News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat (ASPI +0.01% to 22,409.81) on Friday with market turnover of Rs1.91bn. Top contributors included DFCC, Melstacorp and Central Finance while John Keells, Access Engineering, Haycarb and Aitken Spence lagged; Nations Trust Bank announced allotment of its Basel III Tier 2 debenture issue and its shares closed at Rs318 (-0.08%).

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 44.99 points (0.20%) to 22,452.03 as gains in Sampath Bank, Central Finance, Colombo Dockyard and others lifted the market; turnover was Rs.349 million. Lee Hedges completed sale of land and premises to Amana Bank for Rs.2.7 billion on June 25, and both stocks traded higher.

John Keells Holdings chair Krishan Balendra was re-elected Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at its 187th AGM for 2026/27. The Chamber's board includes executives from Hayleys, Renuka Hotels and Dialog Axiata, and said 18 of its Budget 2026 recommendations on trade, digitalisation and investment were adopted.

NCQP 2026 was held on 17 June in Colombo with 2,000+ delegates from 100+ organisations and 450 improvement teams; the Sunil G. Wijesinha QC Circle Excellence Awards went to Team ThreadX (MAS Bodywear) and Team Saviya (Elastomeric Engineering).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher with the ASPI up 0.89% to 22,407.04 and the S&P SL20 up 0.99% to 6,242.75 on Rs.2.72bn turnover; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.50.3m.

Ceylon Chamber re‑elected Krishan Balendra (Chairperson of John Keells Holdings PLC) and named its 2026/27 board, which includes executives from Hayleys PLC, Dialog Axiata PLC and Renuka Hotels PLC.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.89% as the ASPI gained 198.46 points to 22,407 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.99% to 6,242, with turnover of 2.7 billion rupees. Top positive contributors were Dialog Axiata, John Keells and Hayleys, while Bukit Darah and Colombo Fort Land & Building were top decliners.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka Business Forum centred on implementing the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA to boost trade and investment after bilateral trade reached USD 649m in 2025 (+48% vs 2024). Delegates highlighted opportunities in logistics, manufacturing, food and agriculture, IT, healthcare and tourism and urged streamlined customs and predictable FTA implementation.

Colombo market fell 0.22% as the ASPI closed at 22,208.58 with turnover near Rs.1.2bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.130.6m. Main negative contributors included SAMP, JKH, LOFC, GRAN and RICH, while SPEN, BOGA and HAYC recorded gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices rose, with the ASPI up 0.37% (82.93 pts) to 22,291.51 and the S&P SL20 up 0.56% to 6,216.28. Top contributors included John Keells, Windforce, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Sampath Bank; market turnover was LKR110.3m, led by materials (LKR60.4m), while Brent crude fell below $73/bbl.

First Capital Research: aggregate earnings of 271 listed companies fell 11.4% YoY in the March 2026 quarter (third straight quarter), but underlying earnings rose 30.1% YoY after adjusting for major one-offs. Food, Beverage & Tobacco dragged the aggregate result while retailing and telecom posted strong gains (e.g. UML, DIAL, SLTL, SINS).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.22% (47.91 pts) to 22,208.58 with turnover Rs1.195bn. Galadari Hotels (GHLL) revised its Galadari Hotel Colombo refurbishment reopening to early Q4 2026; its shares were down 1.84% at Rs16.00.

Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB.N0000) signed an MoU with Hayleys Mobility on June 16, 2026 to provide tailored financing for electric and hybrid vehicles, offering flexible repayment tenors, exclusive insurance benefits and lifetime annual fee waivers on CDB credit cards for Hayleys customers.

Softlogic Information Technologies achieved Dell Technologies Titanium Partner status and is the sole Titanium Partner in Sri Lanka. The recognition strengthens its strategic partnership with Dell and bolsters the position of parent Softlogic Holdings.

Colombo Stock Exchange was flat in Wednesday intraday trading: ASPI down 0.02% at 22,252.79, S&P SL20 at 6,193.16 and turnover Rs 406 million, with materials leading turnover at Rs 88.6 million. Diesel & Motor Engineering declared a final dividend of Rs 40 per share; SANASA Life plans to raise up to Rs 500 million via Tier II debentures.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka Business Forum highlighted opportunities from the new Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA, with bilateral trade at USD 649m in 2025 (up 48%) and commitments to boost supply chains, investment and trade across food processing, logistics, IT, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.

The ASPI edged up 0.01% to 22,256.49 with turnover above Rs.1.56bn and foreign investors net-selling Rs.225mn. Hemas, NDB and Hayleys Fibre were top turnover contributors (Hemas and Hayleys up, Panasian Power down).

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.48% to 22,253.52 as investor sentiment soured over renewed Middle East peace concerns. Only 51 stocks rose vs 164 declines; turnover was ~Rs1.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs154.6m; main negative contributors were JKH, SPEN, DFCC, COMB and ACL.

The CSE added ACL Cables, CIC Holdings and the voting shares of Commercial Bank to the S&P SL20 and removed LB Finance, with the changes effective 22 June.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, with the ASPI up 0.01% at 22,256.49 and the S&P SL20 down 0.03% at 6,193.65. Top positives were LB Finance, National Development Bank, Aitken Spence and Nawaloka; declines came from Melstacorp, Central Finance, Sunshine and Windforce; turnover Rs 1.56bn.

FitsAir will launch thrice-weekly direct Ahmedabad–Colombo flights from 19 June 2026 (about 3h40m), partnered with City of Dreams Sri Lanka and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, improving access for Gujarat travellers and expected to boost inbound tourism to Colombo.

Sri Lanka and Thailand plan to deepen trade and investment using the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA and enhanced B2B engagement, targeting tourism, hospitality, food processing, agriculture, logistics and other sectors to boost bilateral ties and supply‑chain links.

Colombo Stock Exchange trended up, with the ASPI rising 0.27% (61.12 pts) to 22,314.64 on turnover of Rs.609.9m, led by capital goods (Rs.241.2m). Lee Hedges announced revised payment terms for its Rs.3.15bn acquisition of Lanka Realty Developments (Rs.1.1bn paid, Rs.2.057bn due within six months plus interest).

C. W. Mackie PLC appointed Mangala Perera as Group Chief Executive Officer. He was previously Executive Director – Group Chief Operating Officer and has over 26 years of cross-industry senior experience.

Hayleys Mobility (Hayleys PLC) opened a new authorised sales-partner showroom in Anuradhapura with CarSwitch, expanding retail access to brands JAECOO, OMODA, KAIYI and SRM in the North Central Province. The showroom offers vehicle sales, consultation and dedicated after-sales support to strengthen regional reach.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.48% to 22,253.52 and S&P SL20 fell 0.25% to 6,199.97, with market turnover of 1.18 billion rupees. Top gainers included Vallibel Power Erathna and Hatton National Bank, while John Keells, Aitken Spence, DFCC and Commercial Bank were among the main decliners.

John Keells Properties (part of John Keells) unveiled the on-site show apartment for the VIMAN Ja-Ela development, a six-acre project with more than 60% dedicated to green and open space. Visitors can now tour the model home and see planned amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, gym and walking paths.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.25% to 22,305.37 (down 55.94 pts) while the S&P SL20 dropped 0.30% to 6,196.50. Market turnover was Rs 423.9m, led by insurance at Rs 135.1m; NDB, Sampath and Lion Brewery were top gainers while Hayleys, Aitken Spence, Haycarb and LOLC led losses.

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha met Sri Lankan business leaders including John Keells Holdings' Krishan Balendra and Hayleys' Dhammika Perera; John Keells-backed Colombo West International Terminal handled over 1 million TEUs in its first year. Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a 2,269.18 million rupee transmission-line tender to a JV including Hayleys Fentons, and talks covered trade, investment and a Rupee-to-Rupee commercial corridor with India.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Friday as investor uncertainty over a US–Iran deal weighed on markets; the ASPI fell 0.33% to 22,361.31 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.25% to 6,211.13. Market turnover was Rs 1.8 billion and crossings were recorded in CIC, Singer, NDB, Sampath Bank and Dialog Axiata.