News & market updates

Dividend · Rs 1.21 · XD Nov 12, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 1.21/share; XD 2025-11-12; record 2025-11-12; payable 2025-12-01; FY 2025/26

Advocata published five reform proposals ahead of Budget 2026, urging replacement of Port City tax exemptions with performance‑based tax credits, enactment of a Plant Variety Protection Act, accelerated national land titling, phased removal of para‑tariffs, and social protection reform to strengthen revenue and growth.

GP Certified has opened GP Labs, Sri Lanka’s first dedicated plastic testing facility near Colombo, providing comprehensive testing for recycled and virgin plastics plus environmental monitoring to support recyclers, manufacturers, exporters and FMCG brands.

Flexiprint (Pvt) Ltd won the Silver award in the Extra-Large Category — National Level Manufacturing Sector at the CNCI Achiever Awards 2025. The award recognizes quality, productivity, R&D, employee benefits and ESG; Flexiprint supplies teabag packaging and labels to local tea exporters and international markets.

INSEE Ecocycle Lanka became the first Sri Lankan company certified under the Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard (PPRS) on August 26, 2025, covering co-processing at Puttalam and resource recovery at Malwana. The certification aligns the firm with upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility rules and will be reviewed annually.

ASPI closed up 0.27% (62.41 pts) to 22,839.53 as HNW-led buying and large crossings in ATL, JKH and DOCK supported the recovery. Turnover was Rs.7.78bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs.857m; capital goods, insurance and retailing led activity.

JF Packaging's IPO was oversubscribed within hours; 51,724,144 shares at LKR 11.60 are being offered to raise LKR 600 million. The company will use LKR 439,464,493 to settle term loans (including with Nations Trust Bank) and LKR 160,535,577 for revolving import loans.

Vantage, a men's fashion brand of Ebony Holdings, has partnered with the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing as the Official Sponsor of SLIM Brand Excellence 2025 to support marketing and brand-building initiatives.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders approved the sale of its global consumer and associated businesses to Lactalis for NZ$4.22bn (US$2.42bn). About 88.5% of farmer votes supported the deal, which includes brands such as Mainland, Anchor and Kapiti and awaits regulatory approvals, expected H1 2026.

Dividend · Rs 0.10 · XD Nov 10, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 0.1/share; XD 2025-11-10; record 2025-11-10; payable 2025-11-27; FY 2025/26

Colombo market fell for a third straight session, with the ASPI down 0.44% to 22,689.22 and the S&P SL20 down 0.84%; turnover was Rs. 6.19bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 42.48m. Major movers included declines in JKH, SFCL and SAMP, while DOCK, COLO, ASCO and LGL posted notable gains.

JF Packaging's IPO opens tomorrow (Oct 30): 51,724,144 shares offered at LKR 11.60 each to raise LKR 600 million for a Main Board listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The issue is priced at a 26.8% discount to average fair value and drew strong investor interest at an investor forum.

Pussalla Meat Producers won the National Gold Award in the Extra-Large Manufacturing category at the CNCI Achiever Awards 2025. The vertically integrated poultry firm (2,500+ employees) said it is focusing on expanding retail footprint, enhancing its supply chain and strengthening export readiness.

Sri Lanka held a "Business & Tourism Opportunities in Sri Lanka" forum in Brussels on 13 October 2025 to promote trade, investment and tourism, highlighting opportunities in tourism, pharmaceuticals, F&B, ICT, renewable energy and exports such as tea and coconut products.

GREE AirTech Ltd (Sri Lanka), a subsidiary of EverBright Holdings, won the “Most Promising Award” at the 5th GREE Global Strategic Partners Conference in Chengdu, selected from partners across 100+ countries for rapid market expansion and service excellence.

The Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council led a Sri Lankan delegation (over 48 companies) to the Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge in Maldives (20–22 Oct 2025), with Aitken Spence supporting logistics and travel for the mission.

LankaPak 2025 concluded at BMICH with over 100 exhibitors and a new 'Tech Show'; the Industries Minister said proposals to protect packaging from VAT have been submitted for the 2026 Budget and were discussed with the IMF.

Halal Assessment Council (HAC) won two Gold Awards at the CNCI Achiever Awards 2025 (National Level – Service Sector, Small Category; Top Achievers Award, Small & Micro Category). The awards highlight HAC’s role in providing credible Halal certification that supports Sri Lankan food & beverage manufacturers and export readiness.

Bairaha Farms said poultry prices rose in Q3 2025 and it posted a net profit of Rs 427m for the quarter versus a Rs 109m loss a year earlier; its feed milling unit saw reduced profitability due to high-priced, low-quality local maize that cut broiler weights and tightened supply.

Average coconut prices at a weekly auction fell 5% for the third consecutive week to 128,060 rupees per 1,000 nuts; nuts offered fell to 302,679 and nuts sold to 214,469 week-on-week.

Xterm Termite Baiting System marks 10 years in Sri Lanka since its 2015 introduction, promoted by Suren Cooke Agencies and Sumitomo Chemical Asia, offering non-intrusive colony-eliminating termite control widely used in high-rises, warehouses and protected heritage sites.

LAUGFS Holdings' subsidiary JADE Restaurant opened its third outlet in Negombo, a 92-seat venue at 95 St. Joseph’s Street with outdoor seating, a karaoke room and private dining. The outlet offers dine-in, delivery, takeaway, BYOB and accepts orders via PickMe and Uber Eats.

Richard Pieris and Company PLC held the Arpico Mattress Achievers Night 2025 to recognise 150 top dealers with tiered awards and sponsored international tours; the company highlighted product milestones including the introduction of Englander International and the Arpico NextGen mattress with air-cooling pocket technology.

Bairaha Farms PLC approved a Rs.5 interim dividend (total Rs.88m) and proposed a 1-for-5 share split. The company reported H1 FY26 revenue of Rs.7.68bn (+16%) and pre-tax profit of Rs.459.6m (+423%), and its share hit a record Rs.458.25.

FitCon presented Burn & Brunch at The Shoppes at City of Dreams in Colombo, featuring a 90-minute multi-discipline workout, a post-workout brunch and a wellness marketplace with sponsors including Anlene and Red Bull to showcase local wellness brands and community fitness.

Colombo market closed marginally up as the ASPI rose 0.26% to 22,850.95 on Rs. 9.2bn turnover, led by gains in Hayleys, Bairaha, Colombo Dockyard, Royal Ceramics, LAUGFS Gas and Dipped Products while DFCC, HNB, Commercial Bank and JKH declined; foreigners were net buyers (Rs. 13.8m).

Watawala Plantations PLC (WATA.N0000) saw its tea ad campaign targeted by a coordinated political disinformation campaign, prompting the brand to remove the main post. Independent tracking showed rapid, inorganic amplification via fake accounts and politically affiliated pages.

Sri Lanka's export sector earned US$12,986.52 Mn in Jan–Sep 2025, up about 7% year‑on‑year. Merchandise exports rose 7.59% to US$10,240.52 Mn and services grew ~4.49% (US$2,746.03 Mn), led by gains in tea, coconut, apparel, ICT/BPM and food & beverages.