News & market updates

Colombo stocks closed flat with the ASPI up 0.01% at 21,132.12 and market turnover of Rs 1.41 billion; banks led turnover at Rs 411.6 million and Food, Beverage & Tobacco followed with Rs 308.7 million. Notable movers included Melstacorp, HNB, Pan Asia, Central Finance and Aitken Spence; Lanka Realty Investments disclosed an Rs 800m related-party loan settlement.

Cargills (Ceylon) Plc supported Soul Sounds' "The Pop Era" concert at the Lionel Wendt on July 12, 2026 as a production partner; the event also listed Havelock City and other brands among its supporters.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.20% to 21,171.86 at Friday midday; market turnover was Rs.1.62 billion, led by retailing (Rs.1.029 billion). Melstacorp, John Keells and Cargills were up, while Bukit Darah and Ceylinco Insurance were among the top decliners.

Colombo market rose after the Central Bank held policy rates steady; ASPI +0.02% to 21,149.56 while S&P SL20 fell 0.21%. SEYB, PKME, CARG and SEMB were main positive contributors as real estate management & development drove 65% of turnover with crossings in ONAL; foreigners net-sold Rs.241m.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC dominated CSE trading with block crossings of Rs. 2.26 billion, taking its total turnover to Rs. 2.88 billion and helping push total market turnover to Rs. 3.27 billion. The ASPI fell 62.37 points to 21,145.73, while Melstacorp accounted for Rs. 181 million of turnover.

Colombo market fell for a third session as the ASPI dropped 0.10% (21.79 pts) to 22,221.91 on heavy foreign net selling of Rs. 774.2 million. Top negative contributors included SPEN, SAMP, DFCC, CTC and CINS while CARG, DIAL, JKH and MELS supported the index; capital goods led turnover (55%).

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI fell 0.02% to 22,377.29 after an early peak at 22,563.09, while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 6,221.32 on turnover of Rs. 3.85bn. Foreigners were net buyers (Rs. 427.1m); top contributors were JKH, HAYL, DOCK, BREW and BIL, with CARG, CINS, SAMP, NDB and CFIN weighing on the index.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.07% at 21,744; market turnover was Rs.2.98bn, led by capital goods at Rs.1.26bn. HNB Finance issued a notification on rights issue application procedures for shareholders (record date June 3) and its shares closed down 1.11% at Rs.8.90.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC reported a March-quarter profit of Rs2.63bn, up 31% y/y, and FY profit of Rs10.61bn (from Rs7.22bn); quarterly revenue rose 16.8% to Rs69.52bn. The group reduced net debt to Rs16.1bn, recorded non-recurring losses (Rs858m cyclone damage; Rs328m on disposal of a 6.54% stake in Cargills Bank) and warned of energy and currency pressures that could moderate consumption.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, with the ILO and support from Norway, launched the Iranamadu Tilapia culture-based production and semi-processing centre in Kilinochchi to strengthen climate-resilient aquaculture and expand rural livelihoods. The facility targets women’s employment, skills training in processing and food safety, and links smallholder producers to Cargills' supermarket network.

Dividend · Rs 12.75 · XD May 25, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 12.75/share; XD 2026-05-25; record 2026-05-25; payable 2026-06-11; FY 2025 - 2026

Colombo market ended marginally higher as the ASPI closed up 0.02% at 23,015.32 with turnover near Rs.3.7bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.361.3m; MELS.N0000, RIL.N0000, CIC.N0000, BUKI.N0000 and CARG.N0000 were among the leading positive contributors. Investors stayed cautious amid escalating US‑Iran tensions and rising oil prices.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC's Cargills Food City was named the People's Supermarket Brand of the Year 2026 at the SLIM Kantar Awards for the fifth consecutive year. The chain operates 562 stores nationwide and is expanding retail footprint, cold-chain logistics and solar energy investments.

ASPI fell 1.2% (258.31 pts) for the week and the S&P SL20 dropped 2% (124.30 pts); market turnover was about Rs.1.77bn with net foreign outflows of Rs.68.2m, while breadth was positive and activity was led by capital goods, banks, materials and food & beverage names.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 3.4% over the week; ASPI closed at 21,375.73 (-0.21%) and S&P SL20 at 5,999.99, with turnover of 2.67 billion rupees. Top negative contributors were John Keells, NDB and Cargills, while Ambeon Capital's subsidiary offered to buy 1,919,600 Harishchandra shares at Rs 3,400.

Profood Propack & Agbiz Knowledge Hub 2026 will be held 21–23 Aug 2026 at BMICH, Colombo, with SLFPA and LECS planning an expanded exhibition focused on food processing, packaging, agriculture and SME support; Cargills Ceylon PLC is listed as a platinum sponsor and Hayleys’ agri unit featured among awardees.

Cargills Bank PLC's public float rose to 49.84% as at 19 Feb 2026 from 39.14% at 31 Dec 2025 after Cargills (Ceylon) and CT Holdings sold a combined 10.05%. The Central Bank has directed the bank to meet staged capital targets (Rs16bn by 31-Mar-2027 to Rs20bn by 31-Dec-2029) and to cut the two shareholders' combined holding to 45% by Mar-2027, 35% by Mar-2028, 25% by Mar-2029 and 15% by Dec-2029.

The Central Bank has directed Cargills Bank to meet interim capital targets (Rs.16.0bn by 31-Mar-2027; Rs.17.5bn by 31-Mar-2028; Rs.19.0bn by 31-Mar-2029; Rs.20.0bn by 31-Dec-2029) and to cut combined holdings of Cargills (Ceylon) and CT Holdings from current ~50.66% to 45% by Mar-2027, 35% by Mar-2028, 25% by Mar-2029 and 15% by Dec-2029.

Cargills' subsidiary CPC Lanka (Knuckles Spring Water) introduced Sri Lanka's first tethered bottle cap to improve plastic waste management and recyclability. The cap remains attached after opening to reduce discarded caps and support more complete collection and recycling.

C T Holdings (CTHR.N0000) has appointed Indira Malwatta as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Malwatta has over 40 years' experience and currently serves on the boards of Samson International, Cargills and Kotmale.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC and C T Holdings PLC sold a combined 10.05% stake in Cargills Bank PLC (6.05% for Rs.509.3m and 4% for Rs.337.5m) with trades between Rs.8.90–9.70. The Central Bank has ordered the Cargills group to cut its voting stake in the bank to 15% by end-2029.

Cargills (Ceylon) Plc reported 3Q revenue of Rs.70.8bn (+14.5% YoY), EBITDA Rs.7.3bn (+29%) and PAT Rs.2.9bn (+79.3%), with 9M PAT at Rs.7.9bn (+53.8%). Operations were impacted by Cyclone Ditwah but have resumed; Restaurants will exit TGI Fridays and focus on KFC.

The Colombo market ended marginally higher — ASPI +0.02% to 23,655.68 — on turnover of Rs.3.35 billion with foreign net outflows of Rs.64 million. Top positive contributors included NHL, CFIN, CARG, JKH and LLUB, while Samson International, UB Finance and Sierra Cables led turnover.