News & market updates

Colombo's ASPI fell 1.7% this week while turnover hit a 65-week low of about Rs. 722.64 million; top drags on the index included John Keells (JKH), PKME and NDB. Banking led turnover (notably Sampath Bank) and activity was concentrated in capital goods, food & beverage and energy names.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell for a sixth straight session as the ASPI dropped 0.54% to 21,962.30. Turnover exceeded Rs.1.5bn with foreigners net sellers of Rs.185m; major drags included Melstacorp, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and CIC Holdings, while Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants featured among top contributors.

Renuka Agri Foods PLC was among Sri Lankan companies showcasing products at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 (26–30 May) in Bangkok as part of an EDB-organized pavilion to promote food and beverage exports.

ASPI fell 0.4% (85.70 pts) to 21,461.47 as selling pressure reversed early gains; turnover was below Rs.1.7bn and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.55.9m. Major negative contributors were C T Holdings, Melstacorp, Ambeon, Access Engineering and Central Finance, while John Keells, Chevron Lubricants and Commercial Bank were top turnover names.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.67% to 21,547.17 with net foreign inflows of Rs. 22.6 million. Gains were led by selected blue-chip counters and heavy turnover in capital goods and food & beverage names, with notable moves in DIAL, BREW, CCS, ABAN and JKH.

CMA Sri Lanka launched national Cost Accounting Standards to strengthen costing, control and reporting across large and medium public and private institutions; the standards prioritize sectors including power, telecom, manufacturing, drugs and agricultural/tea exporters to improve efficiency, pricing transparency and competitiveness.

Senthilverl Holdings Ltd increased its stake in Renuka Agri Foods PLC to 10.04% after buying 1,868,913 shares on 25 March for a total of Rs. 25.1m. The purchases were made in two tranches at Rs. 13.40 and Rs. 13.50, up from a prior holding of 9.80%.

Colombo Stock Exchange eased at midday with the ASPI down 0.33% to 21,022.14 and the S&P SL20 down 0.47% to 5,881.20. Brent futures fell below $110; Sampath Bank, Hayleys and ACL Cables were top decliners while Renuka Agri Foods rose after a filing showed a 10.04% shareholding.

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.

Dr. T. Senthilverl acquired a near 10% stake in Renuka Agri Foods PLC for Rs. 1 billion. Trading saw 82.36m Renuka Agri shares change hands for Rs. 1.14 billion and Renuka Foods PLC remains the biggest shareholder at 67.89%.

Colombo stock market closed February lower: ASPI fell 47 points (0.2%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 74 points (>1%) with turnover of Rs.7 billion. Banks, conglomerates and blue-chips (COMB, JKH, HNB, CTC, LLUB) weighed on the index while Renuka Agri Foods rose and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.363.8m.

Colombo bourse turnover topped Rs.7.01 billion while the ASPI fell 47.17 pts to 23,734.06 and the S&P SL20 dropped 74.20 pts to 6,635.97. Renuka Agri Foods PLC accounted for Rs.1.14 billion of on-board trades; domestic buyers dominated and foreigners were net sellers (purchases Rs.164m, sales Rs.528m).

Mr. Shamindra Vatsalan Rajiyah has tendered his resignation as Managing Director of the Company with effect from 19th February 2026.The Board of Directors resolved to appoint Mr. Vasantha Kumar Sanmugam, an Executive Director of the Company, as the Managing Director of Renuka Agri Foods PLC with effect from 19th February 2026.

ASPI closed down 0.01% at 23,652.51 with turnover of LKR 4.8bn and net foreign outflow of LKR 42.7m. Banks led turnover (30%), food & beverage and capital goods together contributed 31%; top negatives were RICH, CFIN, JKH, RIL and AEL, while RAL saw net foreign buying and crossings were led by COCO, COMB and DOCK.

The Colombo Stock Exchange closed down for a second session as the ASPI fell 0.43% (103.17 pts) to 23,651.09 with turnover over Rs.3.54bn and foreign net selling of Rs.465.9mn. Top negatives included SFCL, CARG, CFIN and DOCK, while RAL and EMER were among gainers.

Colombo stock market ended the week up as the ASPI rose 0.14% to 23,801.96 while year-to-date net foreign selling approached Rs. 11.8 billion. Turnover was nearly Rs. 9.1 billion, led by banks and large crossings (notably Commercial Bank) with gains in ACME, JKH, Sampath, HNB, KZOO, Colombo Dockyard and Teejay.

Sri Lanka will host its largest-ever 510 sqm country pavilion at Gulfood 2026, with 61 exporters participating to showcase food and beverage products, including Cargills, Elpitiya Plantations, Ceylon Cold Stores and Renuka Agri Foods.

Sri Lanka will host a 510 sq m Country Pavilion at Gulfood 2026 with 61 exporting companies participating, including Cargills, Ceylon Cold Stores, Renuka Agri Foods and Elpitiya Plantations; the pavilion aims to boost exports of tea, spices, coconut and processed foods to MEASA markets.

ASPI rose 0.03% (7.45 pts) to 23,813.77 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.02% to 6,617.85; turnover was Rs.8.3 billion and foreigners were net sellers with a reported net outflow of Rs.144.6 billion. Top contributors included HNB, DFCC, UML, RICH and ASCO, with DOCK, HAYL and SFCL dragging the index.

ASPI closed at an all-time high of 23,806.32, up 0.77% (182.58 pts) on turnover above Rs.9.8bn. Gains were led by Hayleys, Colombo Dockyard and Sampath Bank, with the capital goods and banking sectors among the top contributors.

Colombo bourse closed the week up 3.45% as the ASPI rose 0.54% yesterday to 23,654.30, with the market gaining about Rs. 264.8 billion in value for the week and daily turnover over Rs. 8.5 billion; top contributors included JKH, COMB, VONE, CARS and NTB.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.54% on Friday and 3.45% over the week, led by gains in John Keells, Commercial Bank, Vallibel One, Carson Cumberbatch and Nations Trust Bank. Market turnover fell to 8.5 billion rupees and Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank recorded crossings.

Colombo market rose for a ninth straight session as the ASPI gained 1.21% to 23,292.91, with market turnover about Rs. 6.6bn; banking counters led activity and top positive contributors included HNB, COMB, JKH, NDB and SAMP.

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).

The Colombo stock market gained Rs.84 billion as the ASPI rose 1.42% to 22,445.89. Top contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, Hatton National Bank, Richard Pieris and Commercial Bank, with capital goods, banking and materials driving turnover and hotel stocks seeing buying interest.

Colombo Bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.17% (37.12 pts) to 22,292.57 on subdued activity and profit-taking, with turnover over Rs.2.3bn. Top negative contributors included DOCK, SFCL, RICH, MELS and BREW, while Tokyo Cement and Hemas saw notable investor participation.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.17% (38.48 pts) to 22,333.25 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.31% to 6,071.12. Turnover was Rs 2.85bn on ~77.2m shares with foreign net outflows of Rs 42.8m; top contributors included DOCK, COMB, SAMP, MELS and DFCC.