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: 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.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC.N0000) has partnered with the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation to add SLECIC's APARA Guarantee Cover to its Remit Max Pre-Departure Loan Scheme, expanding access to pre-departure loans for migrant workers. The move aims to boost financing availability for prospective overseas workers and support remittance inflows.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC.N0000) launched its first Mastercard Debit Card, a Mastercard World Debit offering enhanced security, global acceptance and value-added benefits for everyday and international payments.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC.N0000) launched 'Remit Max' on 3 July 2026 in Kurunegala, introducing a Remit Max Savings Account and a Remit Max Pre-Departure Loan Facility for migrant workers. The suite is designed to encourage formal inward remittances and provide pre-departure financing for prospective overseas workers.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC.N0000) won the Grand Prix and four Gold awards at the 15th ACEF Global Customer Engagement Awards 2026, recognised for digital onboarding, TV+digital campaign planning and the 'One Click Thousand Trees' sustainability initiative.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.65% to 22,263.28, with utilities leading turnover at Rs.486 million. Top movers included Lighthouse Hotel (+4.64%), HNB (+0.19%), Sampath (+0.17%) and Pan Asia (+1.29%); Windforce (-5.12%) and Hayleys (-0.94%) were top decliners, and Asia Asset Finance declared a Rs.0.70 dividend on its convertible preference shares.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.45% midday to 22,309.09 with turnover of 951.8 million rupees, utilities contributing 448.6 million. Convenience Foods Lanka authorized an 8.00 rupee first-and-final dividend and Tokyo Cement proposed a 2.50 rupee first-and-final dividend.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices rose, with the ASPI up 0.37% (82.93 pts) to 22,291.51 and the S&P SL20 up 0.56% to 6,216.28. Top contributors included John Keells, Windforce, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Sampath Bank; market turnover was LKR110.3m, led by materials (LKR60.4m), while Brent crude fell below $73/bbl.

The ASPI edged up 0.01% to 22,256.49 with turnover above Rs.1.56bn and foreign investors net-selling Rs.225mn. Hemas, NDB and Hayleys Fibre were top turnover contributors (Hemas and Hayleys up, Panasian Power down).

Colombo market fell for a second day as ASPI slipped 0.39% to 22,177.65 and the S&P SL20 eased 0.32% to 6,130.65 on turnover of Rs.2.01bn. Notable moves: Ceylon Cold Stores, Haycarb and Pan Asia Banking gained, John Keells was flat, with mixed or retail interest in several other stocks.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC.N0000) reported Q1 2026 Profit Before Tax of Rs.1.65 billion, up 13% YoY, with loans +10% to Rs.239.49 billion and deposits +10% to Rs.254.19 billion. Asset quality improved (Stage 3 ratio 1.57%) and CASA rose to 22.63% while the bank invested in digital and branch expansion.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation reported Q1 2026 PBT up 13% to Rs. 1.65 billion (PAT Rs. 1.05 billion), with advances up 10% to Rs. 239.49 bn and deposits up 10% to Rs. 254.19 bn; credit loss expenses fell 93% and NIM was sustained.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC.N0000) appointed Ayodhya Iddawela Perera as a Non-Executive Independent Director. Perera has over 36 years of banking experience and was Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC from July 2023 to September 2025.

DFCC Bank convened a discussion examining how the Middle East conflict could transmit into Sri Lanka’s economy, highlighting energy price, shipping, FX, tourism and remittance channels. The forum emphasised banks’ role in helping clients manage FX exposure, trade finance and liquidity amid rising uncertainty.

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.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC won the Overall Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Digital Payments’ at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026. Other shortlist winners included HNB (Overall Bronze), Seylan (Overall Merit), LOLC Finance (NBFI Gold), LB Finance (NBFI Silver), Pan Asia and DFCC (category awards).

Senior bankers at the Association of Professional Bankers convention urged caution, prioritising balance-sheet discipline—liquidity, capital buffers, and managing interest-rate and FX exposure—over rapid expansion. Speakers also highlighted selective growth, risk-adjusted returns, and greater use of digital capability and sustainable debt instruments.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC plans to raise up to Rs. 5 billion via a listed rated unsecured senior redeemable debenture issue (up to 50 million debentures of Rs.100 each, tenors up to five years), subject to regulatory approvals and proposed CSE quotation.

Fitch says the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's reintroduced bank consolidation framework is broadly credit-positive, targeting banks with assets below Rs.400 billion and subjecting banks scoring under 60% in 2026–27 to possible mandatory consolidation. Fitch notes consolidation should strengthen capital and franchises, and identifies HDFC.N0000 as a likely acquisition target.

Banks across Sri Lanka are intensifying AML/CFT controls ahead of the country's third mutual evaluation, warning a negative outcome would damage financial credibility and access to funding. Leading banks such as DFCC and HNB report system upgrades, AI-backed transaction monitoring, stronger KYC/UBO processes and mock evaluations.

AIA Insurance Lanka launched 'Vision X', a strategic blueprint to deepen bancassurance partnerships and deliver a digital-first customer experience, highlighting ties with NDB, DFCC, Commercial Bank and Pan Asia Bank.

Pan Asia Bank (PABC.N0000) signed an MOU with Fairway Properties to provide housing loans to buyers of the Fairway Latitude luxury apartment project. The tripartite framework will let buyers access Pan Asia’s home loan facilities with competitive rates; construction has reached six floors.

Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC.N0000) reported 2025 total assets of Rs. 308.02 billion and Profit After Tax of Rs. 4.01 billion (underlying PAT +35%). The bank delivered EPS of Rs. 9.05, 35% loan growth to Rs. 217.12 billion, deposits of Rs. 231.04 billion, improved asset quality (Stage 3 ratio 1.73%) and strong capital and liquidity metrics.

AIA Insurance Lanka launched 'Vision X', unveiling a bancassurance strategic blueprint and celebrating partnerships with banks including NDB, DFCC, Commercial Bank and Pan Asia, highlighting a digital-first customer experience and strengthened long-term collaboration.

The ASPI fell 0.07% to 23,882.82 in a volatile session with turnover of Rs.4.2bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.42.3m. Leading negative contributors were CTHR, PABC, DIMO, DFCC and RICH, while Softlogic Capital and Prime Lands led turnover.

Dividend · Rs 1.00 · XD Apr 2, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 1/share; XD 2026-04-02; record 2026-04-05; payable 2026-04-24; FY 2025