News & market updates

Verteil Technologies launched in Sri Lanka and appointed Mack Air (a John Keells Group company) as its General Sales Agent to drive NDC adoption and modern airline retailing. The launch (Jan 22, 2026) aims to give local travel sellers access to Verteil’s NDC aggregator and training/support for airlines and agents.

The ASPI closed at 23,992.11, up 0.13% (31.95 pts) after hitting an intraday high of 24,068.22, with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.480.2m. Capital goods led turnover (Rs.1.91bn) with John Keells and ACL Cables among top contributors while market breadth remained weak.

Dividend · Rs 0.10 · XD Feb 9, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 0.1/share; XD 2026-02-09; record 2026-02-09; payable 2026-02-26; FY 2025/2026

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.

John Keells CG Auto says BYD is the number one brand in Sri Lanka's brand-new vehicle segment, taking about 37% of brand-new registrations and over 70% of cumulative EV registrations since imports resumed; the distributor is expanding showrooms and after-sales capacity (new Wattala service centre, Seeduwa body shop) to support growth.

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.

John Keells Holdings chairman Krishan Balendra said the private-sector Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund has mobilised Rs. 4.2 billion and urged resilience- and community-focused investment. Experts called for a shift from reactive disaster response to risk-informed development, including spatial planning and early warning systems.

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.

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.

John Keells Holdings met Madhya Pradesh government at the WEF and expressed interest in exploring investments in logistics, hospitality, food processing and tourism in the state; a John Keells team will engage further to assess potential collaborations.

John Keells Hotels' Cinnamon Lakeside will host the HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival Edition 3 from 13–15 February 2026. The HSBC-sponsored event, supported by the John Keells Foundation, highlights cultural tourism and should benefit John Keells Hotels and parent John Keells Holdings.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) won the National Award of Excellence — Best Supply Chain Practicing Organization 2025 (Commendation) in the Extra Large Manufacturing category on 24 Oct. The company highlighted investments in supply chain digitization, process optimisation and sustainability.

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.

John Keells' authorised distributor John Keells CG Auto is expanding BYD's presence in Sri Lanka after BYD sold 4,602,436 NEVs globally in 2025 (over 1.04m overseas). JKCG Auto has introduced nine BYD models locally, with seven showrooms and more than 21 charging points nationwide.

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.

John Keells Hotels PLC's Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams is offering a series of curated January dining experiences across its restaurants, including a Thai Pongal thali (9–18 Jan), Winter Teishoku (all January), 'Smoke and Spirit' (5 Jan–2 Feb) and unlimited pizza on the deck (23 Jan–31 Mar).

CFA Society Sri Lanka will host an evening discussion 'Real Estate Reimagined: Investment Opportunities in a Transforming Market' on 28 January 2026 at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, featuring panelists including Nayana Mawilmada of John Keells Holdings and Premalal Brahmanage of Prime Group. The session will examine emerging investment opportunities and strategic considerations in Sri Lanka's real estate sector.

Colombo bourse closed the week up 3.45% as the ASPI rose 0.54% yesterday to 23,654.30, with the market gaining about Rs. 264.8 billion in value for the week and daily turnover over Rs. 8.5 billion; top contributors included JKH, COMB, VONE, CARS and NTB.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.54% on Friday and 3.45% over the week, led by gains in John Keells, Commercial Bank, Vallibel One, Carson Cumberbatch and Nations Trust Bank. Market turnover fell to 8.5 billion rupees and Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank recorded crossings.

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.

John Keells Holdings PLC led a consortium donating Rs. 400 million to the government's 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund for Cyclone Ditwah relief; contributors included Nations Trust Bank (Rs.100m), SAGT (Rs.100m), Union Assurance (Rs.50m) and Elephant House (Rs.50m).

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.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts reports female workforce participation of 19.5% and 22% female leadership, targeting 30% workforce representation by 2030. The group highlights the appointment of Thanuja Mudiyanselage as Resort Manager at Trinco Blu as a leadership milestone supporting inclusion and empowerment initiatives.

John Keells Holdings PLC-led consortium contributed Rs. 400 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund for Cyclone Ditwah relief; contributions included Nations Trust Bank Rs.100m, SAGT Rs.100m and Rs.50m each from Lanka Marine, Jaykay Marketing, Union Assurance and Elephant House.

Colombo stocks rose as the ASPI gained 1.21% to 23,292.91 and the S&P SL20 hit a six-week high of 6,379.11, led by gains in HNB, Commercial Bank, John Keells, NDB, Sampath Bank and Lanka IOC.

CT Smith said the Colombo bourse hit record highs in 2025, with the ASPI up 42% YoY to 22,624 and the S&P SL20 up 27% YoY to 6,157. Net foreign outflow was Rs. 38,563mn, average daily turnover rose to Rs. 5,181mn, with net foreign buying in DIAL, PKME and RICH and selling in JKH, CTHR and HNB.

FACETS Sri Lanka 2026, the 33rd edition of Asia’s premier gem and jewellery exhibition, opened at Cinnamon Life in Colombo, drawing international buyers and highlighting sustainable sourcing. The event occupies two floors and is expected to support hotel bookings and broader tourism activity in Colombo.

John Keells Properties' TRI‑ZEN residential development (897 units) has launched an on-site Tea Avenue Daily Brew café exclusive to residents, enhancing on-site amenities and living experience.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS.N0000) won the Winner Award at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023 in the Large, Manufacturing category. The SLSI-presented accolade recognizes organisational and manufacturing excellence and reinforces CCS's leadership in Sri Lanka's FMCG sector.

ASPI rose 42% in 2025, lifting market capitalization 41.67% to Rs. 8.07 trillion and generating Rs. 2.4 trillion in value. Final-day turnover exceeded Rs. 4.6 billion, three firms (CALH, JFP, WTS) listed during the year, and JKH, SFCL, ACL, SAMP and HASU were top contributors.