News & market updates

AFC Asia Frontier Fund co-manager Ruchir Desai said Sri Lanka is now one of the fund’s top country picks, having raised allocation since November 2022, citing regained political and economic stability, undervalued equities (market ~11x earnings) and strong bank and consumer earnings.

Nations Trust Bank received Central Bank approval to acquire HSBC Sri Lanka's retail banking business, adding about 200,000 customer accounts; completion is expected in the first half of 2026.

Colombo market recouped 30% of Monday’s Rs.240 billion wipe-off as the ASPI rose 1% (219 points), restoring about Rs.72 billion of market cap; top contributors included RICH, CINS, SAMP, BUKI and NDB while capital goods and materials led turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange recovered as the ASPI rose 1% (219.51 pts) to 22,241.57, led by gains in diversified financials and construction-related shares, with notable rises in Ceylinco, Sampath, NDB, Bukit Darah, Sierra Cables and ACL Cables.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened December sharply lower as the ASPI fell 3.04% to 22,022.06 following Cyclone Ditwah; the S&P SL20 lost 2.89% and turnover topped Rs.5.2bn with foreign net outflow of ~Rs.106.2mn. Capital Goods and Banking led turnover while Access Engineering rose and several banks and John Keells fell.

Sampath Bank PLC launched a December SampathCards campaign offering exclusive discounts of up to 60% from 20 November to 31 December 2025 for Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cardholders across retail, dining, travel and lifestyle partner merchants.

Sampath Bank signed an MoU with DIMO to offer exclusive vehicle finance benefits, including a 0.5% p.a. reduction on published lease/loan rates, zero-interest short-term insurance loans and waived credit-card joining fees. DIMO will provide model-specific privileges, warranties and discounts for Mercedes-Benz and Tata vehicles.

Sampath Bank PLC launched a pilot digital bus fare payment project with the Road Passenger Transport Authority — Western Province, enabling contactless Visa/Mastercard/UnionPay/JCB card payments on the Kadawatha–Battaramulla route to promote cashless travel and improve fare transparency.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.22% higher after trading ceased early at 12:30pm due to cyclone Ditwah; the ASPI rose 50.73 pts to 22,712.82 with turnover Rs 1.93bn. Top contributors included John Keells, Ceylinco, Aitken Spence, Dialog Axiata and Sampath Bank.

Colombo market slid as the ASPI fell 0.80% (182.14 pts) to 22,662.09 and turnover dropped to about Rs.2.34 billion, a near five-month low. Banking counters (SAMP, COMB, HNB) and names including RICH, Hemas, Access Engineering, ACL Cables and Diesel & Motor drove the declines and top turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI fell 0.80% (182.14 pts) to 22,662.09, led by declines in diversified financials including Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and HNB while market turnover dropped to 2.34 billion rupees. SMB Finance's non-voting shares were the top gainer, up 10 cents to 40 cents.

ASPI fell 1.47% to 22,644.88, a five-week low, while the S&P SL20 dropped 1.33% to 6,279.71. Declines in banks and blue-chips led losses (notably HNB, RICH, NDB, SAMP and JKH); turnover was Rs.4.95bn with foreigners net buying ~Rs.83.2m and heavy activity in Hemas, DOCK and York.

One Galle Face will hold its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on 27 November, themed 'Enchanted Wonders', with Sampath Bank as strategic partner; the mall expects record December visitor numbers.

Hatton National Bank MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte set out HNB's 'Road to 2030', prioritising digitalisation and remittance-capture as growth drivers and citing worker remittances up ~20% y/y to nearly $6.5bn. He urged banks to align with Budget 2025 targets including a 12% digital-economy goal and DPI like SL-UDI and asset registries.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 1.47% to 22,644 as profit taking continued, with the ASPI down 338.72 points and the S&P SL20 down 1.21% to 6,287.81; turnover was 4.95 billion rupees. Top negatives included HNB, NDB, Sampath Bank and John Keells Holdings.

Sampath Bank PLC has commenced the pilot phase of Sri Lanka's Bus Fare Digitalisation Project with NCG Express, enabling contactless bank-card fare payments across the operator's fleet. The pilot aims to validate operational readiness for wider public and private bus adoption and aligns with Ministry of Transport guidelines for a bank-led interoperable payment system.

Sampath Bank launched the Sampath Bank Green Deposit, a 12-month LKR fixed deposit product to finance environmentally sustainable projects with interest payable at maturity. Proceeds will initially fund solar installations and the scheme follows an ICMA-aligned Green Deposit Framework with independent pre-issuance assurance.

Colombo Bourse closed higher as ASPI rose 0.33% (75.10 pts) to 23,104.96 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.32% to 6,382.18 on turnover of Rs.3.49 billion, with foreign investors net selling Rs.40.9m. Sampath, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah, John Keells and Carson were key positive contributors while Commercial Bank and CIC rose and Melstacorp fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.33% (75.10 pts) to 23,104.96, ending a five-day losing streak as diversified conglomerates and financials led gains. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, John Keells, Bukit Darah, Carson Cumberbatch, CIC, Access Engineering and ACL Cables.

Sampath Bank PLC launched the Sampath Bank Green Deposit, a 12-month Sri Lanka rupee fixed deposit to finance environmentally sustainable projects, initially funding solar installations. The product follows ICMA Green Bond Principles and has independent pre-issuance limited assurance.

The CSE introduced the 'GSS+ Bonds' regulatory framework in March 2025 to list green, social and sustainability bonds, and Bank of Ceylon has aligned its ESG systems and investment banking division to facilitate such issuances.

Fitch assigned Siyapatha Finance's proposed LKR3.75 billion five-year subordinated listed debentures an expected National Long-Term Rating of 'BBB+(EXP)(lka)'. Fitch said the debentures are two notches below Siyapatha's rating, expects poor recoveries for this debt class, and noted Sampath Bank would provide extraordinary support to the subsidiary if needed.

Sampath Bank Private Banking will be the Official Banking Partner for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka 2025. The partnership aims to support Sri Lanka's creative economy and provide private-banking clients with curated luxury experiences.

The Colombo market fell as investors booked profits: ASPI dropped 1.01% (236.07 pts) to 23,223.68 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.40% to 6,410.00. Turnover was over Rs.4.4bn with foreign net selling of Rs.151.8mn; CINS, SFCL, BUKI, COMB and SAMP were main negative contributors and banks led activity (19% turnover).

Colombo ASPI fell 1.01% to 23,223.68, dragged by financial and capital goods stocks with top decliners including Ceylinco Holdings, Senkadagala Finance, Bukit Darah, Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank. Nations Trust Bank reported September-quarter profit up 48% to Rs 6.1bn and its stock closed higher.

Sampath Bank PLC's Private Banking unit is the Official Banking Partner for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka 2025, presented by the Academy of Design. The partnership aims to support Sri Lanka's creative economy and offer curated luxury experiences to the bank's clientele.

Nations Trust Bank reported a 48% year-on-year rise in quarterly profit to 6.1 billion rupees for the September quarter. The bank said higher net interest income drove results and expects its agreed acquisition of HSBC’s Sri Lanka retail business (≈200,000 accounts) to fuel further growth.

Colombo market recovered from early losses to finish the week essentially flat, with the ASPI down 0.01% at 23,459.75 and the S&P SL20 down 0.34% at 6,435.93. Market turnover was over Rs. 5.6 billion, foreigners were net sellers (~Rs. 5.9m), and heavy activity was led by banking, capital goods and food sectors.

Sampath Bank reported nine-month PAT of Rs. 21.5 billion (up 21% YoY) and group PAT of Rs. 23.1 billion. NII fell 6% and NIM narrowed to 4.09%, but Rs.3.5b exchange gains, 20% growth in fee income, 18.9% loan growth and lower impairments supported the result.

Colombo market closed lower — ASPI fell 0.84% (198.24 pts) to 23,461.46 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.52% to 6,458.15. Banking dominated turnover (39%) and major laggards included SAMP, HNB, JKH, NDB and BUKI while foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs. 788.7 million.