News & market updates

Alliance Finance Company PLC issued Sri Lanka’s first Green Bond by an NBFI (rated A- by Lanka Rating), guaranteed by Seylan Bank, listed on the CSE and oversubscribed within hours. Proceeds will finance renewable energy, clean transport, energy efficiency and related green projects.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 0.70% to ASPI 17,074.02 on turnover Rs3.6bn, with a net foreign inflow of Rs307mn. Top turnover and movers included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Hemas, HNB and John Keells; LB Finance announced a Rs2.25 interim dividend.

NDB Bank hosted a Customer Engagement Forum in Jaffna with 100 invitees, including top-tier clients, SMEs and aspiring exporters, to showcase its lending, export financing and digital banking solutions. Senior NDB leadership, including CEO Kelum Edirisinghe, attended.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose after the Budget, with the ASPI up 1.3% and net foreign inflows of Rs. 777.4 million. Banking, insurance and diversified financials led the session, with Ceylinco, Melstacorp, NDB and Sampath among the top contributors.

Budget 2025 raises Capital Gains Tax to 15% for individuals/partnerships and to 30% for other entities. HNB Stockbrokers noted the current CGT definition does not include gains from trading listed equities.

NDB Bank signed an agreement with Bishop’s College on Jan 29, 2025 to launch an exclusive Bishop’s College Affinity Credit Card, offering a first-year annual fee waiver, flexible instalment plans and partner discounts. The card targets alumnae, parents, teachers and the school community.

ASPI closed up 1.30% (219.36 pts) at 17,156.05, nearing its all-time high amid the 2025 budget presentation. Net foreign inflow of LKR 777m (highest in 2025) drove buying in Ceylinco Holdings, Browns Investments and activity in NDB, Sampath, Hayleys, Sierra Cables and Jetwing Symphony.

Colombo Fashion Week will present 12 emerging designers and launch a Craft Fashion Fund selecting two winners; shows run Feb 19-22 across Shangri-La Colombo, Taj Samudra and Cinnamon Grand. The program aims to boost Sri Lankan design, with sponsors including NDB Wealth and major hotels.

ASPI rose ~232 points (1.41%) to 16,578 as the Colombo market returned to positive territory with turnover of Rs.3.58bn. Ceylinco, Central Finance, Sampath, LOLC and NDB were top positive contributors while CTC, HNB and SPEN weighed on the index; Ambeon, JKH and Printcare also gained.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 1.42% at 16,578.22, led by banks and finance stocks, with a net foreign outflow of 892 million rupees. Top contributors included Ceylinco (+9.3%), Central Finance (+6.0%), Sampath (+2.1%) and NDB (+2.4%), while Ambeon saw heavy foreign selling.

NDB Bank has partnered with the Automobile Association of Ceylon to launch the AAC Affinity Credit Card, offering a waived first-year annual fee, installment payment options and exclusive partner discounts for members.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.33% to 16,345.30 as turnover was Rs2.3bn, with banks weighing on the market. Major decliners included NDB, Seylan, HNB, Sampath and DFCC while Nations Trust, Colombo Dockyard and Ceylon Tobacco gained; net foreign outflow was Rs64m.

National Development Bank PLC (NDB) hosted a Rugby Carnival on Jan 25 at the Royal College Sports Complex with 26 internal teams; Central Kings won the championship, Team Cards Sales were first runners-up and Team Central second runners-up.

National Development Bank (NDB.N0000) has integrated GovPay into its NEOS Online Banking and NEOS Corporate platforms, enabling customers to make government payments for multiple public services through its digital channels.

NDB Bank (NDB.N0000) has integrated GovPay into its NEOS Online Banking and NEOS Corporate platforms, allowing customers to make digital payments for a range of government services through its channels.

Colombo Fashion Week announced its Summer 2025 edition and its founding membership of the BRICS International Fashion Federation, plus a new Craft Fashion Fund; the event is supported by partners including Mastercard, NDB Wealth, Nestlé Lanka and Cargills, and will showcase local and international designers.

Sri Lanka stocks closed 0.6% higher, with the ASPI up 0.57% to 16,550.63, led by capital goods. Banks, construction and food & beverage shares saw notable investor interest; turnover was Rs 5.18bn and there was a net foreign outflow of Rs 126m.

Colombo market lost Rs.188 billion as the ASPI plunged ~500 points (3%) and the S&P SL20 fell 3.3%, taking market cap below Rs.6 trillion with turnover of Rs.6.35bn. Banking stocks were the main drag (Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Sampath Bank, NDB); Ceylinco, Teejay, Browns and JKH featured in top turnover.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 2.95% (500.39 pts) to 16,456.10 on Feb 5 as profit-taking triggered broad selling. Top losers included HNB, Commercial Bank, NDB, Sampath, Teejay Lanka and Singer, while Ceylinco Holdings and Lion Brewery gained; turnover was Rs 6.3bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs 343m.

NDB Investment Bank Limited has appointed Harshana Jayaweera as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 2025. The investment bank is part of the NDB group and the appointment brings an executive with extensive international investment-banking experience to the group.

Sri Lanka's central bank says it excludes excess reserves from the reported monetary base, citing the IMF manual. The clarification and the use of unremunerated excess reserves have caused large swings in reported reserve money and raised concerns about banking liquidity, credit expansion and rupee depreciation.

NDB Bank was recognised as the Official Banking Partner at the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) Awards, marking its second consecutive year partnering the SLSRFR to support rugby development and youth empowerment in Sri Lanka.

Colombo's ASPI rose 7.4% in January, with yesterday's turnover at Rs.5.1bn and foreign net selling of Rs.405.6m. Price gains in counters including Central Finance, Colombo Fort Land & Building, Ambeon Holdings, Teejay Lanka and Ambeon Capital and activity in Access Engineering and John Keells supported the market recovery.

Colombo market turned bearish as the ASPI slipped 2 points to 17,115 on turnover of Rs.7.34bn and a net foreign outflow of Rs.2.2bn led by JKH; capital goods led turnover while NDB, COOP, AEL and Sierra Cables rose and Browns, Royal Ceramics, Melstacorp, LOLC and Hayleys lagged.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed broadly flat with the ASPI down 0.01% at 17,115 and the S&P SL20 flat at 5,126; turnover was 7.3 billion. Top positive contributors included NDB (128.25), Co-operative Insurance (3.70), Access Engineering (42.00) and DFCC (129.50).

NDB Bank (NDB.N0000) has partnered with the Holy Cross College Kalutara Old Boys’ Union to launch an exclusive affinity credit card, offering a waived first-year fee, installment plans and partner merchant discounts. The card is aimed at alumni members and was signed on Jan 16, 2025.

NDB Bank launched TradeLinc, a digital supply-chain finance platform providing real-time funding and liquidity solutions for Sri Lankan businesses, particularly SMEs. The launch event, attended by over 100 customers, was supported by ADB speakers highlighting trade finance and financial inclusion.

Colombo bourse closed marginally lower: ASPI down 0.02% at 17,117.18 and S&P SL20 down 0.65% at 5,126.31, turnover Rs8.4bn and net foreign outflow Rs923.9m. Buying interest returned to banks and finance stocks after vehicle import relaxation, and construction names such as Access Engineering saw inflows.

NDB Bank has partnered with Clean Ocean Force Lanka to launch two marine conservation projects: the Negombo Lagoon Cleanup and Underwater Dive Cleanups and Reef Conservation. NDB is the first local bank to work with COF, targeting plastic removal from lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs and community education.

National Development Bank PLC (NDB) hosted an Exporter’s Forum on 24 January in Ja-Ela to convene exporters and stakeholders and discuss strategies to strengthen Sri Lanka's export sector. NDB outlined tailored finance, advisory, trade finance, digital banking and treasury services to support SMEs and exporters.