News & market updates

Government will launch a concessionary pledge loan scheme from 1 Jan to help SME paddy millers access loans up to Rs.50 million at 7% for 180 days. Fifteen banks will participate, including COMB.N0000, HNB.N0000, SAMP.N0000, DFCC.N0000, NDB.N0000, NTB.N0000, ABL.N0000, CBNK.N0000 and PABC.N0000; total disbursements ~Rs.10bn.

Siyapatha Finance, the largest fully‑owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank, appointed Mathisha Hewavitharana as Chief Executive Officer effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Ananda Seneviratne. Under the outgoing MD, Siyapatha grew to a 61-branch network and assets exceeding Rs.75 billion.

ASPI rose 42% in 2025, lifting market capitalization 41.67% to Rs. 8.07 trillion and generating Rs. 2.4 trillion in value. Final-day turnover exceeded Rs. 4.6 billion, three firms (CALH, JFP, WTS) listed during the year, and JKH, SFCL, ACL, SAMP and HASU were top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 41.7% year-on-year in 2025, closing 0.79% higher at 22,624.31 on Dec 31. Capital goods, food & beverage and banking led turnover, with John Keells, Senkadagala Finance, ACL Cables, Sampath Bank and HNB Assurance among top contributors; net foreign outflow was Rs103 million.

Siyapatha Finance appointed Mathisha Hewavitharana as CEO effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Ananda Seneviratne. Siyapatha is the largest wholly-owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank PLC, and the board emphasized continuity, internal succession and the company's strong financial position.

Sampath Bank's fully owned subsidiary Siyapatha Finance PLC opened its 61st branch in Nikaweratiya. The branch will offer leasing, gold financing, business and personal loans and bill-payment services, and the opening included donations to flood-affected schoolchildren.

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.

Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.15% to 21,959.05, as John Keells Holdings crossings accounted for about 34% of turnover (total turnover > Rs.4.1bn); foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.331.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.15% higher as the ASPI rose 32.05 points to 21,959.05, led by gains in selected banking, construction and retail stocks. Top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Sampath Bank, Bukit Darah, Royal Ceramics and Tokyo Cement; turnover rose to Rs 4.1bn with a Rs 331mn net foreign outflow.

CSE ended mixed with the ASPI up 0.13% to 21,927.00 and the S&P SL20 down 0.05% to 6,011.31, on turnover of about Rs.2.56bn and foreign net selling of ~Rs.68.6m. Top positive contributors included DOCK, RICH, SAMP, JKH and CARG, while SFCL, SUN, RCL, LOLC and HHL were among decliners.

Colombo Dockyard led gains as the ASPI rose 0.13% to 21,927.00, with Dockyard up to Rs127.00. Other contributors included Sampath Bank, John Keells, Tokyo Cement and Sierra Cables; turnover fell to Rs2.5bn and the CSE recorded a net foreign outflow of Rs68.58m.

Sampath Bank PLC signed an MoU with Toyota Lanka to offer Toyota buyers a 0.5% p.a. reduction on published leasing rates and complementary benefits including free vehicle registration, three complimentary services, a 3-year/100,000 km warranty, 0% short-term insurance loans, and a no-joining-fee credit card with a 0% 12-month insurance payment plan.

Daraz Sri Lanka will run a Jingle Sale from Dec 19–31 offering free delivery, up to 85% off and Rs. 80 million in vouchers. Customers can unlock extra savings (up to 15%) with select banks including Commercial Bank, Sampath, NDB, Nations Trust and via LOLC's KOKO BNPL (up to 12%).

Banks agreed to grant distressed businesses 3–6 month extensions on existing loan repayments without additional interest or fees following Cyclone Ditwah. They also agreed on low-interest concessional loans, a common implementation mechanism and a shared database to coordinate support.

Sampath Bank PLC will raise up to Rs.20 billion through a listed Basel III-compliant Tier II debenture programme over two years, launching with up to Rs.10 billion in the first phase. Debentures may be structured as Green/Sustainability Bonds, include non-viability conversion features, and are subject to approvals and market conditions.

Sampath Bank plans to issue up to 200 million debentures to raise Rs20bn, starting with up to 100 million in 5- and 7-year tranches. The Basel III-compliant instruments are Tier-2 unsecured subordinated debentures (and/or green/sustainability bonds) subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Sampath Bank signed an MoU with Hayleys Mobility to support purchases of new-energy vehicles, offering eligible customers a 0.5% p.a. reduction on published vehicle lease interest rates. The offer also includes short-term no-interest insurance loans, 0% 12-month card plans for insurance payments, Hayleys warranties/after-sales and EV charging access via StarCharge.

Siyapatha Finance, the fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank, opened its 60th branch in Warakapola, expanding the group's islandwide branch network. The branch will offer leasing, deposits, gold financing, business and personal loans and bill payments (Smart Pay) and support local SMEs.

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.

Colombo Dockyard and several financials lifted the Colombo Stock Exchange 0.17% as the ASPI closed at 22,333.25. Market turnover rose to LKR 2.8bn with a net foreign outflow of LKR 42.76m; Lanka IOC had crossings of LKR 92.25m and Capital Alliance led turnover.

People’s Insurance PLC has appointed Chandana Guniyangoda as its new Independent Chairman. Guniyangoda is a veteran finance professional with 27+ years' experience and prior senior roles at NDB Bank, Sampath Bank and Aitken Spence.

Sampath Bank has partnered with Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka PLC (PickMe) to integrate Visa’s CyberSource internet payment gateway, enabling secure card payments across PickMe rides and delivery services.

Speculative trading in Colombo Dockyard lifted the Colombo Stock Exchange—ASPI rose 1.90% to 22,452.22 while Colombo Dockyard gained 43 rupees to 217. Momentum spread into banks and construction, with higher turnover of 6.2 billion rupees and several active stocks advancing.

Colombo Stock Exchange regained nearly 40% of last week's Rs. 424 billion loss as the ASPI rose 2.04% (439.46 pts) to 22,034.32. Top contributors included DOCK, CINS, COMB, SAMP and ACL, with turnover around Rs. 3.88 billion.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 2.04% as retail buying boosted construction and major bank shares, with the ASPI at 22,034.32. Top contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Ceylinco Holdings, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and ACL Cables, and Access Engineering was active.

The ASPI rebounded 0.45% to 21,594.86 on Monday as investor interest in diversified financials, capital goods and construction stocks pushed the market higher. Several stocks rose (AEL, ACL, DOCK, SAMP, HHL) and Abans Finance (AFSL) announced a debenture sale to raise up to LKR 1.5bn.

MAS Holdings won the 40th Mercantile Athletics Championship with 560 points, a 296-point lead over the runner-up. Sampath Bank placed fourth with 185 points.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 5.35% for the week, wiping out nearly Rs. 424 billion in market value. The ASPI hit a two-and-half-month low at 21,497.08 yesterday, with heavy losses in banking and capital-goods counters including JKH, HHL, COMB, SAMP, DFCC, NDB and HNB.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has received CBSL approval to acquire HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail banking business for Rs.18 billion, with completion expected in H1 2026. The deal will transfer about 200,000 customer accounts including premium clients, credit cards and retail loans to NTB.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 5.4% over the week after Cyclone Ditwah, closing Friday at 21,497.08 as selling pressure hit the market. Banks and John Keells were top negative contributors, while some construction stocks (e.g., Swisstek) saw buying ahead of expected reconstruction projects.