News & market updates

Sri Lanka stocks closed flat as the ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,426.43, with banks leading turnover at 327.4 million rupees. Haycarb, John Keells and Ceylon Cold Stores were top gainers while HNB, Central Finance and Commercial Bank were top decliners; Digital Mobility Solutions disclosed ESOP allotments and its shares closed down 0.30%.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI gained 0.39% (83.87 pts) to 21,508.86, with banks leading turnover at Rs 41.8 million. Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company proposed a first and final dividend of Rs 25 per share for the year ended March 31.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.50% to 21,424.71 with market turnover of Rs.1.089 billion and banks leading turnover at Rs.221.1 million. Merchant Bank (MBSL) set a rights reference price of Rs.0.30 and its stock closed down 5.31% at Rs.10.70.

The ASPI fell 1.07% (233.18 points) to 21,532.38 as investors sold amid renewed Middle East conflict concerns. Market turnover was over Rs 1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs 56mn, with banks and food & beverage sectors leading activity.

Janathakshan, funded by The Coca‑Cola Foundation, concluded the SWYFT project (Aug 2024–May 2026), establishing five MCPCs, launching Sri Lanka's first hydro-powered MCPC with Thalawakelle Plantation (Hayleys Group), and distributing eight electric three-wheelers and 15 e-bikes.

Mastercard is the Title Partner for the Data Privacy and Protection Summit 2026, scheduled for 23 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. With PDPA enforcement imminent, the summit will focus on data governance, AI-related risks and compliance issues relevant to hotel operators and other businesses.

Hemas Holdings' consumer brands Baby Cheramy and Clogard were named among Sri Lanka's Favourite Product Brands in the PepperCube T25 survey (based on 12,000 annual unprompted responses for May 2025–Apr 2026).

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.27% to 21,473.27 at midday, while the S&P SL20 was down 0.04% to 6,019.55. BPPL Holdings said subsidiary Beira Brush will acquire Ravi Industries' customer base and the "Ravi" trademark for a minimum 300 million rupees payable over five years tied to revenue.

Softlogic Information Technologies (part of the Softlogic Group) is Sri Lanka's only Dell Technologies Titanium Partner, giving the group exclusive access to Dell's top-tier portfolio across data centre, cloud, cybersecurity and end-user solutions. This strengthens Softlogic Holdings PLC's IT solutions and services capabilities for local digital transformation clients.

Keells supermarkets (John Keells Group) will accept Dialog Pay at its 150 stores nationwide, enabling scan-and-pay transactions and offering complimentary Dialog data rewards on eligible payments.

John Keells CG Auto signed an MOU with Green EV to expand nationwide EV charging access, adding 125+ Green EV chargers and giving BYD/Denza customers access to Green EV's 100+ DC and 70 AC chargers including 120 kW ultra-fast units.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 1.07% (−233.18 pts) to 21,532.38 amid escalating West Asia tensions. Banks led selling with turnover at 1.04 billion rupees; Palm Garden Hotels reported non-compliance with minimum public holding and People's Leasing listed 59,766,864 scrip shares.

Hayleys Fentons was recognised among Sri Lanka's Most Outstanding Mom-Inclusive Workplaces at the Mom Leaders Conference 2026; 10 employees from the organisation were honoured as Mom Leaders for their leadership and contribution.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI fell 0.40% (86.60 pts) to 21,678.96 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.33% to 6,057.66, with market turnover Rs194.1m as banks weighed on the index. Alpha Fire Services announced a proposed acquisition of Icon Engineering, projecting group revenue above Rs1bn, ~30% higher profitability and foreign currency inflows from Maldives projects.

CSE ended an eight-session slide as the ASPI rose 0.31% to 21,765.56 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.25% to 6,081.43. Turnover topped Rs.2bn with foreign net outflows of Rs.673mn; top contributors included Ceylon Cold Stores, Haycarb, John Keells and RIL, while banks (Commercial Bank, Sampath) led turnover.

Colombo West International Terminal received two ship-to-shore electric cranes and seven cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes as part of its Phase 2 expansion to boost capacity and automation. CWIT — a ~USD800m PPP including John Keells Holdings — handled 1 million TEUs in its first year.

A seminar on Beneficial Ownership compliance will be held on 22 July 2026 at The Kingsbury, Colombo to provide guidance on BO filings under the Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 and CBSL Direction 2 of 2026, highlighting the statutory BO filing deadline of 30 September 2026 and non-compliance risks.

Colombo market fell for an eighth session as ASPI dropped 0.60% (130.78 pts) to 21,697.72 amid renewed Middle East tensions, with turnover over Rs.1.4bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.91.7m. Declines were led by Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Hayleys and John Keells, while capital goods, food & beverage and banking drove turnover.

Hayleys Solar (part of the Hayleys group) was named Sri Lanka's Most Loved Solar Brand in LMD's Brands Annual 2026 for a second consecutive year, after surpassing 750 MW of installed solar capacity and delivering 30 MWh storage and 110+ MW wind projects.

Colombo Stock Exchange picked up midday; ASPI rose 0.32% to 21,768.20 and S&P SL200 gained 0.36% to 6,088.29. Turnover was 905 million rupees and top positive contributors were John Keells Holdings, Haycarb and Dialog Axiata.

Hayleys PLC's subsidiary Hayleys Aventura commissioned Sri Lanka's first outdoor automated rotary parking system. The system rotates platforms to retrieve vehicles within a maximum of 2.5 minutes and complements the firm's portfolio of automated parking solutions for urban developments.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.60% to 21,697.72 as markets slowed amid escalation in the Middle East and global instability. Seylan Bank, Lanka IOC and Malwatte Valley Plantations were among gainers while Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Lion Brewery and Hayleys led declines; Vidullanka authorised a first gross dividend of Rs0.20 per share to be dispatched by Aug 7, 2026.

The ASPI fell 0.61% (133.80 pts) to 21,828.50, extending its slide to a seventh straight session. Market turnover was Rs.2.25bn on 210.1m shares with foreign net selling of Rs.22.5m and major negative contributors including Sampath, Hayleys, Dialog, LOLC and HNB.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.49% to 21,720.92 midday; HNB Finance listed 381,667,019 new ordinary voting shares and 80,072,222 non‑voting shares from its rights issue. Malwatte Valley Plantations and Seylan Bank were among gainers while Melstacorp was a top decliner.

Aitken Spence Travels (part of Aitken Spence PLC) and Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services won a Cabinet-approved Rs.178.71m contract to manage Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled for 14–17 January 2027.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell for a sixth straight session as the ASPI dropped 0.54% to 21,962.30. Turnover exceeded Rs.1.5bn with foreigners net sellers of Rs.185m; major drags included Melstacorp, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and CIC Holdings, while Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants featured among top contributors.

Colombo bourse fell with the ASPI down 0.61% to 21,828.50, led by capital goods turnover; Industrial Asphalts jumped 60% after agreeing to sell a 48.03% controlling stake. Hela Apparel’s subsidiary signed a management services agreement amid working capital challenges.

Sunshine Holdings (SUN.N0000) held its SUN Awards 2026 and reported consolidated FY26 revenue of Rs. 65.9 billion, up 11.2% YoY. The event presented 169 awards and 119 long-service recognitions across the Group's healthcare, consumer goods and agribusiness businesses.

Roshane Perera, Deputy Managing Director – Energy of Hayleys Fentons (Hayleys PLC), won the Global CEO 45 Under 45 Leadership Excellence Platinum Award 2025. Since 2017 he grew Hayleys Solar to Rs.15bn revenue and ~800 staff, delivered 500+ MW rooftop capacity and a 300 MW utility-scale portfolio, and is on track for 750 MW by mid-2026.

Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index fell 141.27 points (0.64%) to 21,821 at midday. Nations Trust Bank said its Basel III-compliant Tier-2 debentures will be listed on July 8 with 5-, 7- and 10-year tranches paying 13.75%, 13.85% and 13.95% respectively.