News & market updates

Colombo Bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.17% (37.12 pts) to 22,292.57 on subdued activity and profit-taking, with turnover over Rs.2.3bn. Top negative contributors included DOCK, SFCL, RICH, MELS and BREW, while Tokyo Cement and Hemas saw notable investor participation.

Senkadagala Finance PLC announced the death of long-serving board member and Chief Executive Officer Lakshman Balasuriya; he served on the company's board since 1981 and continued as CEO until his passing.

Colombo market extended its rally to five sessions as the ASPI gained 1,011.18 pts (4.7%) for the week, reclaiming Rs.320.65 bn in market value; yesterday ASPI closed at 22,508.26 with turnover of Rs.3 bn. Top contributors included SFCL, JKH, HAYL, WIND and VLL; DOCK and HNB saw share price declines.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.22% as the ASPI closed at 22,508.26 with turnover down to 3.02 billion rupees. Vidullanka and Windforce were awarded contracts to develop 50MW wind plants in Mannar, and several stocks (Senkadagala Finance, John Keells, Hayleys, Windforce, Vidullanka) helped lift the index.

Colombo bourse fell 1.87% to 21,826.59, wiping Rs.143 billion off market value with turnover of nearly Rs.3.78bn and foreign net selling of Rs.295.5m. Brokers said price losses in counters including Ceylinco, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank drove the slide amid adverse weather forecasts.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.87% to 21,826.59 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.75% to 6,030.66. Top decliners included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah; construction names Access Engineering and Sierra Cables also slid, and Hemas appointed Ajith Fernando as chairman effective Jan 1.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Friday — ASPI down 0.53% to 22,982.72 and S&P SL20 down 0.28% to 6,364.61; turnover was Rs3.81bn led by food, beverage & tobacco, with HNB, Bukit Darah, Ambeon Holdings and Senkadagala Finance among top negative contributors.

Senkadagala Finance will raise Rs1.035 billion through a rights issue of 4,313,992 shares at Rs240 each (1 new share for every 20 existing) to expand its loan book; the issue is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Senkadagala Finance PLC announced a 1:20 rights issue at Rs.240 per share to raise Rs.1 billion to strengthen its capital base and expand the loan book. The Central Bank approved the proposal on 18 Nov 2025; the issue is subject to CSE listing approval and shareholder approval.

The ASPI fell 0.74% (172.02 pts) to 23,051.66 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.52% to 6,376.54 as profit-taking pulled the market lower. Turnover exceeded Rs.4.4bn with foreign net outflow of Rs.100.6m; SFCL, HNB, RICH, DFCC and DIAL were the key negative contributors and capital goods, banking and food/beverage/tobacco led activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.09% to 23,029.86 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.23% to 6,361.58 as banks and selected shares weighed on the market. Top drags included Commercial Bank (209.50), Colombo Dockyard (418.75), DFCC (162.25) and NDB (149.50); Senkadagala Finance announced a Rs1.035bn rights issue at Rs240 and its share rose to 1,274.50.

Rights issue · 1:20 at Rs 240.00 · XD Jan 20, 2026

CSE All Share Price Index fell 0.74% (172.02 points) to 23,051.66 as profit taking extended losses for a fourth session. Banks and diversified financials led declines, with Senkadagala Finance, HNB and DFCC Bank among the top negative contributors.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.33% to 23,659.70, led by capital goods and banks with turnover of Rs1.85bn and Rs1.58bn. Top contributors included John Keells, Senkadagala Finance and Aitken Spence, and Three Acre Farms said it will merge two subsidiaries.

Colombo bourse rose on Budget optimism as ASPI gained 0.98% (225 pts) and S&P SL20 rose 1.13%; banking led activity (23% of turnover) and key positive contributors included SFCL, COMB, SAMP, HNB and VONE, with DFCC, LAUGFS and Bogala among high-turnover winners.

Sri Lanka stocks rose 0.98% as the ASPI gained 225.77 points to 23,338.25 amid the national budget reading; top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and HNB, with Kotmale Holdings the top gainer.

Colombo's ASPI closed at a record 23,112.38, up 0.69% (158.99 pts), while the S&P SL20 rose 0.98% to 6,310.26 on turnover over Rs. 6 billion; SFCL, NDB, DOCK, JKH and CTHR were key positive contributors.

CSE All Share Index rose 0.69% (158.99 pts) to 23,112.48 as buying on positive company results lifted the market. Top contributors were Senkadagala Finance, NDB, Colombo Dockyard, John Keells and C T Holdings, with turnover rising to 6.06 billion.

The ASPI briefly crossed an all-time high of 23,000 before dipping and closed at 22,953.49, up 0.11% (25.18 points). Turnover topped Rs.4.4bn with net foreign outflows of ~Rs.485.4m and heavy participation in counters including Aitken Spence, Colombo Dockyard, Sunshine and Commercial Bank.

CSE ASPI closed up 0.11% at 22,953.49 while the S&P SL20 dipped 0.05% to 6,249.28. Top contributors were Senkadagala Finance (up 25%), Sunshine Holdings, Colombo Dockyard, Cargills and Aitken Spence, with market turnover down to 4.4 billion rupees.

Colombo market opened higher as the ASPI rose 0.54% (+123.47 pts) to 22,928.31 with turnover over Rs.5.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.645.4m. Aitken Spence and Sierra Cables led capital-goods turnover; PKME, JKH, COMB, SFCL and BUKI were key positives while SPEN eased and SIRA was flat.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up 0.54% as the ASPI rose 123.47 pts to 22,928.31 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.62% to 6,252.40. Top contributors were Senkadagala Finance, Bukit Darah, John Keells Holdings and Commercial Bank; turnover edged to 5.7 billion rupees and spot gold was $4,013.70.

Sri Lanka's forex inflows were US$2,337m in September (down from US$2,521m in August) while imports rose to US$2,048m, leaving a US$289m surplus. Vehicle and fuel import increases drove the shift and analysts warn fiscal-buffer use or liquidity injections could erode reserves and pressure the rupee and rates.

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.39% (88 pts) to 22,777.12 with turnover around Rs 5.38bn and foreign investors net sellers of Rs 372.5m. Key movers included Windforce (+17.6%), Colombo Dockyard (-9.9%) and gains in LAUGFS Gas and Lanka Realty Investments.

Colombo market fell for a third straight session, with the ASPI down 0.44% to 22,689.22 and the S&P SL20 down 0.84%; turnover was Rs. 6.19bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 42.48m. Major movers included declines in JKH, SFCL and SAMP, while DOCK, COLO, ASCO and LGL posted notable gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.10% to 22,812.52, with C T Holdings, Central Finance Company, Richard Pieris, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah among the top negative contributors; market turnover was 5.76 billion rupees.

ASPI closed 0.17% lower at 22,812.52 (‑38.43 pts) as profit-taking pushed the market into the red; turnover was Rs.6.2bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.25.8m. Capital Goods led activity while HARI, SAMP, MELS and SFCL were key negative contributors and DOCK and RCL saw notable moves.