News & market updates

Seylan Bank opened its 293rd Pahasara Library at Ranpokunugama Maha Vidyalaya, donating two laptops, a multimedia projector and books as part of its drive to establish 300 libraries nationwide.

Janashakthi Limited was featured as an official TikTok for Business Case Study for its 'Who is JXG?' integrated brand and IPO campaign ahead of a Rs. 5 billion IPO. The campaign recorded over 4.76 million video views, more than 5 million impressions and about 255,000 destination clicks to the IPO landing page.

LOLC Finance PLC opened two new branches in Mirigama (18 June 2026) and Galagedara (2 July 2026) to expand its islandwide footprint and offer its full range of financial and digital services.

Salesforce South Asia President Arundhati Bhattacharya says digital transformation is central to rebuilding and growing Sri Lanka's financial services, citing the National Digital Economy Strategy's $15bn digital economy target and 95% digital literacy by 2030.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI was up 0.06% at midday (13.19 pts to 21,221.29) with market turnover LKR 358.7m and Food, Beverage & Tobacco leading turnover at LKR 201.3m. Positive contributors included John Keells, Dialog, Aitken Spence and Browns; HNB, DFCC and Ceylon Grain were top negatives; Tess Agro listed 125,000,000 shares effective July 21, 2026.

The Financial Intelligence Unit imposed Rs.14.6 million in administrative penalties on 11 reporting institutions for non-compliance with the Financial Transactions Reporting Act between Oct 2025 and Mar 2026; the proceeds were credited to the Consolidated Fund.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 336.25/35 to the US dollar on Monday, while bond yields were broadly steady with key maturities trading roughly between 10.35% and 12.70%.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.80% as the All Share Price Index closed at 21,234.81 amid escalating West Asia tensions and rising oil prices. Top decliners included Dialog Axiata and Commercial Bank, with market flows shifting from equities to fixed income amid higher interest rates.

Fitch assigned DFCC Bank PLC's proposed LKR10 billion Basel III subordinated debentures an expected National Long-Term Rating of 'BBB+(EXP)(lka)'. The five-year debentures will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital to strengthen the bank's capital base.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon MD/CEO Sanath Manatunge was appointed Chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) at its 97th AGM, succeeding Dinesh Weerakkody for the 2026/27 year.

Ambeon Capital PLC will raise up to Rs.4.0 billion via a Rights Issue of up to 100 million shares at Rs.32 (up to Rs.3.2bn) and a contingent private placement of up to 25 million shares at Rs.32 (up to Rs.800m). Proceeds are intended to reduce gearing and fund new equity investments; both offers require CSE and shareholder approvals.

L B Finance PLC reported a 31% rise in PAT to Rs. 3.54 billion for Q1 ended 30 June 2026. Total income rose 47% to Rs. 18.76 billion, loans expanded to Rs. 341.96 billion, NPL ratio improved to 1.41% and capital ratios remained above regulatory minima.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 0.72% to 21,250.49 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.66% to 5,960.20; turnover was 325 million rupees. Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000 down 1.10 to 43.10) and Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000 down 1.75 to 202) weighed on the index.

Sampath Bank's Basel III-compliant Tier 2 Green Bond issue was oversubscribed with applications exceeding Rs.10 billion, prompting the offer to close early on 17 July; the issue had targeted Rs.7 billion with an option to expand to Rs.10 billion.

Foreign holdings of rupee government securities rose by Rs. 7.67 billion last week to Rs. 176.56 billion. Secondary bond yields firmed after Treasury auctions and geopolitical-driven oil price moves while T-bill yields softened, liquidity surplus rose to Rs. 167.97bn and USD/LKR closed ~336.2.

Asian shares slipped as Gulf fighting pushed Brent crude above $90/bbl, stoking inflation fears and increasing the likelihood of earlier Fed rate hikes. Packed tech earnings and AI valuation worries add downside risk to equities while higher yields support fixed income.

Sri Lanka's rupee traded at 336.20/30 per US dollar on Monday (from 336.15/25 on Friday) while government bond yields edged up across maturities, with the 15.12.2029 note quoted around 11.10–11.20%.

Janashakthi Limited's Janashakthi Life donated essential medicines, installed a hospital name board and provided directional signboards to police in Anuradhapura during the Poson pilgrimage to support healthcare, public safety and pilgrim welfare.

First Capital Asset Management, the wealth management arm of First Capital Holdings PLC (CFVF.N0000), concluded a Professional Fund Management short course for University of Kelaniya students and held a certification ceremony.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) partnered with swimmer Kyle Abeysinghe’s sports outreach, running school visits alongside the bank’s student savings units to support development of Sri Lankan swimming.

CSE indices fell sharply — ASPI down 197.31 points to 21,208.10 and S&P SL20 down 56.46 to 5,943.22 — despite turnover rising to Rs.2.63bn. Turnover was driven by crossings in CT Holdings (Rs.561m), Cargills (Rs.544.95m) and Lanka Milk Foods (Rs.232m), while price losses in Dialog, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Carson Cumberbatch led the ASPI decline.

Seylan Bank PLC was the Official Banking and Leasing Partner at the Colombo EV Motor Show 2026, engaging over 17,000 visitors and promoting Seylan Leasing's EV financing deals including competitive rates, processing fee discounts, fast-track approvals and the 'Speed Drive' interest-only start facility.

Janashakthi Limited (JXG) was featured as the first Sri Lankan financial conglomerate in an official TikTok for Business Case Study after its 'Who is JXG?' IPO campaign generated over 4.76 million video views and drove more than 255,000 clicks to the IPO landing page ahead of its LKR 5 billion IPO.

Sampath Bank PLC's digital commercial for its Wewata Jeewayak CSR initiative won Runner-Up at the Sumathi Awards 2026. The ad highlighted the resilience of farming communities and the bank's work restoring village irrigation tanks.

Sampath Bank's digital CSR commercial 'Wewata Jeewayak' was runner-up at the Sumathi Awards 2026. The ad spotlights the bank's initiative to restore and revitalise village irrigation tanks supporting farming communities.

DFCC Bank ran the 'Ride for the Rosette' CSR cycling event to raise voluntary contributions for Sri Lankan leopard conservation, matching donations and directing funds to WWCT projects including the Yala Buffer Area and Hallgolla Estate.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) was named Sri Lanka's Best Bank for Large Corporates at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, its second time winning the title. The bank cited involvement in a USD 1bn sustainability-linked syndication, LKR 44.5bn financing for a 350MW power project and investments in digital and transaction banking.

First Capital Holdings PLC (CFVF) and Hatch launched the 2026 First Capital Startup Nation regional edition, offering startups access to up to USD 1 million in funding and expanding the programme across South Asia.

People's Bank joins the 2nd Data Privacy and Protection Summit 2026 as Exclusive Banking Partner, committing to strengthen data protection and prepare for Sri Lanka's PDPA across its operations.

HNB PLC was named Sri Lanka's Best Bank for Large Corporates at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, the second time it has won the title. The award highlighted HNB's role in landmark deals during the review period, including participation in a $1bn sustainability-linked syndicated financing and arranging Rs.44.5bn for the 350MW Sobadhanavi power project.