News & market updates

Asia Securities convened 150+ investors and corporate leaders at the Sri Lanka Investor Conference 2026 to present a constructive capital-market outlook, with speakers citing roughly 4% GDP growth prospects for 2026. Panels highlighted construction, banking/finance, consumer and digital sectors as key growth drivers and projected strong corporate earnings expansion.

The CSE fell, with the ASPI down 4.34% (1,032.15 points) for the week as index-heavy banking and diversified holdings stocks dragged the market. Foreign investors were net sellers (week net outflow Rs.791.2m); large declines came from JKH, HNB and SAMP while ACL, CINS and RAL saw heavy off‑board turnover.

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.

Hayleys PLC’s proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion were assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating by Fitch. Fitch noted subsidiary debt to consolidated EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26, expects it to moderate to ~2.5x by FY27 and said failure could lower the debentures one notch.

Fitch assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating to Hayleys PLC's proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion. Fitch noted subsidiary debt-to-consolidated-EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26 (limit 2.5x) but expects it to moderate toward 2.5x in FY27, otherwise ratings risk.

Hemas Holdings PLC reported 9M earnings of Rs.5.9bn, up 7.5% YoY on revenue of Rs.95.8bn (9.4% growth). Healthcare revenue grew 14.6% to Rs.57.6bn and the share price is up 68% YoY; the group also launched a digital transformation and Hemas AI Labs.

Hemas Holdings reported nine-month earnings up 7.5% to Rs. 5.9 billion on revenue growth of 9.4% to Rs. 95.8 billion, led by double-digit growth in Healthcare and Mobility; Cyclone Ditwah caused temporary supply-chain and demand disruption but recovery trends are evident.

The Colombo market ended lower with the ASPI down 0.37% (88.58 pts) to 23,812.31 amid profit-taking, elevated turnover and net foreign outflows (week net outflow > Rs.2.36bn); daily turnover was about Rs.9.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.1.7bn yesterday).

Colombo market fell as the ASPI dropped 0.38% (91.22 pts) to 23,900.89 with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.20.9m. Top negatives included Senkadagala Finance, Ceylon Tobacco, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and C T Holdings while Prime Lands Residencies gained.

Hemas Holdings has received Competition Authority of Kenya approval for its proposed acquisition of a majority equity stake in a Kenyan consumer products company (Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated 25 Sep 2025). The deal remains subject to remaining conditions precedent, including Central Bank of Sri Lanka approval, and Hemas will update the Colombo Stock Exchange.

John Keells Holdings, Hemas Holdings and JAT Holdings outlined growth strategies at First Capital's investor symposium; JKH highlighted City of Dreams and West Container Terminal Phase One at ~90% utilisation. Hemas sees consumers shifting back to branded quality and demographic-led convenience growth, while JAT targets post-cyclone reconstruction and manufacturing expansion.

ASPI ended marginally up at 23,960.16 (+0.03%) on turnover of over Rs.5.2bn. Capital goods led turnover (31%) driven by Colombo Dockyard and John Keells, while diversified financials and banks contributed 21% and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.128.2m.

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.

Hemas Holdings (HHL.N0000) announced Project Fusion, a major transformation to unify processes, digitise operations and build real-time data capabilities to accelerate decision-making and group growth. KPMG will implement the program with EY providing independent governance oversight.

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.

Hemas Holdings' Outreach Foundation opened its 75th Piyawara Preschool in Homagama, expanding the early childhood programme that benefits over 4,000 preschoolers annually and has reached about 100,000 children over 23 years.

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.

CSE ended mixed with the ASPI up 0.13% to 21,927.00 and the S&P SL20 down 0.05% to 6,011.31, on turnover of about Rs.2.56bn and foreign net selling of ~Rs.68.6m. Top positive contributors included DOCK, RICH, SAMP, JKH and CARG, while SFCL, SUN, RCL, LOLC and HHL were among decliners.

Colombo Dockyard led gains as the ASPI rose 0.13% to 21,927.00, with Dockyard up to Rs127.00. Other contributors included Sampath Bank, John Keells, Tokyo Cement and Sierra Cables; turnover fell to Rs2.5bn and the CSE recorded a net foreign outflow of Rs68.58m.

Colombo stock market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.64% to 22,149.09, with the exchange losing Rs.70 billion on the week (ASPI down 1.59% w/w); turnover was Rs.3.45 billion and foreign investors were net sellers.

Colombo Bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.17% (37.12 pts) to 22,292.57 on subdued activity and profit-taking, with turnover over Rs.2.3bn. Top negative contributors included DOCK, SFCL, RICH, MELS and BREW, while Tokyo Cement and Hemas saw notable investor participation.

Hemas Holdings' Hemas Surgicals and Diagnostics, in partnership with Nihon Kohden Singapore, introduced the Cereb Air next-generation EEG at the Sri Lanka College of Emergency Physicians congress and discussed a field study to test rapid seizure diagnosis and potential hospital cost savings.

The Ministry launched the Industry Recovery Foster Program (IRFP) and Industry Development Foster Program (IDFP) to revive large-scale manufacturing hit by Cyclone Ditwah, with corporates including John Keells (JKH.N0000), Hemas (HHL.N0000), Brown & Company (BRWN.N0000) and Cargills (CARG.N0000) joining a PPP. The recovery framework will be operational within 30 days and 16,476 inquiries have been recorded to date.

Colombo market rose for a fourth straight session: ASPI +0.16% (36.85 pts) to 22,459.28 and S&P SL20 +0.18% (11.09 pts) to 6,095.15. Turnover was Rs.5.55bn, foreigners were net sellers of Rs.150.5m, and top ASPI contributors were DOCK, CINS, CFIN, HHL and SUN.

Colombo Dockyard said the SEC approved Onomichi Dockyard to sell its entire shareholding to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders after the company's rights issue, subject to a mandatory offer; DOCK closed at LKR234.25 (up LKR17.25). Speculative interest in construction-related stocks (eg. ACL, Swisstek) lifted the ASPI 0.16% and S&P SL20 0.18%.

Hemas Holdings PLC has been named to Forbes Asia’s 200 Best Under a Billion for 2025, selected from over 19,000 companies for its growth, innovation and three-year shareholder performance. The company is one of the first Sri Lankan firms since 2021 to make the list.

The ASPI rebounded 0.45% to 21,594.86 on Monday as investor interest in diversified financials, capital goods and construction stocks pushed the market higher. Several stocks rose (AEL, ACL, DOCK, SAMP, HHL) and Abans Finance (AFSL) announced a debenture sale to raise up to LKR 1.5bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 5.35% for the week, wiping out nearly Rs. 424 billion in market value. The ASPI hit a two-and-half-month low at 21,497.08 yesterday, with heavy losses in banking and capital-goods counters including JKH, HHL, COMB, SAMP, DFCC, NDB and HNB.