News & market updates

Sunshine Holdings (SUN) reported FY26 consolidated revenue of LKR 65.9bn, up 11.2% YoY, while PAT fell 2.5% to LKR 5.0bn and EBIT margins eased amid healthcare pricing pressure. The Group cited NMRA pricing cuts, acquired a majority stake in JAPC, and saw Watawala's palm oil revenue rise 23.6%.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on May 29, 2026, with the ASPI up 111.57 points to 22,310.80 and turnover at Rs.7.37 billion, driven by a ~400m-share block of HNB Finance (Rs.3.52bn) sold by Prime Lands. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Hemas were among the main positive contributors.

Dividend · Rs 0.60 · XD Jun 26, 2026

Final dividend of LKR 0.6/share; XD 2026-06-26; record 2026-06-29; payable 2026-07-16; FY ended 31st March 2026

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.50% to 22,309.23 midday Friday, with turnover Rs.240.5m and capital goods leading turnover at Rs.94.3m. Top movers included Access Engineering, Aitken Spence (declared Rs.4 tax-exempt dividend), Hemas and Central Finance while SMB Finance, Watawala, John Keells and Windforce fell.

Dividend · Rs 4.00 · XD Jul 1, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 4/share; XD 2026-07-01; record 2026-07-01; payable 2026-07-20; FY 2025/2026

Dividend · Rs 0.50 · XD Jul 1, 2026

Final dividend of LKR 0.5/share; XD 2026-07-01; record 2026-07-01; payable 2026-07-20; FY 31st March 2026

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.50% to 22,310.80, with diversified financials leading turnover at Rs.3.89bn and total turnover Rs.7.38bn. Aitken Spence reported Q1 profit of Rs.3.81bn and declared a tax-exempt Rs.4.00/share dividend; Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings declared a Rs.0.28/share tax-exempt dividend.

Seylan Bank PLC has partnered with Hayleys Fentons Limited to offer a dedicated EV leasing facility with competitive interest rates, up to 7-year repayment terms and 24-hour approvals. The program covers EV brands represented by Hayleys Fentons and includes doorstep support and island-wide branch assistance.

Aitken Spence PLC’s printing subsidiary won the WorldStar 2026 Award for Luxury Packaging, becoming the first Sri Lankan offset printer to receive a WorldStar. The award, presented at Interpack in Düsseldorf, highlights the unit’s packaging innovation, sustainability and export capability.

Sampath Bank PLC signed an MoU with John Keells CG Auto to offer NEV buyers a 0.5% reduced interest rate on loans, insurance-financing and free credit cards for BYD and DENZA purchases. John Keells CG Auto is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC with nationwide sales and service coverage.

Aitken Spence PLC's printing unit won the WorldStar 2026 Award for Luxury Packaging, the first Sri Lankan offset printer to win at WorldStar. The award was presented at the WorldStar ceremony in Düsseldorf during Interpack in May 2026.

HNB PLC has signed a strategic partnership with Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd to provide leasing for Kubota and Agrotech agricultural machinery across Sri Lanka. The collaboration aims to improve farmers' access to tractors, combine harvesters and other equipment to boost mechanisation and productivity.

Colombo stocks recovered after the CBSL hiked policy rates by 100bps, with the ASPI up 0.11% at 22,199.23 and turnover around Rs.1.86bn. DIAL, CCS, BREW, CARS and NDB were top positive contributors; VLL saw net foreign buying while AAIC saw net foreign selling and Food & Beverage led turnover.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) posted Group EBITDA of Rs.80.01 billion for FY2025/26, up 75%. Recurring profit attributable rose 155% to Rs.13.24 billion; group units Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and Union Assurance (UAL) also reported improved results, with NTB completing the HSBC Sri Lanka retail acquisition.

John Keells Holdings reported FY2025/26 Group EBITDA of Rs.80.01bn (up 75%), recurring PBT of Rs.35.72bn (up 143%) and recurring profit attributable of Rs.13.24bn, and declared a final interim dividend of 10 cents to bring FY26 total to 30 cents (Rs.4.42bn). The group cited broad-based contributions from Retail, Transportation and Leisure, and noted improved performance at NTB and double-digit premium growth at Union Assurance.

Colombo market closed down 0.85% at 22,175.14 after the CBSL raised the policy rate by 100bps and amid heightened Middle East tensions. Foreign investors were net sellers of over Rs.3bn, turnover was Rs.4.93bn with AAIC crossings accounting for about Rs.3.1bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.54% to 22,294.71 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.61%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Ceylon Cold Stores, NDB and Bairaha Farms while Hemas, Lion Brewery and Sampath Bank lagged; Jetwing Symphony declared a final dividend of Rs0.50 and closed at Rs14.30 (+2.88%).

Colombo Stock Exchange was up midday, ASPI +0.54% to 22,294.71 with turnover Rs.700m and materials leading turnover at Rs.192.7m. Top movers included Hayleys, Sunshine and HNB (positive) while Royal Ceramics, SMB Finance and Aitken Spence fell; Jetwing Symphony declared a final dividend of Rs.0.50 and its shares rose 3.6%.

Dividend · Rs 0.10 · XD Jun 5, 2026

Final dividend of LKR 0.1/share; XD 2026-06-05; record 2026-06-07; payable 2026-06-24; FY 2025/26

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) became the Colombo Stock Exchange's largest listed company with a market cap of Rs. 367.09 billion after its share price rose 7% to Rs. 39.90 on May 25. John Keells stood at Rs. 359.36bn and Ceylon Tobacco at Rs. 341.91bn; Commercial Bank was the largest bank at Rs. 320.88bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.85% to 22,175.14, with market turnover at Rs.4.92bn and insurance stocks leading turnover at Rs.3.18bn. Top gainers included Ceylon Beverage (+5.20%), Lion Brewery (+3.06%) and Ceylon Guardian (+5.43%), while Sampath Bank, Hayleys and HNB were top decliners.

The central bank hiked rates 100bp to 8.75%, and the Colombo Stock Exchange fell with the ASPI down 0.51% to 22,249.88; market turnover was Rs.2.99bn with insurance leading at Rs.2.6bn. Lanka Ashok Leyland proposed a final dividend of Rs30/share and Lighthouse Hotel declared a final dividend of Rs3/share.

Dialog Axiata regained the top spot on the Colombo Stock Exchange with a market cap of Rs. 367.1 billion (4.51% of total market cap), overtaking John Keells Holdings at Rs. 359.4 billion.

Hemas Holdings reported a 17.6% rise in profit to Rs 3.03 billion for the March 2026 quarter. Consolidated revenue rose 3.9% to Rs 31.54 billion, with healthcare the largest contributor and a final dividend of Rs 0.75 per share approved.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, with the ASPI up 1.98% to 22,364.77, as rupee stabilisation and lower interest rates boosted investor confidence. Ceylon Cold Stores and Hemas posted strong quarterly profits and John Keells declared a final dividend; Dialog, Commercial Bank and Sampath gained while hSenid and Dipped Products fell.

Hemas Holdings (HHL) reported record earnings: Group earnings of Rs.3.03Bn in Q4 (+17.6% YoY) and Rs.8.92Bn for FY26 (+10.7% YoY) on FY26 revenue of Rs.127.4Bn (+8.0%). The group is reinvesting into digital, manpower and healthcare expansion, compressing EBITDA/EBIT margins but delivering higher net profit margin and EPS.