News & market updates

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.

Government has consolidated MSME financial facilities into a single digital Rs.95 billion framework and the NCGI will issue Rs.7,000 million in credit guarantees in 2026 to unlock about Rs.10,000 million in MSME lending. Sixteen banks, including HDFC, Commercial Bank, NDB, HNB, Sampath, Seylan, DFCC, Nations Trust and Cargills Bank, will participate in channeling concessional and disaster-relief loans.

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.

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.

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.

DFCC Bank and Hatton National Bank are platinum sponsors of the upcoming Association of Professional Bankers (APB) Sri Lanka convention. The event will host foreign delegates and aims to promote global networking, knowledge sharing and industry leadership for the banking sector.

HNB (HNB.N0000) has partnered with MarxPay and LankaPay to launch 'Pay by Bank Account' via JustPay Web, enabling customers to pay online directly from bank accounts with tokenisation for security. The feature is intended to lower merchant transaction costs and support wider digital commerce adoption.

HNB CEO Damith Pallewatte said exceptional loan growth in 2025 and a shift from government securities to lending are squeezing bank margins, tightening liquidity and raising funding costs. He warned deposit and lending rates are rising and that vehicle imports and lower single-borrower limits are reshaping credit and capital markets.

HNB PLC launched 'Nana Savi Mehewara', a nationwide initiative to provide school supplies to children affected by Cyclone Ditwah, with collection points at over 250 HNB branches. Employees voluntarily contributed a day's pay to kickstart the programme.

HNB PLC was conferred Superbrand status for 2025 by the global Superbrands organization, recognising its brand strength and leadership in Sri Lanka's banking sector. The bank highlighted strong digital adoption—over 1.1 million active mobile app users—and its role in national digital initiatives such as expressway toll gate digitization.

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.

SLII hosted a forum on the 'Aftermath of Ditwah' where regulators and insurers reported insurers had received claims exceeding Rs. 52 billion from more than 24,200 clients as of 5 Jan 2026. Panelists warned reinsurance costs may rise and urged regulatory reform, a national catastrophe scheme and micro/parametric products.

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.

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) was conferred Superbrand Status for 2025 by Superbrands Sri Lanka in recognition of its reputation, leadership and innovation. The bank highlights over 1.1 million active mobile app users and an exclusive five-year mandate for expressway toll gate digitisation.

The inaugural Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025 set industry priorities and KPIs, recommending bank–fintech partnership frameworks, a national cloud policy, digital ID expansion, CBDC research and a target to reduce cash-in-circulation from 4.5% to 3.5% of GDP in three years. Sessions included CBSL, the Ministry of Digital Economy, BOI and banking leaders.

TiECON 2026 in Colombo drew 600 delegates and 30 international speakers; Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) was Platinum Sponsor and CEO Damith Pallewatte moderated a panel. The 'Go Global' summit focused on market-entry strategies, AI adoption and exporting pathways for Sri Lankan firms.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.19% (45.79 pts) to 23,608.51 on turnover of Rs.5.2 billion and a net foreign outflow of Rs.35.4 million. The session saw selling pressure weighing on DOCK, RICH and banks (HNB, SAMP) while JKH, RCL, COMB and PLR were among notable buying/turnover contributors.

Seminar on safeguards under the amended Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 will be held on 27 Jan (2–5pm) at NH Collection, Colombo 3. Organisers say the amendments place new responsibilities and stricter penal sanctions on company secretaries and directors; speakers include HNB and LOLC Insurance chairs.

Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha warned amendments to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act would allow the Port City Commission to issue offshore banking licences outside the Banking Act, creating shadow-banking and systemic risk. He said permitting Port City offshore banks to borrow from domestic banks and lower capital requirements could strain FX reserves and disadvantage local banks.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed 45.79 points lower at 23,608.51 (down 0.19%) after earlier reaching an intraday high, with market turnover falling to 5.2 billion rupees. Colombo Dockyard, HNB and Sampath Bank were the top negative contributors.

HNB Group's HNB General Insurance and HNB Stockbrokers signed a strategic partnership to offer general insurance products to the stockbrokers' clients, creating a one-stop financial ecosystem. The move aims to strengthen group cross-selling and integrated financial services for investors.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) said HNB General Insurance and HNB Stockbrokers have formed a strategic partnership to offer insurance products directly to stockbrokers' clients, creating a one-stop financial ecosystem for investors.

Central bank lending to banks rose to Rs48 billion on Jan 08 as state banks faced a severe cash crunch, raising liquidity concerns. Analysts warned the government's 'domestic buffer' withdrawals could strain interbank markets, prompt central bank accommodation and pressure interest rates, inflation and the rupee.

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.

Parenthood Global hosted the Parent-Inclusive Workplaces Summit 2025 and named Janashakthi Group (JXG) Parent-Inclusive Workplace of the Year, while Dialog Business Services and HNB group units won awards for leadership, HR policies and wellbeing. The event also launched the Corporate Circle Lifestyle Portal to support working parents.

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.

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.