News & market updates

Colombo bourse ended lower: ASPI fell 0.38% to 21,148.71 and S&P SL20 dropped 0.26% to 5,946.03. Market turnover was nearly Rs.1.1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.710,860, with SPEN, CINS, COMB, ACL and RICH among the decliners.

ASPI fell 0.29% to 21,145.73 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 5,945.01; turnover exceeded Rs.3.2bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.79.8mn and a Rs.2.3bn crossing in Cargills driving volume. Negative contributors included CINS, COMB, RICH, CARS and HARI; Melstacorp, NTB and HNB were also active.

ASPI fell 0.92% (197.31 pts) to 21,208.10, its lowest in over three months, with 193 counters down and market turnover at around Rs.2.6bn. DIAL, COMB, RICH, JKH and CARS were the major contributors to the decline.

The ASPI fell 1.07% (233.18 points) to 21,532.38 as investors sold amid renewed Middle East conflict concerns. Market turnover was over Rs 1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs 56mn, with banks and food & beverage sectors leading activity.

Dividend · Rs 0.80 · XD Jul 16, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.8/share; XD 2026-07-16; record 2026-07-17; payable 2026-07-31; FY 2026/2027

Richard Pieris Finance reported Profit Before Taxes of Rs.701.6 million for the year ended 31 March 2026. Profit after tax was Rs.448.7 million (up 76%), total assets Rs.24.57 billion, customer deposits Rs.11.68 billion, loans Rs.10.84 billion, and Fitch affirmed A(lka) Stable.

Colombo market fell 0.22% as the ASPI closed at 22,208.58 with turnover near Rs.1.2bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.130.6m. Main negative contributors included SAMP, JKH, LOFC, GRAN and RICH, while SPEN, BOGA and HAYC recorded gains.

Colombo bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.21% to 22,695 as investor sentiment remained subdued after the CBSL rate hike; market turnover was over Rs. 1.7 billion.

ASPI fell 4.26% for the week but closed Friday up 0.44% at 21,929.64, with market turnover near Rs.2.2bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.11.6m; top positive contributors were JKH, DOCK, MELS, RICH and SAMP amid cautious investors ahead of the CBSL policy meeting.

Colombo market closed marginally lower, with the ASPI down 0.07% at 22,298.07 while foreign investors were net buyers with inflows of over Rs.50 million. JKH.N0000, RICH.N0000, CIC.N0000, SAMP.N0000 and NDB.N0000 were among the top negative contributors; capital goods led turnover and banking plus food, beverage & tobacco made up 27% of turnover.

ASPI rose 3.56% for the week but closed yesterday down 0.21% at 21,375.73 as the bourse ended a volatile week; foreign investors were net sellers of over Rs.1.2 billion and market turnover was about Rs.2.7 billion.

The ASPI rose 0.60% (134.03 pts) to 22,577.41 on bargain hunting after a prior session plunge, with turnover ~Rs.4.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.95.1m. Capital goods led turnover (Rs.1.5bn) while banking and diversified financials also drove gains.

Colombo market ended marginally higher with the ASPI up 0.04% (9.38 pts) at 23,783.02 and the S&P SL20 up 0.11% at 6,728.71, on turnover below Rs.2.6bn; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.52.8m. MELS, RICH, PLR, COMB and HNB were key positive contributors and the banking sector led turnover (17%).

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.

ASPI rose 0.24% to 23,709.84 with turnover above Rs.8.5bn and foreign investors net sold Rs.986.2m. Top positive contributors were HNB, RICH, CTEA, COMB and AEL; TKYO led materials-sector turnover (Rs.2.05bn) and JINS recorded a 7.8% price gain.

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.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.22% (52.82 pts) to 23,734.50, driven by high-net-worth crossings that made up 49.4% of turnover (COMB contributed Rs.3.2bn); market turnover was Rs.8.24bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.1.3bn.

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).

The Colombo market hit an intraday record of 24,052.06 but closed flat, with the ASPI down 0.01% at 23,953.09 and the S&P SL20 up 0.20% at 6,663.12. Turnover was over Rs.5.4bn; York jumped 24.81% while SAMP, RICH, DFCC, CTHR and CARG were top negative contributors.

Arpico Insurance PLC has appointed Jayalal Hewawasam as its new Chief Executive Officer. Hewawasam brings over 25 years' experience, including as CEO of Allianz Life Insurance Sri Lanka, and the company is a subsidiary of Richard Pieris & Company PLC.

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.

Richard Pieris Finance reported profit before tax of Rs. 292 million for the six months to 30 Sep 2025 (PBT >75% y/y), with PAT up 47% and total assets rising 20% to over Rs.20 billion, driven by improved lending, cost discipline and supported by a Fitch 'A(lka)' Stable rating.

Ceylinco Life appointed industry veteran Dr Kelum Senanayake as a Consultant to lead training and support product design and development. The hire draws on his 40+ years in insurance and prior senior roles at Arpico Insurance, Union Assurance and Richard Pieris-related companies.

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.

CT Smith said the Colombo bourse hit record highs in 2025, with the ASPI up 42% YoY to 22,624 and the S&P SL20 up 27% YoY to 6,157. Net foreign outflow was Rs. 38,563mn, average daily turnover rose to Rs. 5,181mn, with net foreign buying in DIAL, PKME and RICH and selling in JKH, CTHR and HNB.

Aggregate profits of 273 listed companies fell 12% YoY to Rs.176.5 billion in Sep-25, ending a seven-quarter growth streak. Banks (Rs.52bn, +39% YoY) and diversified financials (Rs.39bn, +112% YoY) underpinned a QoQ rebound, while food, beverage & tobacco and capital goods posted steep declines.

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.

Namunukula Plantations bought 4,039,426 ordinary shares (0.95%) of National Development Bank from Arpico Insurance for Rs. 555.41 million at Rs. 137.50 per share. The transaction is a related-party, non-recurrent deal between subsidiaries of Richard Pieris & Co and falls within CSE Listing Rules limits.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.29% to 22,132.33 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.06% to 6,037.79 on turnover of about Rs. 3.7bn and net foreign outflows of Rs. 200.5m. Colombo Dockyard, DFCC and Richard Pieris led gains while John Keells and Commercial Bank fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed Friday with the ASPI up 0.50% (109.79 pts) to 22,068.84, re-entering the 22,000 mark. Turnover was over Rs.2.7bn, foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.18.9m), with banking counters and names like DOCK and RICH among top contributors.