News & market updates

Sampath Bank launched a real-time USD payment solution with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to enable instant dollar payments and real-time settlement for shipping lines, freight forwarders and other port users, streamlining foreign-currency transactions and trade facilitation.

Sampath Bank PLC launched Sri Lanka’s first real-time USD payment solution for Sri Lanka Ports Authority users via its FC Quick Connect platform, enabling instant USD payments with real-time settlement and automated notifications for shipping lines and port users. The solution replaces manual processes and can be scaled to other port operators.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 44.99 points (0.20%) to 22,452.03 as gains in Sampath Bank, Central Finance, Colombo Dockyard and others lifted the market; turnover was Rs.349 million. Lee Hedges completed sale of land and premises to Amana Bank for Rs.2.7 billion on June 25, and both stocks traded higher.

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 Stock Exchange indices rose, with the ASPI up 0.37% (82.93 pts) to 22,291.51 and the S&P SL20 up 0.56% to 6,216.28. Top contributors included John Keells, Windforce, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Sampath Bank; market turnover was LKR110.3m, led by materials (LKR60.4m), while Brent crude fell below $73/bbl.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.22% (47.91 pts) to 22,208.58 with turnover Rs1.195bn. Galadari Hotels (GHLL) revised its Galadari Hotel Colombo refurbishment reopening to early Q4 2026; its shares were down 1.84% at Rs16.00.

Colombo Stock Exchange was flat in Wednesday intraday trading: ASPI down 0.02% at 22,252.79, S&P SL20 at 6,193.16 and turnover Rs 406 million, with materials leading turnover at Rs 88.6 million. Diesel & Motor Engineering declared a final dividend of Rs 40 per share; SANASA Life plans to raise up to Rs 500 million via Tier II debentures.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.25% to 22,305.37 (down 55.94 pts) while the S&P SL20 dropped 0.30% to 6,196.50. Market turnover was Rs 423.9m, led by insurance at Rs 135.1m; NDB, Sampath and Lion Brewery were top gainers while Hayleys, Aitken Spence, Haycarb and LOLC led losses.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Friday as investor uncertainty over a US–Iran deal weighed on markets; the ASPI fell 0.33% to 22,361.31 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.25% to 6,211.13. Market turnover was Rs 1.8 billion and crossings were recorded in CIC, Singer, NDB, Sampath Bank and Dialog Axiata.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI fell 0.02% to 22,377.29 after an early peak at 22,563.09, while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 6,221.32 on turnover of Rs. 3.85bn. Foreigners were net buyers (Rs. 427.1m); top contributors were JKH, HAYL, DOCK, BREW and BIL, with CARG, CINS, SAMP, NDB and CFIN weighing on the index.

ASPI jumped 3.43% (743.22 pts) to 22,380.65 as markets rallied on signs of a possible end to the Middle East war, with index-weighted counters SAMP, COMB, JKH, MELS and DIAL among top contributors; turnover exceeded Rs.4bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.21.1m).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.02% to 22,377 and the S&P SL20 up 0.05% to 6,222; top gainers included Sunshine and Commercial Bank, while Singer and Sampath Bank were among the laggards.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) now lets Premium/Platinum credit and Elite debit cardholders convert Max Loyalty Rewards points into airline miles with SriLankan Airlines and other carriers at a promotional rate of 6 points = 1 FlySmiLes mile through 31 Dec 2026, via its existing digital platform.

Union Assurance and Sampath Bank held the Sampath Bank Life Leads Annual Awards 2025 at Cinnamon Life, recognising top-performing Sampath Bank branch employees under their bancassurance partnership. Awards covered categories including Best Introducer, Best Branch, Best Regional Manager, Best Chief Manager and national top achiever.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 3.43% as the ASPI gained 743.22 points to close at 22,380 on positive sentiment after a US-Iran deal. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Melstacorp, and Senkadagala Finance announced a 2.8 rupee dividend.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 3.17% midday Monday after news of a US‑Iran framework deal; banks led gains with Sampath at 146.25, Commercial Bank at 209.50 and Hatton National Bank at 405, driving the ASPI higher.

National Development Bank PLC suffered an internal Rs. 13.2 billion fraud that went undetected, prompting a parliamentary probe that blamed Central Bank oversight failures and drew IMF demands for regulatory and AML/CFT reforms. The Central Bank has retained Deloitte India for a forensic audit with an interim report due in two weeks and a final report by July 18.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.68% (up 357.08 pts) to 21,627.10, with the S&P SL20 up 1.55% as banks supported gains. Market turnover was Rs.666m led by real estate; Colombo Fort Investments and Colombo Investment Trust listed scrip-dividend shares effective June 12, 2026.

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.

ASPI fell 1.57% (340.85 pts) to 21,403.28 as the CSE opened in the red amid rising interest rates and Middle East tensions. Turnover was over Rs.2.6bn with foreign net outflows of Rs.54.1m; Melstacorp, Bukit Darah, Sampath and LOLC were key negatives while John Keells and ACL led turnover and HNB rose.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI rose 0.67% to 21,547, led by gains in Dialog Axiata (up 6.80% to LKR44.00) and Sampath Bank (up 0.72% to LKR139.75). Market turnover was LKR2.16 billion, with capital goods leading turnover at LKR791.2 million.

Sampath Bank PLC opened a Colombo Port City branch, marking the first banking transaction within the development and positioning the bank to provide local and foreign currency banking, trade finance, treasury, remittances and digital banking for residents and non-residents.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid, ASPI down 1.68% (366.31 points) to 21,377.82 at midday. Vallibel One released its annual report showing profit of 13,164,778 rupees (prev. 11,760,829) and its shares were trading down 0.41% at Rs.96.00.

Sampath Bank opened its Colombo Port City branch, the first banking transaction in the development, offering self-service CRM, local and foreign currency banking, inward investment accounts, trade finance, treasury, remittances and digital banking services for residents and non-residents.

Sampath Bank PLC opened its Colombo Port City branch, marking the first banking transaction in the development and offering CRM self-service, local/foreign currency accounts, trade finance, treasury, remittances and digital banking for residents and non-residents.

ASPI fell 0.75% (166.55 pts) to 22,011.10, extending losses to a third session with turnover over Rs.2bn and foreigners net sellers of Rs.410.26mn. Negative contributors included Dialog, Sampath, Ceylon Beverage, Ceylon Cold Stores and Colombo Dockyard; Teejay Lanka, John Keells and Commercial Bank led turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.75% to 22,011.10. Top contributors included John Keells and Lion Brewery on the upside, while Dialog Axiata, Sampath Bank, Ceylon Beverage Holdings and Ceylon Cold Stores led declines; Maharaja Foods opened a new outlet and its shares fell 2.23%.

Sampath Bank's wholly owned subsidiary Siyapatha Finance PLC opened a new branch in Boralesgamuwa, expanding its islandwide network to 63 branches. The branch will offer lending, deposits, gold financing and digital Smart Pay services and Siyapatha holds a Fitch National Long-Term Rating of A(lka) (Stable).

Colombo Stock Exchange dipped midday as the ASPI fell 0.10% to 22,155.45 with market turnover at 981 million rupees; Consumer Durables & Apparel led turnover at 348.1 million rupees. Central Finance, Hemas and Browns gained, while Access Engineering, Ceylon Cold Stores and Sampath Bank were down.

Sampath Bank PLC received Central Bank Governing Board approval to open a branch in Port City Colombo’s Business Centre (Building 1), enabling it to offer LKR and designated foreign-currency banking services to residents and non-residents under the CPCEC.