News & market updates

The ASPI fell 1.82% to 20,264.01, a seven-month low, as Middle East tensions and oil above $118 pushed markets down with margin calls and net foreign selling; JKH, AEL, COMB, MELS and HAYL were top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up Friday with the ASPI +1.85% at 20,639.73, though the market is down 4.85% from last Friday. Turnover was Rs.4.39bn led by capital goods; top contributors included Sampath Bank, Hayleys, Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp and John Keells, and Lanka Realty Investments said it will sell 57,204,262 shares to subsidiary Lee Hedges.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as Brent crude fell below $110, with the ASPI up 0.85% to 20,436.53. Turnover was 682 million rupees, led by gains in Sampath Bank, Melstacorp and Dialog Axiata.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 1.09% (222.54 pts) to 20,640.63 on turnover of Rs.5.27bn, while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.191.2m. Banking led turnover (34%) driven by HNB crossings of Rs.607.7m; top movers included DOCK, RIL, AEL, MELS and ACL.

Melstacorp's fully owned subsidiary Melsta Hospitals has partnered with the National Insurance Trust Fund to extend Agrahara scheme benefits, waiving in-patient admission fees and offering discounts (20% on radiology, cardiology and physiotherapy; 10% on lab tests and screenings).

Colombo Stock Exchange opened higher on Tuesday with the ASPI up 0.50% (105.68 pts) at 21,044.94 fifteen minutes after the open and turnover of Rs 421 million. Top positive contributors were Melstacorp, Sampath Bank and Colombo Dockyard.

Milford Exports Ceylon increased its stake in Melstacorp Plc to 42.97% by buying 1,000,000 shares on 12 March 2026 for Rs.165 million (Rs.165/share). Melstacorp shares closed at Rs.165, down Rs.1.75; net asset value was Rs.131.99/share as of end-December 2025.

The CSE fell as the ASPI dropped 4.45% (1,009.36 pts), wiping Rs. 348.6 billion amid Middle East tensions and oil topping $100/bbl. Banking shares including COMB, HNB, HAYL and NTB were leading negatives while capital goods and crossings by MELS, ACL and AEL drove turnover.

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.

Melstacorp sold 2 million shares of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka on 11 March at Rs.59 each (≈Rs.118m), trimming its holding from 92.40% to 92.35% while retaining control.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 1.34% on Friday, with the ASPI at 21,692.55. Melstacorp said parent Milford Exports bought 1,000,000 shares raising its stake to 42.97%; Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Hatton National Bank were top negative contributors and Brent crude neared $100/bbl.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.63% to 21,988.12 as global uncertainty and Brent crude near $101.6 weighed on markets; John Keells Holdings, Hatton National Bank and Melstacorp were top negative contributors. Melstacorp said it sold 2,000,000 Distillery Company shares at Rs.59, trimming its stake to 92.35%.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.18% to 22,088.70 midday (S&P SL20 down 1.19% to 6,204.94) with turnover of Rs.1.82 billion; capital goods contributed Rs.541 million. Hatton National Bank, John Keells Holdings and Melstacorp were top negative contributors, and DFCC Bank said it will list its Blue Bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (DFCC stock down 2.44% intraday).

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 Exchange closed down as the All Share Price Index fell 0.14% to 22,346.09; turnover was Rs4.31 million with diversified financials contributing over Rs1 billion. Central Finance rose to Rs250.50, while Melstacorp, Colombo Dockyard and Carson Cumberbatch were among the top decliners.

The CSE fell, with the ASPI down 4.34% (1,032.15 points) for the week as index-heavy banking and diversified holdings stocks dragged the market. Foreign investors were net sellers (week net outflow Rs.791.2m); large declines came from JKH, HNB and SAMP while ACL, CINS and RAL saw heavy off‑board turnover.

The ASPI rose 0.60% (134.03 pts) to 22,577.41 on bargain hunting after a prior session plunge, with turnover ~Rs.4.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.95.1m. Capital goods led turnover (Rs.1.5bn) while banking and diversified financials also drove gains.

Hayleys PLC’s proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion were assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating by Fitch. Fitch noted subsidiary debt to consolidated EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26, expects it to moderate to ~2.5x by FY27 and said failure could lower the debentures one notch.

Fitch assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating to Hayleys PLC's proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion. Fitch noted subsidiary debt-to-consolidated-EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26 (limit 2.5x) but expects it to moderate toward 2.5x in FY27, otherwise ratings risk.

Colombo stocks rose with the ASPI up 0.33% to 23,781.23, led by blue-chip gains from JKH, HAYL, MELS, AEL and LMF. Banking counters faced selling pressure after Q4 results while capital goods drove turnover (27%); foreigners were net buyers of Rs.194m.

Colombo market closed marginally higher: ASPI +0.05% (12.48 pts) at 23,703.10 and S&P SL20 +0.06% at 6,685.27 on turnover >Rs.4bn. Diversified financials, capital goods and banking led activity with CDB, DIAL, PLR, JKH and DOCK as key positive contributors while foreigners were net sellers (Rs.72m; YTD outflow Rs.15.9bn).

Colombo stocks closed in red, with the ASPI down 0.39% (92.40 pts) to 23,690.62 and the S&P SL20 down 0.71% to 6,681.12 on turnover of nearly Rs.3.7bn. Price losses in John Keells, Melstacorp and Nations Trust Bank were key negatives while ACL Cables, Access Engineering and Dialog were top turnover names.

Aitken Spence PLC has appointed Executive Chairperson Stasshani Jayawardena as interim Managing Director effective 1 April 2026. Jayawardena also chairs Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings and holds board roles at Lanka Milk Foods, Melstacorp and Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka.

Colombo market ended marginally higher with the ASPI up 0.04% (9.38 pts) at 23,783.02 and the S&P SL20 up 0.11% at 6,728.71, on turnover below Rs.2.6bn; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.52.8m. MELS, RICH, PLR, COMB and HNB were key positive contributors and the banking sector led turnover (17%).

Dividend · Rs 2.75 · XD Mar 5, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 2.75/share; XD 2026-03-05; record 2026-03-05; payable 2026-03-20; FY 2025/2026

Melstacorp PLC sold 2 million shares (0.04% stake) of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC on 19 Feb at Rs.59.50/share, raising Rs.119 million and reducing its holding to 92.40%. Distilleries closed at Rs.59 (-0.30) and Melstacorp at Rs.181.25 (-1.75); Melstacorp assets/share Rs.131.99 and DCSL net assets Rs.4.14 (end-Dec 2025).