News & market updates

The Colombo market ended lower with the ASPI down 0.37% (88.58 pts) to 23,812.31 amid profit-taking, elevated turnover and net foreign outflows (week net outflow > Rs.2.36bn); daily turnover was about Rs.9.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.1.7bn yesterday).

Colombo market fell as the ASPI dropped 0.38% (91.22 pts) to 23,900.89 with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.20.9m. Top negatives included Senkadagala Finance, Ceylon Tobacco, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and C T Holdings while Prime Lands Residencies gained.

The ASPI closed at 23,992.11, up 0.13% (31.95 pts) after hitting an intraday high of 24,068.22, with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.480.2m. Capital goods led turnover (Rs.1.91bn) with John Keells and ACL Cables among top contributors while market breadth remained weak.

Sampath Bank PLC and Prime Lands Residencies PLC signed an MoU to offer a 0% equity financing facility for Prime Residencies condominiums, with Sampath financing 100% for completed projects and releasing 30% upfront for projects under completion.

Sampath Bank and Prime Lands Residencies signed an MoU to offer a 0% equity financing facility for buyers of Prime condominium projects. Sampath will finance 100% for completed projects and release 30% upfront for projects under completion to support buyers and developers.

Colombo market ended flat as the ASPI fell 0.02% to 23,623.74 with turnover near Rs.5.17 billion and foreign investors net sold about Rs.91 million. Top negative contributors were SFCL, JKH, BUKI, CTHR and DFCC, while DOCK, ACL and RHL led turnover and HAYL and DOCK supported index performance.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.19% (45.79 pts) to 23,608.51 on turnover of Rs.5.2 billion and a net foreign outflow of Rs.35.4 million. The session saw selling pressure weighing on DOCK, RICH and banks (HNB, SAMP) while JKH, RCL, COMB and PLR were among notable buying/turnover contributors.

Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance PLC (MBSL) recalibrated the MBSL Midcap Index effective 1 January 2026, setting the midcap market-cap range at Rs. 8.45 billion–Rs. 84.5 billion and selecting 25 constituents. New inclusions include Sierra Cables, Aitken Spence, Vallibel Finance, Lanka IOC, JAT Holdings and Prime Lands; Citizens Development, CIC, Ceylon Grain Elevators, John Keells, Hayleys Fabric, Teejay Lanka and Watawala Plantations were excluded.

Colombo market rose as the ASPI gained 0.66% (150.67 pts) to 23,014.75, with market value up Rs.58.89 billion and turnover ~Rs.5.8 billion. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, ACL Cables, Dipped Products, Carson Cumberbatch, LOLC and Sampath, and foreigners were net buyers (~Rs.87.8m).

Eng. Prof. Ananda Jayawardane has been appointed by the Finance Ministry as an Independent Non‑Executive Director on the Bank of Ceylon board. He completed his term as Chairman of Commercial Bank in April 2024 and currently serves as a director of Prime Lands Residencies and HNB Assurance, with past links to Sierra Cables and NDB.

DFCC Bank (DFCC.N0000) signed a strategic partnership with Prime Lands and Prime Lands Residencies (PLR.N0000) to offer exclusive home financing with special interest rates, flexible repayment and expedited approvals for buyers of Prime Group developments. The program targets first-time buyers and pre-vets properties to simplify documentation, valuation, legal checks and disbursement.

Colombo stock market opened the week higher as the ASPI rose 0.36% (77.31 pts) to 21,676.20, led by plantation counters and conglomerates; turnover was about Rs.4.2bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.15.6m.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 264 points (1.3%) and the S&P SL20 gained 1.2% on turnover of Rs.6.2bn. Banks and hotel counters led gains (COMB, SAMP, HNB, SPEN, DFCC), capital goods and utilities drove turnover, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.270.8m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.30% to 20,619 with turnover of Rs 6.21bn, led by gains in banks and capital goods. Key risers included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB, Aitken Spence, DFCC and active trading in Sierra Cables.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI and S&P SL20 declined 1.25% amid profit-taking led by banks, with ASPI down 257 points — the largest intraday drop since 23 June. Turnover was Rs.4 billion and foreigners recorded a net outflow of Rs.80.5 million; several bank counters led losses.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC acquired over 1 acre on Station Road, Bambalapitiya for Rs.3.5 billion via a Sampath Bank public auction. Prime paid a Rs.350 million (10%) advance and will settle the balance within 30 days; the group says this is its largest land investment.

ASPI fell 0.6% (128 pts) to 20,642 on turnover of Rs.6.5bn, led by Prime Lands Residencies (Rs.1.9bn), Chevron Lubricants and Sierra Cables; banks and blue-chip names including HNB, JKH and DFCC were top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.69% to 20,625 and S&P SL20 fell 0.68% to 5,889. Hatton National Bank, DFCC, John Keells and Dialog weighed on the index while Prime Lands Residencies accounted for Rs 1.91bn of turnover and closed up at Rs 32.

LAUGFS Gas and LAUGFS Power shares surged (LAUGFS Gas voting +65.42% to Rs.66.50; LAUGFS Power non-voting +63% to Rs.14.20) after reports of a 50:50 partnership with Vallibel Three (Dhammika Perera). Meanwhile the ASPI fell 0.4% to 20,906 with declines led by HNB, COMB, DFCC, CINS and JKH; turnover leaders included RIL, CTHR and EBCR.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC appointed Prof. Ananda Jayawardane as a Non-Executive Director. Prof. Jayawardane is a former Commercial Bank chairman, currently a Senior Professor at the University of Moratuwa and a Non-Executive Director of HNB Assurance.

The Colombo market closed with the ASPI at 20,992, up 16 points, on turnover of Rs.5.6 billion; weekly ASPI and S&P SL20 fell 0.03% and 1.19% respectively. Property, capital-goods and consumer services stocks led turnover while select hotels and developers saw mixed flows and sizable corporate stake transactions were reported.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC won the Gold Award in the Best Corporate Website category at the 15th BestWeb.lk Awards for The Grand Ward Place website. This is the company's second consecutive Gold, highlighting its digital strategy and customer engagement efforts in real estate.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed up 0.08% (16.25 pts) at 20,991 on Thursday with turnover Rs 5.66bn, led by capital goods (Rs 1bn), consumer services (Rs 895m) and real estate (Rs 790m); top contributors included RIL Property, Ceylon Tobacco, Prime Lands Residencies and John Keells.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC's The Grand Ward Place website won Gold in the Best Corporate Website category at the 15th BestWeb.lk Awards. The consecutive Gold win highlights the company's digital strategy and reinforces its positioning in Sri Lanka's real estate sector.

Colombo's ASPI hit an all-time high, closing at 21,062 (+65) on turnover of Rs.13.2bn with net foreign selling of Rs.1bn. John Keells and Commercial Bank led turnover while investor interest shifted toward property names such as Prime Lands Residencies and RIL Property.

The ASPI rose about 7% in August, closing the month at 20,997.36 after a 197.10-point (0.95%) gain on the final day. Top contributors included Ceylinco Holdings, Senkadagala Finance and Richard Pieris; turnover was around Rs.7.4bn, led by consumer services and financials, with foreign net inflows of Rs.184.1m.

ASPI rose 96.45 points (0.49%) to close at 19,923 as the CSE opened with mixed sentiment; foreigners were net sellers with a net outflow of Rs.117.2m. Banking led turnover (25%) while Capital Goods and Diversified Financials together contributed 28% of turnover.

Colombo stock market closed the week lower: the ASPI fell 0.4% to 19,827 and the S&P SL20 lost 1.2%, with yesterday's turnover at Rs.3.26 billion. Diversified Financials led turnover (23%) driven by Galle Face Capital Partners; John Keells, Hemas, Prime Lands and Lankem were also top contributors.