News & market updates

Colombo stocks closed flat with the ASPI up 0.01% at 21,132.12 and market turnover of Rs 1.41 billion; banks led turnover at Rs 411.6 million and Food, Beverage & Tobacco followed with Rs 308.7 million. Notable movers included Melstacorp, HNB, Pan Asia, Central Finance and Aitken Spence; Lanka Realty Investments disclosed an Rs 800m related-party loan settlement.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading higher midday, the ASPI up 0.36% (76.41 pts) at 21,205.62 and the S&P SL20 up 0.38% at 5,962.29; market turnover was Rs 314 million, with banks leading at Rs 122.7 million. Asia Asset Finance said 41,398,511 preference shares will be deemed converted into 53,348,596 ordinary shares at Rs 7.76 each effective Aug 10 (pref shares trade ends Aug 6; ordinary shares from Sep 16).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Friday: ASPI down 0.09% (19.50 pts) at 21,129.21 and S&P SL20 down 0.01% at 5,945.22. Market turnover was Rs 4.35 billion, with capital goods leading at Rs 1.35 billion; Hemas, Haycarb, Melstacorp and Vallibel One were positive contributors while HNB, Central Finance and DFCC were negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading higher midday: ASPI up 0.13% (26.86 pts) at 21,175.57 and S&P SL20 up 0.23% at 5,959.94, with retailing leading turnover at LKR 1.029 billion. Seylan Bank reported Q2 profit attributable to equity holders of LKR 3.21 billion, up 16.31% y/y.

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI rose 0.56% to 21,306.64, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp, PGP Glass, Commercial Bank and Kelani Cables while Vidullanka fell. R I L Property disclosed public shareholding is 46.1071% after prior miscalculations.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, ASPI up 0.07% to 21,187.22 with turnover of 2.07 billion rupees; capital goods led turnover at 866 million rupees.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.13% to 21,172.74 with market turnover of Rs 2.45 billion, led by retailing at Rs 1.036 billion. Melstacorp and Carson Cumberbatch were among positive contributors while HNB, Ceylinco Insurance and Ceylon Grain Elevators were top negatives.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.20% to 21,171.86 at Friday midday; market turnover was Rs.1.62 billion, led by retailing (Rs.1.029 billion). Melstacorp, John Keells and Cargills were up, while Bukit Darah and Ceylinco Insurance were among the top decliners.

Colombo market extended its rebound as the ASPI rose 0.24% (49.81 pts) to 21,199.37 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.22% to 5,945.87, with turnover about Rs.1.1bn and foreigners net sellers of Rs.188.6m. Top contributors included HNB, CARS, CINS, NDB and TKYO; NDB, SAMP and PKME gained while MELS fell and JKH closed flat.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.24% (up 49.81 points) to 21,199.37 on Thursday, with market turnover at Rs 1.078 billion and capital goods leading turnover at Rs 317.4 million. Top positive contributors included HNB, Carson Cumberbatch, Ceylinco Holdings and NDB, while Melstacorp and Hayleys were negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.40% (up 85.60 pts) to 21,235.16 as banks led turnover (LKR 76.8m) and the S&P SL20 gained 0.73%. Commercial Bank announced the final allotment for its Basel III Tier-2 debenture issue, which was oversubscribed with applications for 244.23m debentures (LKR 24.42bn) and 150m debentures allocated to identified investors.

ASPI fell 0.29% to 21,145.73 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 5,945.01; turnover exceeded Rs.3.2bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.79.8mn and a Rs.2.3bn crossing in Cargills driving volume. Negative contributors included CINS, COMB, RICH, CARS and HARI; Melstacorp, NTB and HNB were also active.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC dominated CSE trading with block crossings of Rs. 2.26 billion, taking its total turnover to Rs. 2.88 billion and helping push total market turnover to Rs. 3.27 billion. The ASPI fell 62.37 points to 21,145.73, while Melstacorp accounted for Rs. 181 million of turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.22% (47.45 pts) to 21,160.65 with turnover Rs 3.28bn, led by food & staples retailing and large crossings dominated by Cargills. Dialog, John Keells, Aitken Spence and Lanka Ashok Leyland were top gainers while Ceylinco Insurance, Harischandra Mills and HNB were top losers.

Sri Lanka stocks closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.20% to 21,405.41 and market turnover hit a 52-week low of Rs 722.6m. Banks led turnover at Rs 184.3m; Commercial Bank, RIL Property, Melstacorp and People's Leasing were among gainers while John Keells and Digital Mobility were among laggards, and oil prices rose on Gulf tensions.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon's Basel III Tier-2 debenture issue was oversubscribed with applications for over 200 million debentures worth Rs 20 billion against an initial Rs 10 billion offer. CSE indices traded lower (ASPI down 0.11% at 21,424.48) with banks leading turnover at Rs 54.4 million.

Colombo market fell to a three-month low as the ASPI slipped 0.50% (107.39 pts) to 21,424.99 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.37% (22.04 pts) to 6,000.15. Foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.126.9m; main negative contributors included Carson, Melstacorp, Vallibel One and John Keells, while Lanka IOC, Ceylon Cold Stores and Dipped Products led turnover.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.50% to 21,424.71 with market turnover of Rs.1.089 billion and banks leading turnover at Rs.221.1 million. Merchant Bank (MBSL) set a rights reference price of Rs.0.30 and its stock closed down 5.31% at Rs.10.70.

The ASPI fell 1.07% (233.18 points) to 21,532.38 as investors sold amid renewed Middle East conflict concerns. Market turnover was over Rs 1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs 56mn, with banks and food & beverage sectors leading activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.27% to 21,473.27 at midday, while the S&P SL20 was down 0.04% to 6,019.55. BPPL Holdings said subsidiary Beira Brush will acquire Ravi Industries' customer base and the "Ravi" trademark for a minimum 300 million rupees payable over five years tied to revenue.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 1.07% (−233.18 pts) to 21,532.38 amid escalating West Asia tensions. Banks led selling with turnover at 1.04 billion rupees; Palm Garden Hotels reported non-compliance with minimum public holding and People's Leasing listed 59,766,864 scrip shares.

Colombo market fell for an eighth session as ASPI dropped 0.60% (130.78 pts) to 21,697.72 amid renewed Middle East tensions, with turnover over Rs.1.4bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.91.7m. Declines were led by Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Hayleys and John Keells, while capital goods, food & beverage and banking drove turnover.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.60% to 21,697.72 as markets slowed amid escalation in the Middle East and global instability. Seylan Bank, Lanka IOC and Malwatte Valley Plantations were among gainers while Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Lion Brewery and Hayleys led declines; Vidullanka authorised a first gross dividend of Rs0.20 per share to be dispatched by Aug 7, 2026.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.49% to 21,720.92 midday; HNB Finance listed 381,667,019 new ordinary voting shares and 80,072,222 non‑voting shares from its rights issue. Malwatte Valley Plantations and Seylan Bank were among gainers while Melstacorp was a top decliner.

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 All Share Price Index fell 141.27 points (0.64%) to 21,821 at midday. Nations Trust Bank said its Basel III-compliant Tier-2 debentures will be listed on July 8 with 5-, 7- and 10-year tranches paying 13.75%, 13.85% and 13.95% respectively.

ASPI fell 118.35 points to 21,962.30, slipping below 22,000, while the S&P SL20 dropped 31.55 points to 6,135.50, led by declines in heavyweights such as Dialog Axiata and Melstacorp; banking stocks (NDB, HNB, Sampath) also recorded losses. Market turnover was LKR 1.53 billion, with JKH crossings contributing LKR 264 million.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI down 0.17% (37.22 pts) to 22,043.43 and S&P SL20 down 0.15% to 6,157.85. Capital goods led turnover (LKR 46.2m of LKR 216.8m); notable gainers HNB, RCL, SPEN, SDB, NHL and decliners GREG, MELS, JKH, CARS, LOLC.

Colombo market fell for a third session as the ASPI dropped 0.10% (21.79 pts) to 22,221.91 on heavy foreign net selling of Rs. 774.2 million. Top negative contributors included SPEN, SAMP, DFCC, CTC and CINS while CARG, DIAL, JKH and MELS supported the index; capital goods led turnover (55%).