News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 41.7% year-on-year in 2025, closing 0.79% higher at 22,624.31 on Dec 31. Capital goods, food & beverage and banking led turnover, with John Keells, Senkadagala Finance, ACL Cables, Sampath Bank and HNB Assurance among top contributors; net foreign outflow was Rs103 million.

Sri Lanka’s 2025 combined IMF-backed stabilization and reform gains with a late-November setback from Cyclone Ditwah. Key items include a Central Bank rate cut (lending window to 8.25%), DFCC’s sale of a 50% Acuity stake to HNB for LKR 6.5bn, and John Keells launching the $1.2bn City of Dreams resort alongside major energy project deals and rooftop-solar grid issues.

John Keells Foundation and Victoria Golf Resort vested the Nithulemada Model Pre-School in Medadumbara Pradeshiya Sabha, Kandy District, completed in October 2025 to improve access to early childhood education for 3–5 year-olds.

John Keells Properties reports TRI-ZEN in Colombo 02 is achieving rents of >USD1,000 (1-bed), ~USD1,250 (2-bed) and ~USD1,400 (3-bed), implying rental yields of about 5.5–6% as demand and limited availability accelerate interest. The development's amenities and integrated smart-home technology are cited as key drivers.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.29% to 22,132.33 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.06% to 6,037.79 on turnover of about Rs. 3.7bn and net foreign outflows of Rs. 200.5m. Colombo Dockyard, DFCC and Richard Pieris led gains while John Keells and Commercial Bank fell.

Colombo Dockyard and banking shares lifted the CSE All Share Price Index 0.29%, with the ASPI closing at 22,132.33 and Colombo Dockyard the top gainer at 171.75 rupees. Market turnover fell to 3.7 billion rupees and the exchange recorded a net foreign outflow of 200.46 million rupees led by John Keells.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) won the Winner Award at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023 in the Large Manufacturing category, presented by SLSI on 11 November 2025.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed Friday with the ASPI up 0.50% (109.79 pts) to 22,068.84, re-entering the 22,000 mark. Turnover was over Rs.2.7bn, foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.18.9m), with banking counters and names like DOCK and RICH among top contributors.

Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.15% to 21,959.05, as John Keells Holdings crossings accounted for about 34% of turnover (total turnover > Rs.4.1bn); foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.331.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.15% higher as the ASPI rose 32.05 points to 21,959.05, led by gains in selected banking, construction and retail stocks. Top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Sampath Bank, Bukit Darah, Royal Ceramics and Tokyo Cement; turnover rose to Rs 4.1bn with a Rs 331mn net foreign outflow.

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 market lost Rs. 80 billion as the ASPI fell 1.13% to 21,898.20, led by extended selling in Colombo Dockyard and negative contributions from DOCK, HNB, RICH, CARG and JKH. Turnover was over Rs. 2.9 billion on nearly 81.9 million shares, with capital goods accounting for 33% of turnover.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) launched Elephant House Ice Cream in Australia on 4 December 2025 and began local manufacture in Melbourne to support wider availability. This is the first time CCS has produced the product outside Sri Lanka, in partnership with Millennium Imports, with plans to expand distribution and flavours.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) launched Elephant House Ice Cream in Australia on 4 December 2025 and began local manufacturing in Melbourne—the first time CCS has produced the brand outside Sri Lanka. The launch, held with partner Millennium Imports Pty Ltd, targets wider distribution beyond the Sri Lankan diaspora.

John Keells (Keells Supermarkets) won the Meta Reels Impact Award for an AI-generated campaign that drove a 44.72% surge in doughnut sales and lifted the Prepared Food category by 25%. The campaign, created with Enfection, won the South East Asia regional award for generative-AI reels.

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.

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams is offering extensive New Year’s Eve dining and entertainment across more than a dozen restaurants, rooftops and event spaces to welcome 2026.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.17% to 22,292.57 (down 37.12 points) with turnover of 2.3 billion rupees. Yaden raised its stake in Maharaja Foods to 10.04%; HNB will list debentures offering 10.25% and 11% on Dec 19; HDFC appointed K B Wijeyratne as chairman pro-tem; United Motors set a 10-for-1 share split date; JKH, CTC, BUKI and DFCC were top gainers.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Asoka Hettigoda was elected President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and proposed raising the national tourism earnings target to USD 10 billion by 2030. He outlined plans to reach 6 million visitors, boost per-night spending by 30%, invest USD 50m/yr in marketing, and prioritize sustainability and industry unity.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.02% lower as the ASPI slipped to 22,329.69, with banks and capital-goods names dragging the market. LOLC Finance filed to list Rs 15bn of debentures; turnover rose to Rs 3.3bn and net foreign outflow was Rs 130.44m.

DHL Express is marking 45 years of operations in Sri Lanka, highlighting its 1992 joint-venture partnership with John Keells Holdings and ongoing investments in digital tools for SMEs, e-commerce facilitation, and sustainable aviation fuel (GoGreen Plus).

John Keells Properties has launched sales for Phase 4, the final phase of the VIMAN Ja-Ela residential development. Phase 4 offers two- and three-bedroom homes with amenities and over 60% of the development reserved for open areas and shared facilities.

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 extended its rally to five sessions as the ASPI gained 1,011.18 pts (4.7%) for the week, reclaiming Rs.320.65 bn in market value; yesterday ASPI closed at 22,508.26 with turnover of Rs.3 bn. Top contributors included SFCL, JKH, HAYL, WIND and VLL; DOCK and HNB saw share price declines.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.22% as the ASPI closed at 22,508.26 with turnover down to 3.02 billion rupees. Vidullanka and Windforce were awarded contracts to develop 50MW wind plants in Mannar, and several stocks (Senkadagala Finance, John Keells, Hayleys, Windforce, Vidullanka) helped lift the index.

Colombo stock market rose for a third straight session, gaining Rs.119.7 billion as the ASPI climbed 1.76% to 22,422.43; capital goods and materials led turnover, with JKH down to Rs.20.90 while DOCK, SIRA and AEL advanced.

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams (John Keells Hotels) is marking its first Christmas season in December with curated festive dining across its restaurants and lounges — including Festive Nook, Quizine, Gatz, Yoroko, Bistro, Staten and Sapphire Dragon — plus takeaway hampers and holiday menus.