World Business Outlook Awards 2025 in Bangkok. The international recognition highlights the firm's technical expertise and may bolster the Hayleys group's reputation in engineering and related sectors.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 1.49% as the ASPI closed 313.56 points higher at 22,445.89, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, HNB and Commercial Bank. Market turnover fell to 3.4 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 36.73 million rupees, led by John Keells.