News & market updates

Markets fell as Sri Lanka awaited a US tariff letter: ASPI down 0.06% to 18,032 and S&P SL20 down 0.34% to 5,321. Stocks weighed down included John Keells, C T Holdings, HNB, Royal Ceramics and Ceylon Tobacco; exporters Haycarb, Hayleys Fabric and Teejay Lanka slid while Dipped Products rose.

Colombo stocks closed marginally down, with the ASPI falling 0.23% to 18,100 and the S&P SL20 down 0.22% to 5,347. Seylan Bank received in-principle CSE approval for a Rs15bn Basel III debenture issue, and Tal Lanka Hotels listed 32,228,524 ordinary voting shares after a private placement.

Dividend · Rs 0.25 · XD Jul 11, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.25/share; XD 2025-07-11; record 2025-07-13; payable 2025-07-25; FY 2025/26

Colombo market lost Rs. 117 billion as the ASPI fell 1.9% (S&P SL20 -2.1%) amid Middle East tensions, with turnover Rs. 2.5 billion led by HNB, SAMP and EAST. Broad-based declines hit banking and capital goods counters, while foreign net inflows were small.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.90% to 17,657.60, led by John Keells (JKH) and gains in major banks HNB, NDB, DFCC and Sampath, with turnover of LKR5.6bn. Export‑exposed names were mixed — Dipped Products and Haycarb fell while Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fabric gained.

Colombo market sustained an all-time high as the ASPI closed at 17,500.24, up 105.79 points (+0.61%) with turnover Rs.2.85bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.19.3m. Banking-led activity and retail buying drove gains, with Hayleys Fabric, Ceylinco, Ceylon Cold Stores, HNB and Ceylon Tobacco among top drivers.

Colombo's ASPI rose 1.38% to 17,214.39, hitting an all-time high led by gains in banking stocks including Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, Central Finance and HNB. Turnover rose to 7.3 billion and the S&P SL20 closed up 1.91%.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.61% as the ASPI closed 18.40 points higher at 16,397.79, led by gains in Ceylon Cold Stores, John Keells, Hayleys Fabric, Central Finance and Teejay Lanka. Export-related shares gained after a U.S. federal court blocked planned tariffs and turnover rose to 6.4 billion rupees.

A 10% stake transfer in Hatton National Bank (HNB) drove Colombo Stock Exchange gains: ASPI rose 0.98% to 16,657.63 and turnover surged to 18.7 billion rupees, with the HNB trade contributing 14.4 billion; HNB closed at 319.50 (up 17.25).

Colombo's All Share Price Index closed up 0.01% at 16,496.24 after a volatile session. Large-cap banking stocks including John Keells, Sampath, HNB and Commercial Bank fell and weighed on the market, while exporters such as Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fabric rose marginally after a US trade-talks invite.

Hayleys PLC posted FY25 PBT of Rs.35.37bn, up 40% YoY, on record consolidated revenue of Rs.492.20bn (up 13%). Exports were $875m (53% of revenue), renewable energy met 74% of group consumption and net finance costs fell 30%.

Teejay Lanka (TJL.N0000) posted a 64% rise in net profit to Rs 900 million in the March 2025 quarter (EPS Rs 1.25) as revenues rose 13% to Rs 17.24 bn and gross profit climbed 56%; the company cited lower costs, higher volumes and stable yarn prices plus China‑plus‑one order flows.

Sri Lanka stocks fell 0.76% after the NPP failed to secure a majority in local government polls, with the ASPI closing 119.99 points lower at 15,841.60. Blue-chip names and most banks led declines and buying interest was weak in export-oriented stocks.

Lanka Tiles PLC appointed Haresh Somashantha as an Executive Director. He currently serves as Director Finance of Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC and is also a director of Hayleys Fabric PLC and Vallibel Power Erathna PLC.

ASPI rose 0.33% to 15,851.74 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.12% to 4,638.29, with John Keells Holdings the top negative contributor. Banking stocks were mostly negative (HNB, Sampath, Commercial, NDB down; DFCC, NTB up) and exporters showed mixed moves (Teejay, Hayleys Fabric, Dipped Products, Haycarb).

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.31% to 15,818.77 ahead of local elections, led by selling in banking counters such as Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank; export-linked stocks including Hayleys, Teejay Lanka, Haycarb and Dipped Products also slipped.

Sri Lanka's apparel sector is adopting Science-Based Targets, with Hayleys Fabric committing to deep cuts (42% reduction in Scope 1–2 and 25% in Scope 3 by 2030, net-zero plans to 2050) and Teejay Lanka eliminating coal by March 2026. Companies are also expanding renewables and supplier engagement to meet SBTi goals.

Sri Lanka stocks rose 0.44% after a staff-level agreement with the IMF that clears the way for about $344m in financing; the ASPI closed 69.43 points higher at 15,811.47 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.45%. Export-oriented shares led gains while selected banking stocks ended weaker.

Colombo stocks rose 0.81% as exporters rallied on expectations of a US–Sri Lanka trade deal, with the ASPI closing at 15,742.04 (up 126.41 pts). Key contributors included Teejay Lanka, Hayleys Fabric, Haycarb, Dipped Products, LOLC and Royal Ceramics, while selected banks (Sampath, HNB, Amana) fell.

Colombo stocks rallied 0.46% after President Dissanayake said tariff talks with the US were productive, with the ASPI up 71.64 points to 15,615.63. Export-focused names were quieter despite the market uptick.

Colombo market slipped for a third day as the ASPI closed at 15,544 (down ~12 points) while the S&P SL20 rose 0.05%; turnover was Rs.1.09bn, 57% below the monthly average. Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover, banking sentiment stayed weak; JKH, SUN, CCS rose while CFIN, DFCC and MELS lagged.

Sri Lanka export stocks fell after China warned it would take countermeasures, with the ASPI down 0.11% to 15,599.61. Export-linked names including Teejay Lanka, Dipped Products, Hayleys Fabric, John Keells and Lion Brewery led declines amid weak market sentiment.

A 90-day US tariff pause lifted the Colombo market: ASPI +4.74% and S&P SL20 +6.7%, boosting market capitalisation by about Rs.221bn to Rs.5.549tn on Rs.7bn turnover, led by heavy trading in Sampath Bank, John Keells, Commercial Bank and RIL Property.

ASPI fell 1.7% to 14,876 with the S&P SL20 down 2.4%; turnover was Rs.3 billion and there was a Rs.1 billion net foreign inflow led by John Keells (Rs.665m). Banking names (Sampath, Commercial Bank, Hatton) and Hayleys were among the main laggards while capital goods drove turnover.

CAL Group research said four listed exporters — Hayleys Fabric (MGT), Teejay Lanka (TJL), Dipped Products (DIPD) and Haycarb (HAYC) — are likely affected by US reciprocal tariffs on Sri Lanka (44%); Hayleys Fabric is seen as most exposed and its shares fell 12.9%.

Dividend · Rs 0.35 · XD Apr 8, 2025

Fourth Interim dividend of LKR 0.35/share; XD 2025-04-08; record 2025-04-08; payable 2025-04-23; FY 2024/25

Hayleys PLC launched the 2nd edition of its Lifecode ESG roadmap, adding six new focus areas and revised targets; the Group says it now sources around 70% of its energy from renewables and is on track to meet its 2030 environmental targets.

Hayleys PLC held its Chairman’s Awards on 21 Feb 2025, recognising 200 employees across 26 project teams, including MGT’s FemFlexTex PFAS-free fabric, HAYC’s rainwater-harvesting project and Advantis’ LKR 109 million in efficiency savings.

Hayleys PLC held its 21 Feb 2025 Chairman’s Awards, recognising 200 employees from 26 project teams for innovation, ESG, service excellence and quality improvements. Winners included Haycarb (ESG rainwater harvesting), Hayleys Fabric (FreshWick Pro and FemFlexTex) and Advantis (31 lean projects delivering LKR 109m savings).

ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 named Hayleys PLC overall winner and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC overall runner-up. Listed firms recognised in sector categories included Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations, Ceylon Cold Stores, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Citizens Development Business Finance, Resus Energy, Hayleys Fabric, Haycarb, Diesel & Motor Engineering, JAT Holdings and Aitken Spence Hotels.