News & market updates

Colombo bourse opened the week down: ASPI fell 0.44% to 23,627.87 with foreign investors net sellers of ~Rs.697.9m and turnover ~Rs.4.7bn. Top negatives included DOCK, COMB, NTB, SAMP and SPEN, while ACL, Tokyo Cement, DIAL and REEF saw notable turnover/interest.

Browns Beach Hotels PLC's board proposed voluntary delisting from the CSE and offered minority shareholders an exit price of Rs. 30 per share, with majority shareholders Melstacorp (41.88%) and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings (36.62%) arranging purchases of exiting shares. The company cited sustained losses, a going-concern emphasis, negative net asset position and non-compliance with minimum public holding.

John Keells Holdings met Madhya Pradesh government at the WEF and expressed interest in exploring investments in logistics, hospitality, food processing and tourism in the state; a John Keells team will engage further to assess potential collaborations.

Melstacorp (MELS.N0000) and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings (AHUN.N0000) have arranged to buy back minority shares as Browns Beach Hotels seeks delisting from the Colombo Stock Exchange with an exit offer of Rs.30 per share. The move follows sustained losses, non-compliance with minimum public holding and is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.

Ceylinco Life appointed industry veteran Dr Kelum Senanayake as a Consultant to lead training and support product design and development. The hire draws on his 40+ years in insurance and prior senior roles at Arpico Insurance, Union Assurance and Richard Pieris-related companies.

Softlogic Life launched a 2026 brand campaign featuring a children’s-band version of 'E Rate Minissu' to promote national resilience and positivity; the campaign has gone viral and is gaining strong organic traction across traditional, digital and social platforms.

Softlogic Life launched a viral national marketing campaign at the start of 2026 promoting Sri Lankan resilience and positivity, gaining strong organic traction across traditional, digital and social platforms. The campaign uses a children's musical remake of 'E Rate Minissu' to boost national confidence and the insurer's brand.

ASPI hit a new high at 23,731.60 after Friday's 0.10% rise (22.9 pts) while the S&P SL20 rose 0.28% to 6,560.08; market turnover was Rs.4.73bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.65.3m. Top positive contributors were COMB, DFCC, CTHR, NAMU and COOP, and banking made up 38% of turnover.

Hayleys PLC (via Hayleys Fentons / HayWind One Limited) has begun construction of a 50 MW wind farm in Mannar to supply electricity to the national grid under a PPA with the Ceylon Electricity Board. The project is expected to save about Rs.4.7 billion in annual fuel costs and offset ~186,300 tonnes of CO2.

Hayleys PLC launched construction of the 50 MW Hayleys Fentons wind project in Mannar, expected to generate 207 million kWh/year at a tariff of $0.0465 per unit and due for completion in March 2027.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.10% to close the ASPI at 23,731.60 on Friday, led by gains in Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank, C T Holdings, Namunukula Plantations and Co-operative Insurance. Market turnover fell to Rs4.7bn from Rs9.2bn, with banks and capital goods among key contributing sectors.

MTI Consulting completed a performance review and turnaround strategy for Zimbabwe’s Industrial Development Corporation on behalf of the Mutapa Investment Fund, and the assignment was described as successfully concluded. The work involved SERA and included stakeholder feedback from industrial and NBFI sectors and regional best practices.

Hayleys PLC's unit Hayleys Fentons launched construction of a 50 MW wind power plant in Mannar, expected to generate 207,000,000 kWh/year and supply electricity at USD 0.0465 (LKR 14.37) per unit, scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.43% as the ASPI gained 100.90 points to 23,708.70, led by Dialog Axiata and gains in banks, capital goods and telcos; market turnover increased to Rs9.2bn.

John Keells Hotels' Cinnamon Lakeside will host the HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival Edition 3 from 13–15 February 2026. The HSBC-sponsored event, supported by the John Keells Foundation, highlights cultural tourism and should benefit John Keells Hotels and parent John Keells Holdings.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) won the National Award of Excellence — Best Supply Chain Practicing Organization 2025 (Commendation) in the Extra Large Manufacturing category on 24 Oct. The company highlighted investments in supply chain digitization, process optimisation and sustainability.

CSE ended flat for a second straight session: ASPI down 0.71 pts to 23,607.80 and S&P SL20 down 0.12% to 6,494.76. Top negatives included JKH, DOCK, DFCC, SFCL and HHL while Sierra Cables, Commercial Bank, CDB and RIL recorded gains; turnover ~Rs.4.9bn and foreign net inflow Rs.22m.

John Keells' authorised distributor John Keells CG Auto is expanding BYD's presence in Sri Lanka after BYD sold 4,602,436 NEVs globally in 2025 (over 1.04m overseas). JKCG Auto has introduced nine BYD models locally, with seven showrooms and more than 21 charging points nationwide.

Samsung was awarded Superbrands Sri Lanka’s Choice 2025, reinforcing its consumer electronics leadership and benefiting its island-wide distributor partners including Singer and Softlogic, as well as payment partners such as Singer Finance and Softlogic Capital.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.19% (45.79 pts) to 23,608.51 on turnover of Rs.5.2 billion and a net foreign outflow of Rs.35.4 million. The session saw selling pressure weighing on DOCK, RICH and banks (HNB, SAMP) while JKH, RCL, COMB and PLR were among notable buying/turnover contributors.

Seminar on safeguards under the amended Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 will be held on 27 Jan (2–5pm) at NH Collection, Colombo 3. Organisers say the amendments place new responsibilities and stricter penal sanctions on company secretaries and directors; speakers include HNB and LOLC Insurance chairs.

CM Holdings PLC's public float rose to 31.17% at end-December 2025 from 28.9% at end-September 2025, a 2.27 percentage-point increase due to non-public shareholders selling shares. Colombo Fort Land & Building PLC held a 63.49% stake at end-September 2025 and Senthilverl Holdings raised its holding to 10.19% after buying 1m shares at Rs.71.

John Keells Hotels PLC's Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams is offering a series of curated January dining experiences across its restaurants, including a Thai Pongal thali (9–18 Jan), Winter Teishoku (all January), 'Smoke and Spirit' (5 Jan–2 Feb) and unlimited pizza on the deck (23 Jan–31 Mar).

CFA Society Sri Lanka will host an evening discussion 'Real Estate Reimagined: Investment Opportunities in a Transforming Market' on 28 January 2026 at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, featuring panelists including Nayana Mawilmada of John Keells Holdings and Premalal Brahmanage of Prime Group. The session will examine emerging investment opportunities and strategic considerations in Sri Lanka's real estate sector.

Colombo bourse closed the week up 3.45% as the ASPI rose 0.54% yesterday to 23,654.30, with the market gaining about Rs. 264.8 billion in value for the week and daily turnover over Rs. 8.5 billion; top contributors included JKH, COMB, VONE, CARS and NTB.

Dr. Mahinda Parakrama Dissanayake, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, was appointed Adviser to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics with immediate effect. He accepted the role on an honorary basis to support the government's aim of leveraging Sri Lanka's position as a logistics hub.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.54% on Friday and 3.45% over the week, led by gains in John Keells, Commercial Bank, Vallibel One, Carson Cumberbatch and Nations Trust Bank. Market turnover fell to 8.5 billion rupees and Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank recorded crossings.

Hemas Holdings' Outreach Foundation opened its 75th Piyawara Preschool in Homagama, expanding the early childhood programme that benefits over 4,000 preschoolers annually and has reached about 100,000 children over 23 years.