News & market updates

Colombo's ASPI fell 1.7% this week while turnover hit a 65-week low of about Rs. 722.64 million; top drags on the index included John Keells (JKH), PKME and NDB. Banking led turnover (notably Sampath Bank) and activity was concentrated in capital goods, food & beverage and energy names.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.03% to 21,417.80, extending a third straight day of losses on profit taking and net foreign outflows of Rs.36.7m. Banking led turnover (27%) while Haycarb, Chevron Lubricants, John Keells and Hayleys were among top contributors.

Sri Lanka stocks closed flat as the ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,426.43, with banks leading turnover at 327.4 million rupees. Haycarb, John Keells and Ceylon Cold Stores were top gainers while HNB, Central Finance and Commercial Bank were top decliners; Digital Mobility Solutions disclosed ESOP allotments and its shares closed down 0.30%.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell for a sixth straight session as the ASPI dropped 0.54% to 21,962.30. Turnover exceeded Rs.1.5bn with foreigners net sellers of Rs.185m; major drags included Melstacorp, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and CIC Holdings, while Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants featured among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell, with the ASPI down 0.39% to 21,995.04 and the S&P SL20 down 0.27% to 6,150.33. Top negatives included Melstacorp, John Keells and Carson Cumberbatch while Digital Mobility Solutions, Royal Ceramics and Haycarb were positive; turnover was LKR 1.13 billion.

Cabinet approved Rs. 827 million in lubricating oil contracts for the Sapugaskanda Power Plant, awarding Rs. 392.47m (316,000 litres) to Lanka IOC and Rs. 434.86m (304,000 litres) to Chevron Lubricants to cover 2026/27 operational requirements.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC received delivery of eight BAIC X55 vehicles for its corporate fleet. Central Finance Company PLC provided financing support to facilitate the acquisition.

CSE All Share Index fell 0.49% (110.70 pts) to 22,584 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.31% to 6,225 as brokers said Middle East escalation spurred retail selling. Bank counters saw selling, turnover was Rs 2.15bn with crossings in JKH, COMB, LLUB and LFIN, and Colombo Dockyard narrowed its quarterly loss to Rs 428.1m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up: ASPI +1.30% (284.12 pts) to 22,128.66. Top contributors included John Keells, Melstacorp and National Development Bank; turnover was Rs5.016bn and HNB Finance announced a Rs2,499,529,714 rights issue (2 for 9).

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC launched the Caltex Abimani Women in STEM scholarship program with the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute to support young Sri Lankan women pursuing STEM education. The initiative provides scholarships, resources and technical training support to advance careers in engineering and technology.

ASPI fell 1.63% to 21,998.12 as Middle East tensions and higher oil prices weighed on the Colombo market. S&P SL20 dropped 1.71% to 6,172.28 with broad declines led by JKH, HNB, MELS, HAYL and SAMP; turnover topped Rs.4.1bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.32.2m.

ASPI fell 0.12% to 22,351.55 as profit-taking dragged the Colombo market, with declines in MELS, DOCK, CARS, SPEN and LLUB; market turnover was over Rs.4.3bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.21.36m.

Colombo stock market closed February lower: ASPI fell 47 points (0.2%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 74 points (>1%) with turnover of Rs.7 billion. Banks, conglomerates and blue-chips (COMB, JKH, HNB, CTC, LLUB) weighed on the index while Renuka Agri Foods rose and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.363.8m.

Dividend · Rs 7.00 · XD Mar 10, 2026

Third Interim dividend of LKR 7/share; XD 2026-03-10; record 2026-03-10; payable 2026-03-27; FY 2025

The Colombo market ended marginally higher — ASPI +0.02% to 23,655.68 — on turnover of Rs.3.35 billion with foreign net outflows of Rs.64 million. Top positive contributors included NHL, CFIN, CARG, JKH and LLUB, while Samson International, UB Finance and Sierra Cables led turnover.

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.

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.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC appointed Ching San Lim to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. Lim currently leads Global Finance for Chevron’s Base Oil and Finished Lubricants business and is based in Singapore.

The CSE announced S&P SL20 rebalancing effective 22 December: four stocks were added (Access Engineering, People’s Leasing, Singer Sri Lanka, Sunshine Holdings) and five were removed (Ceylon Cold Stores, Chevron Lubricants Lanka, Commercial Bank Non-Voting, LOLC Finance, Royal Ceramics).

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.

Dividend · Rs 5.00 · XD Nov 11, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 5/share; XD 2025-11-11; record 2025-11-11; payable 2025-11-28; FY ending 31st December 2025

AmCham Sri Lanka elected Mastercard Sri Lanka Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda as President at its 33rd AGM; Chevron Lubricants Lanka MD/CEO Bertram Paul was elected Vice President. JAT Holdings director Anika Williamson and Hayleys Advantis's Chamila Bandara were named to the board.

S&P SL20 crossed 6,000 for the first time, rising 58.46 points (0.97%) to close at 6,055.92; the ASPI also hit a record 20,571.07 (up 100.55 points, 0.49%) with turnover over Rs.10.8 billion.

Colombo market closed marginally higher as ASPI rose 0.01% to 19,976 on turnover of Rs.4.46bn with net foreign inflow of Rs.498.3mn. Transportation led turnover driven by Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PKME) which rose to Rs.105.75, while AMF, LVEF, HNB, CTC, LLUB and BERU saw notable activity.

Colombo's ASPI closed flat at 19,975.50 while the S&P SL20 dipped 0.19% to 5,815.64. Ceylon Tobacco said June-quarter volumes recovered to 490 million sticks and profits rose 2% to 7.3 billion rupees, while Haycarb's June profit fell 30% to 517 million rupees.

Brand Finance published Sri Lanka's 100 Most Valuable Brands for 2025, ranking Bank of Ceylon top with a brand value of Rs.57,411m; Commercial Bank, Dialog and People’s Bank follow the top positions. The list covers firms across banking, telecoms, FMCG, healthcare, hospitality and other sectors.

Dividend · Rs 4.00 · XD Jun 9, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 4/share; XD 2025-06-09; record 2025-06-10; payable 2025-06-27; FY 31/12/2025

Foreign investors were net buyers with a Rs. 510.4 million inflow as the ASPI rose 0.12% and turnover was Rs. 2.43 billion; key contributors included John Keells, Vallibel One, Commercial Bank, Dialog and others.

Colombo ASPI closed 0.12% higher at 16,355.91 after volatile trading, led in part by Cargills rising to Rs.509.75; S&P SL20 was up 0.11% at 4,816.36. Turnover rose to Rs.2.4bn and banking, construction and consumer-durables shares were active.