News & market updates

Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.15% to 21,959.05, as John Keells Holdings crossings accounted for about 34% of turnover (total turnover > Rs.4.1bn); foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.331.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.15% higher as the ASPI rose 32.05 points to 21,959.05, led by gains in selected banking, construction and retail stocks. Top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Sampath Bank, Bukit Darah, Royal Ceramics and Tokyo Cement; turnover rose to Rs 4.1bn with a Rs 331mn net foreign outflow.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.17% to 22,292.57 (down 37.12 points) with turnover of 2.3 billion rupees. Yaden raised its stake in Maharaja Foods to 10.04%; HNB will list debentures offering 10.25% and 11% on Dec 19; HDFC appointed K B Wijeyratne as chairman pro-tem; United Motors set a 10-for-1 share split date; JKH, CTC, BUKI and DFCC were top gainers.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.02% lower as the ASPI slipped to 22,329.69, with banks and capital-goods names dragging the market. LOLC Finance filed to list Rs 15bn of debentures; turnover rose to Rs 3.3bn and net foreign outflow was Rs 130.44m.

Dividend · Rs 14.43 · XD Dec 17, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 14.43/share; XD 2025-12-17; record 2025-12-17; payable 2026-01-06; FY 2025-2026

Colombo bourse fell 1.87% to 21,826.59, wiping Rs.143 billion off market value with turnover of nearly Rs.3.78bn and foreign net selling of Rs.295.5m. Brokers said price losses in counters including Ceylinco, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank drove the slide amid adverse weather forecasts.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.87% to 21,826.59 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.75% to 6,030.66. Top decliners included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah; construction names Access Engineering and Sierra Cables also slid, and Hemas appointed Ajith Fernando as chairman effective Jan 1.

Colombo market recouped 30% of Monday’s Rs.240 billion wipe-off as the ASPI rose 1% (219 points), restoring about Rs.72 billion of market cap; top contributors included RICH, CINS, SAMP, BUKI and NDB while capital goods and materials led turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange recovered as the ASPI rose 1% (219.51 pts) to 22,241.57, led by gains in diversified financials and construction-related shares, with notable rises in Ceylinco, Sampath, NDB, Bukit Darah, Sierra Cables and ACL Cables.

CSE closed two hours early due to cyclone Ditwah; the ASPI rose 0.35% to 22,742.46 on turnover of over Rs.1.9bn, with foreign investors net selling Rs.326.3m (month-to-date outflow Rs.3.7bn). Top contributors were BUKI, AEL, BIL, LOLC and DOCK.

The Colombo bourse fell, with the ASPI down 0.53% to 22,982.72 (slipping below 23,000) and the S&P SL20 down 0.28% to 6,364.61. Foreigners were net sellers (Rs.163.8m yesterday; Rs.461.8m net outflow for the week); Bukit Darah and Ambeon were among decliners while Renuka Agri and Access Engineering drew buying interest.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Friday — ASPI down 0.53% to 22,982.72 and S&P SL20 down 0.28% to 6,364.61; turnover was Rs3.81bn led by food, beverage & tobacco, with HNB, Bukit Darah, Ambeon Holdings and Senkadagala Finance among top negative contributors.

Colombo Bourse closed higher as ASPI rose 0.33% (75.10 pts) to 23,104.96 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.32% to 6,382.18 on turnover of Rs.3.49 billion, with foreign investors net selling Rs.40.9m. Sampath, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah, John Keells and Carson were key positive contributors while Commercial Bank and CIC rose and Melstacorp fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.33% (75.10 pts) to 23,104.96, ending a five-day losing streak as diversified conglomerates and financials led gains. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, John Keells, Bukit Darah, Carson Cumberbatch, CIC, Access Engineering and ACL Cables.

The Colombo market fell as investors booked profits: ASPI dropped 1.01% (236.07 pts) to 23,223.68 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.40% to 6,410.00. Turnover was over Rs.4.4bn with foreign net selling of Rs.151.8mn; CINS, SFCL, BUKI, COMB and SAMP were main negative contributors and banks led activity (19% turnover).

Colombo ASPI fell 1.01% to 23,223.68, dragged by financial and capital goods stocks with top decliners including Ceylinco Holdings, Senkadagala Finance, Bukit Darah, Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank. Nations Trust Bank reported September-quarter profit up 48% to Rs 6.1bn and its stock closed higher.

Colombo market closed lower — ASPI fell 0.84% (198.24 pts) to 23,461.46 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.52% to 6,458.15. Banking dominated turnover (39%) and major laggards included SAMP, HNB, JKH, NDB and BUKI while foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs. 788.7 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as profit taking pushed the ASPI down 0.82% to 23,466.09 and the S&P SL20 down 1.46% to 6,462.04, with turnover of 6.42 billion rupees; top negatives included Sampath Bank, HNB, John Keells, NDB and Bukit Darah.

Colombo market opened higher as the ASPI rose 0.54% (+123.47 pts) to 22,928.31 with turnover over Rs.5.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.645.4m. Aitken Spence and Sierra Cables led capital-goods turnover; PKME, JKH, COMB, SFCL and BUKI were key positives while SPEN eased and SIRA was flat.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up 0.54% as the ASPI rose 123.47 pts to 22,928.31 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.62% to 6,252.40. Top contributors were Senkadagala Finance, Bukit Darah, John Keells Holdings and Commercial Bank; turnover edged to 5.7 billion rupees and spot gold was $4,013.70.

Colombo bourse closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.15% to 22,804.84 amid foreign net selling of Rs.893 million and turnover of about Rs.5.6bn; the S&P SL20 rose 0.18%. Capital goods and materials led activity with notable stock moves including Aitken Spence (-Rs.1), Hayleys (-Rs.0.75) and John Keells (+Rs.0.40).

Carson Cumberbatch PLC and Bukit Darah PLC said subsidiaries under Goodhope Asia have about 5,877 ha planted and 6,275 ha unplanted (≈12,152 ha) reclassified and transferred to state-owned PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara under Indonesia’s new forest laws. No penalties have been notified and discussions on management arrangements are ongoing.

Carson Cumberbatch (CARS.N0000) and Bukit Darah (BUKI.N0000) disclosed that Goodhope Asia has about 5,877 ha of planted and 6,275 ha of unplanted land affected by Indonesia’s new palm-oil spatial planning and forest-area repossession regulations. Affected lands were transferred to state-owned PT ASN, operations are continuing and no financial impact has yet been determined.

Carson Cumberbatch said new Indonesian forest laws have impacted 12,152 hectares linked to its group companies (about 5,877 ha planted and 6,275 ha unplanted). A state task force has repossessed lands and transferred them to PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, which is in talks over plantation management; no current ban on activities.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.10% to 22,812.52, with C T Holdings, Central Finance Company, Richard Pieris, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah among the top negative contributors; market turnover was 5.76 billion rupees.