News & market updates

Hayleys PLC won the Gold for Overall Excellence in Corporate Reporting at CA Sri Lanka’s TAGS Awards 2024; Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC took Silver and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC featured among top winners. Multiple shortlisted firms (e.g., DIMO, COMB, LFIN, SFIN, CCS, HAYC, SLTL, LGL, FCT) received sector awards.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher — ASPI +0.11% at 14,516.46 and S&P SL20 +0.80% at 4,384.75, with turnover of 6.35 billion. Top contributors included John Keells, Commercial Bank, NDB, Cargills and Lanka IOC; net foreign inflow was Rs 336 million and there was notable activity in banking, consumer and hotel stocks.

Sampath Bank has integrated Cybersource (a Visa payment gateway) to enable merchants of all sizes to accept secure online payments in multiple currencies and access fraud management and reporting tools.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 2.08% to 14,500 and S&P SL20 rose 2.48% to 4,349 on Dec 16, 2024, with turnover of 8.2 billion. Top turnover generators included Ceylinco, John Keells, Sampath, HNB and Pan Asia; banking stocks rose after the ISB announcement and net foreign inflow was Rs 100 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI crossed 14,500, closing at 14,500.44 (+295.10 pts, +2.08%) with turnover of Rs.8.27 billion; top contributors were Ceylinco Holdings (Rs.1.19bn), John Keells (Rs.532m), Sampath Bank (Rs.442m) and Hatton National Bank (Rs.395m).

Harsha Amarasekera PC has been appointed Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission; Amarasekera also chairs Sampath Bank PLC and CIC Holdings PLC. The commission, comprising several corporate leaders, signals government commitment to advancing the Port City development.

Colombo stock market extended its bull run as the ASPI rose about 4% for the week (closing at 14,205) on high turnover (avg Rs.5.66bn), led by heavy trading and price gains in Hemas, HNB, Lanka Milk Foods, John Keells and Alumex.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 1.21% to 14,205 and the S&P SL20 gained 1.39% to 4,244. Top contributors included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp, HNB, Central Finance and Sampath; turnover was 6.1 billion with a foreign net inflow of 126 million rupees.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI hit a record 14,035, up 1.09% (150.72 pts) on Dec 12. Investors were upbeat ahead of the ISB bid deadline, with top contributors Ceylon Beverage, Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Bank and a foreign net inflow of 306 million rupees.

Sampath Bank relocated its Katunayake Pay Office currency exchange counter to a more convenient arrivals location at Bandaranaike International Airport to improve traveller access; the new counter was officially reopened following Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) instructions.

ASPI rose 0.8% to 13,885, crossing a 30% year-to-date gain while turnover topped Rs.6 billion, led by John Keells, LOLC, Digital Mobility (PKME), Dialog (DIAL) and Sampath Bank (SAMP). The market closed positive for a 12th consecutive day with notable retail and HNW participation.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose with the ASPI up 0.80% (110.13 pts) to 13,885 and the S&P SL20 up 0.73% to 4,143 on turnover Rs6bn. Major contributors included capital goods and diversified financials, with gains for Ceylon Beverage, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp and John Keells; foreign net outflow Rs393mn.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.77% (105.38 pts) to 13,718 as turnover reached Rs4.4bn. Major contributors were diversified financials, capital goods and food/beverage/tobacco, with heavy volumes and gains in Asia Asset Finance, Ambeon Capital, Hayleys, Central Finance, Lanka IOC and others; Sampath Bank fell and net foreign inflow was Rs47mn.

Sampath Bank was named Second Runner-Up in the 2024 Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards and won the Finance Sector award, the Category Award for Environment Beyond the Business, and recognition as a Top Ten Corporate Citizen for its ESG and conservation initiatives.

Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000) was named Second Runner-Up at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024 and won the Environment Beyond the Business category, the Finance Sector award, and a Top Ten Corporate Citizen recognition for its sustainability initiatives.

Sampath Bank renewed its partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters to support the 32nd Annual Export Awards (6 Dec 2024) and provide tailored export financing—working capital, export credit services and reduced rates—to help exporters manage exchange-rate volatility and logistics costs.

Sampath Bank's subsidiary Siyapatha Finance PLC opened its 52nd branch in Deniyaya, Matara District. The new branch will provide leasing, deposits, gold financing, business and personal loans, Fast Draft, factoring and Smart Pay automated bill payments and launched a CSR tree-planting and donation program.

Sampath Bank launched Sri Lanka’s first Visa Infinite Metal credit card, offering premium privileges including airport lounge access, 24/7 WhatsApp concierge, travel concierge, competitive foreign-currency mark-up and a dedicated relationship officer for high-value clients.

Siyapatha Finance, a fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank PLC, opened its 52nd branch in Deniyaya offering leasing, deposits, loans, gold financing and Smart Pay digital services. The branch launch includes CSR activities and targets local agricultural and tourism-linked demand.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up with the ASPI hitting a historic peak, rising 0.35% to 13,559 while the S&P SL20 gained 0.91% to 4,053 on turnover of Rs4.4bn, led by capital goods and banks; market participants noted bullish interest in banking, diversified financial, construction and tourism sectors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI hit an all-time high, up 1.29% to 13,511 and the S&P SL20 rose 1.90% to 4,016 on turnover of Rs5.2bn. Banks and bluechips led gains (Commercial Bank, Sampath, John Keells, DFCC, NDB, Lion Brewery) amid bullish flows and nearing debt restructuring.

Aitken Spence won the Ceylon Chamber Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024. Shortlist firms recognised included Talawakelle Tea Estates (Category B winner), Sampath Bank (runner-up and finance sector champion) and other shortlist companies such as Dilmah, Haycarb, Kelani Valley, Elpitiya, Jetwing Symphony, Hemas, Singer and Ceylon Tobacco.

Aitken Spence won the Grand Slam Award at the 21st Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024. Shortlisted companies receiving awards included Sampath Bank, Talawakelle Tea Estates, Kelani Valley and Elpitiya Plantations, Jetwing Symphony, Haycarb, Dilmah, Hemas, Singer and Ceylon Tobacco.

Aitken Spence PLC won the Grand Slam Award at the 21st Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024 after claiming the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024. Multiple other listed firms (including Sampath Bank, Talawakelle, Kelani Valley, Dilmah, Haycarb and others) were also recognised across categories.

Sampath Bank will raise up to Rs10 billion through debentures—initially issuing 50 million Basel III-compliant Tier 2 five-year subordinated debentures to raise Rs5bn—with proceeds to strengthen its Tier 2 capital base and support lending growth.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.30% to 13,228 on turnover of Rs2.3bn, led by retail buying in food, beverage & tobacco and renewed interest in construction. Notable movers included gains in Lion Brewery, Ceylon Cold Stores, Distilleries, Access Engineering and Central Finance, while Sierra Cables fell; net foreign outflow was Rs379mn.

Colombo bourse ended the week mixed: ASPI rose 24 points (+0.19%) while the S&P SL20 fell over 12 points (-0.3%) on Rs.3.7bn turnover and a net foreign outflow of Rs.381.9m. Key contributors included AHUN, LLUB, SAMP and BIL, with consumer services leading turnover and banks and hotels drawing investor interest.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed mixed: ASPI up 0.19% at 13,188 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.32% to 3,905; turnover was Rs3.7bn. Hotels drew investor interest after tourist arrivals topped 1.7 million, with Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, Aitken Spence, Sampath Bank and Browns Investments among top contributors.

Colombo bourse rose with the ASPI up 0.9% (115 pts) and turnover jumping to Rs.5.1bn, boosted by crossings and heavy banking-sector activity. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Hemas and NDB, with a net foreign outflow of Rs.246.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as ASPI rose 0.88% to 13,164 and the S&P SL20 gained 1.06% to 3,917, with turnover Rs5bn and Rs2.7bn in banking stocks. The banking sector drew local investor interest after the government set a deadline for the ISB exchange, with Sampath Bank among top turnover names.