News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher Monday with the ASPI up 0.65% at 22,695.00 and turnover of 4.81 billion rupees, driven by buying in banking counters. Top contributors included NDB, Dialog, Melstacorp and Colombo Dockyard, while Ceylinco Insurance and Windforce were among decliners.

Melstacorp PLC’s fully owned subsidiary Mels Automobiles has been appointed authorised importer and dealer for BMW in Sri Lanka, responsible for importation, sales, genuine parts supply and authorised aftersales/service. Prestige Automobiles will continue to serve BMW customers during the transition.

Colombo posted its biggest monthly gain since July 2025, with the ASPI up 7% and the S&P SL20 up 5.1% in April, with average daily turnover of Rs.3.66bn. Yesterday the indices fell (ASPI -0.38% to 22,550) on losses in John Keells, Sampath and Commercial Bank amid net foreign outflows of Rs.75mn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower with the ASPI down 0.38% to 22,549.53 and market turnover at 3.44 billion rupees; capital goods led turnover (984.6 million). Lion Brewery and Watawala Plantations were top positive contributors while Dialog Axiata, John Keells and Commercial Bank were top negatives; Brent rose above $113.

Browns Beach Hotels PLC will cease trading on the CSE today (27) ahead of formal delisting, with majority shareholders Melstacorp (MELS.N0000) and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings (AHUN.N0000) offering minority shareholders LKR 30.00 per share. The delisting follows sustained losses, failure to meet public float rules and a negative net asset position.

Colombo bourse fell 0.9% for the week (ASPI down 205.7 pts) with year-to-date net foreign outflows reaching Rs. 24.9 billion. CINS, CTC, COMB, JKH and MELS were top positive contributors; market turnover exceeded Rs. 2 billion with capital goods, food/beverage/tobacco and banking leading activity.

Colombo market ended marginally higher as the ASPI rose 0.06% to 22,639.81 despite net foreign selling of Rs.2.52 billion. Softlogic Life (AAIC) and Ceylon Tobacco (CTC) topped foreign selling and AAIC led turnover with a ~Rs.1.3bn crossing; insurance, food & banking dominated activity.

Colombo stocks rose 0.25% as foreign investors turned net buyers after a 21-session selling streak, recording a net inflow of Rs. 19.8 million and lifting the ASPI 55.45 points to 22,625.48. Top contributors included CINS, BUKI, CFIN, MELS and NHL, while consumer services led turnover and oil price moderation supported sentiment.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down with the ASPI down 0.89% to 22,570.03 and the S&P SL20 down 0.66% to 6,222.79. Asiri Hospital (+12.37%), Melstacorp and Carson Cumberbatch led gains while RIL (-5.92%), C T Holdings and Dialog were top decliners; turnover Rs 4.11bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange was up midday as the ASPI rose 0.65% to 22,735.61 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.51% to 6,262.75, with turnover at Rs 2bn. Top movers included Central Finance, Hayleys, Hemas and Browns Investments (up) while NDB, Melstacorp and HNB lagged; Commercial Bank listed scrip-dividend shares and Browns Beach Hotels will resume trading Apr 17–27.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up; the All Share index rose 0.60% to 22,261.48 with turnover of Rs3.05 billion. Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp and Hatton National Bank were top positive contributors while DFCC Bank and Sunshine Holdings were top negatives.

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).

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.33% (73.06 pts) to 21,844.54, with net foreign selling of Rs.221.4m (weekly outflows Rs.1.9bn) amid Middle East tensions; IMF staff-level agreement on EFF reviews helped a partial late-session recovery.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the All Share Index fell 0.33% to 21,844.54. National Development Bank (+3.41%), Nations Trust Bank (+1.65%) and Janashakthi Insurance (+8.74%) led gains, while Dialog Axiata (-2.47%), John Keells (-1.02%) and Melstacorp (-1.14%) were top decliners; Cargills Bank listed 294,200,000 rights shares raising Rs.2,500,700,000.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened higher after a US‑Iran ceasefire: ASPI rose 4.09% to 21,891.97 while the S&P SL20 fell 4.60% to 6,100.99. Top gainers included Commercial Bank (+6.01%), John Keells Holding (+6.49%), HNB (+4.58%), Hayleys (+4.27%) and Melstacorp (+3.24%); turnover Rs1.75bn and Brent at $94/bbl.

ASPI fell 0.45% to 21,032.46 as foreign net outflows reached Rs.1.099bn over two days (Rs.294m yesterday, Rs.805m prior). Banking led turnover (49%); key negatives included NDB, Ceylinco (CINS), Melstacorp and JKH, while Galle Face Capital (WAPO) gained.

National Development Bank's trading halt was lifted and its shares fell to Rs.115.00 from Rs.130.50 after investors reacted to a reported Rs.13.4 billion fraud. The ASPI was down 0.12% at 21,100.65 and Vidullanka authorised acquiring 100% of the 4.5MW Gurugoda mini-hydro plant.

Colombo bourse opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.04% to 21,126.60 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.24%; market turnover exceeded Rs. 3bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs. 804.7m. Food & beverage and capital goods led turnover with heavy crossings in Melstacorp.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed up 0.04% to 21,126.60 as banking stocks faced selling pressure after NDB disclosed an internal fraud loss of 13.4 billion rupees and trading in NDB was halted. DFCC, Cargills Bank and Access Engineering led gains while Commercial Bank, HNB and Melstacorp were laggards; turnover was Rs.3.029bn.

ASPI fell 1.2% (258.31 pts) for the week and the S&P SL20 dropped 2% (124.30 pts); market turnover was about Rs.1.77bn with net foreign outflows of Rs.68.2m, while breadth was positive and activity was led by capital goods, banks, materials and food & beverage names.

CSE All Share Index rose 0.43% to 21,156.10 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.26% to 5,888.48, with Hatton National Bank and Commercial Bank sliding after dividend expiries. Turnover was 3.57 billion rupees; Melstacorp and Sampath led gains while Central Finance was a top laggard.

The ASPI fell 1.33% (283.49 pts) to 21,092.24 as Colombo market opened lower amid rising oil prices and Mideast tensions; principal detractors included John Keells, NDB, Hayleys, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank while Lanka IOC and Browns Investments saw gains.

ASPI rose 3.56% for the week but closed yesterday down 0.21% at 21,375.73 as the bourse ended a volatile week; foreign investors were net sellers of over Rs.1.2 billion and market turnover was about Rs.2.7 billion.

Colombo market fell 2.05% (ASPI -448.91 pts to 21,419.94), wiping out Rs.173 billion after oil rose ~2% to ~$104/bbl amid escalating Mideast tensions. HNB, MELS, COMB, CTHR and JKH were the top negative contributors; turnover was near Rs.3.3 billion.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 2.05% to 21,419.94 on Thursday amid uncertainty over US‑Iran talks and Brent crude rising above $100. Hatton National Bank, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank and C T Holdings were top negative contributors; Commercial Bank announced scrip dividend allocations of 14,236,941 voting and 984,260 non‑voting shares.

CSE extended its rebound as the ASPI rose 3.79% (797.62 pts) to 21,868.85, with market value gaining Rs.284.1 billion in the session and recouping about 48% of the Rs.1.1 trillion loss since the Middle East conflict began. Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Melstacorp, John Keells and Hayleys led gains; turnover topped Rs.6.4bn and foreigners were net sellers (Rs.525m).

Colombo Stock Exchange jumped as ASPI closed up 3.79% at 21,868.85 and the S&P SL20 rose 3.81% to 6,134.23. Top positives included Commercial Bank, HNB, Melstacorp, John Keells and Hayleys; turnover was Rs.6.41bn with highest activity in food, beverages & tobacco.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 3.38% to 21,784.11 and the S&P SL20 climbed 3.63% to 6,123.82; market turnover was Rs.2.3bn. Top contributors included Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Melstacorp and Dialog, while food, beverage & tobacco led turnover (Rs.834m).

The ASPI rose 3.47% (706.26 pts) to 21,071.23, recovering Rs. 244 billion on reports of a possible de‑escalation in the Middle East; the S&P SL20 gained 3.91% to 5,909.23. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.2 billion with gains led by Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Colombo Dockyard while foreigners were net sellers.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose after US President Trump's pause on attacks, with the All Share Price Index up 3.31% to 21,039.77 and the S&P SL20 up 3.57% to 5,889.75. Top contributors were Commercial Bank (up 5.49% to Rs.201.75), Sampath Bank (up 2.98% to Rs.155.75), Melstacorp (up 2.14% to Rs.167.00) and DFCC Bank (up 4.45% to Rs.135); DFCC also listed 12,310,834 shares after a scrip dividend.