News & market updates

Colombo ASPI rose 0.31% to 21,062.45 as turnover reached Rs 13.2 million, mainly driven by a Rs 5.4 million crossing in John Keells Holdings. Top contributors included Central Finance, Melstacorp and Cargills.

Colombo bourse rose for a second day as the ASPI gained 139.82 points to close at 20,753.21, with turnover at about Rs.7.4 billion boosted by several crossings. Selected Construction and Materials counters and names such as Access Engineering, Ceylon Tobacco and Cargills were among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange hit a record as the ASPI rose 139.82 points to close at 20,753.21. Turnover was Rs. 7.39 billion with domestic investors accounting for Rs. 6.98 billion while foreign sales exceeded purchases.

Profood Propack & Agbiz 2025 opened at BMICH in Colombo; sponsors include Cargills (CARG.N0000) and Convenience Foods Lanka (SOY.N0000). The exhibition focuses on food processing, packaging and SME support to foster industry partnerships and market access.

Profood Propack & Agbiz 2025 will be held 22–24 Aug 2025 at BMICH, Colombo, with an expanded Knowledge Hub including a Consumer Assistance Desk and new Industry Help Desk. Platinum sponsors include Cargills Ceylon PLC and the event targets SME support, trade links and commercialisation of food-processing innovations.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC reported a 46.3% YoY rise in Group PAT to Rs. 2.2bn for Q1 ended 30 Jun 2025, with group revenue up 11.2% to Rs. 66.7bn and EBITDA up 11.9% to Rs. 6.5bn. Growth was driven by Retail, FMCG and Restaurants, plus store additions and expanded solar power at sites.

Cargills Bank will raise capital and reduce its parent Cargills group's stake after the central bank ordered the parent's stake cut to 50% by end-2025 and to 15% of voting shares by 2029, and required the bank to reach a minimum capital of Rs20 billion by end-2029.

Colombo ASPI rose 0.07% to 19,532.20 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.38% to 5,752.46, turnover rose to Rs 7.5 billion; ACL Cables, Melstacorp, Hayleys, Central Finance and Cargills were notable gainers.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC's Knuckles Spring Water has entered the Bahrain market and will be distributed through the Al Jazira Supermarket chain. The water is bottled at source in the Knuckles range, sold in glass and PET bottles, and glass bottles include Braille labelling.

Samsung Sri Lanka launched 'Samsung Exclusive Easy Pay', an installment program with plans from Rs.3,530/month (3–24 months) and no down payment. The program is offered via partners including John Keells Office Automation/John Keells Holdings, Alliance Finance and Cargills (payment points), and covers the full Galaxy range.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC appointed Chulantha Wickramaratne, former Auditor General (2019-2025), as an Independent Non-Executive Director; Tara Page has resigned from the Board.

CBSL has given Cargills Bank an extension to end-2029 to meet the Rs.20bn minimum capital requirement (current Rs.11.89bn), directing the bank to raise ~Rs.2.5bn equity by end-2025 and to cut major shareholders' stakes to 50% by 2025 and 15% by 2029.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.81% to 17,353.05 on Wednesday. Top contributors included Ceylon Tobacco (+108.50 to 1,488.75), Lion Brewery (+120.25 to 1,420.50), Central Finance (+12.25 to 234.50), Hemas (+1.20 to 29.70) and Cargills (+22.25 to 569.75).

Colombo Stock Exchange hit a record as the ASPI closed at 17,353.05 (+138.66 pts, 0.81%) on June 4, 2025. The S&P SL20 rose to 5,159.66 (+0.55%) with turnover Rs.7.37bn, led by gains in CTC, CFIN, HHL, LION and CARG.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC reported FY25 Profit After Tax up 22.5% year‑on‑year with group revenue rising 8.2%; Q4 revenue grew 9.4% to Rs. 59.5 billion as retail, FMCG and restaurants delivered volume-led growth.

Cargills (Ceylon) Plc's Cargills Food City concluded its Rs.30 million 'Avurudu Wasana' promotion, awarding weekly Rs.1 million prizes and conducting over 4,000 bill wipeouts worth Rs.25 million; it also ran discounts on more than 1,000 products.

CBSL cut the OPR by 25bps to 7.75%, boosting the Colombo market (ASPI +0.7%, S&P SL20 +0.54%) on higher turnover; key contributors were CARG, MELS, JKH, DIAL and HHL, with strong banking interest and Rs.313.4m foreign net inflows.

The central bank cut its policy rate by 25 bps to 7.75%, and Sri Lanka stocks closed higher—ASPI +0.72% and S&P SL20 +0.54%. Top contributors included Cargills, Melstacorp, John Keells, Dialog Axiata and Hemas.

Colombo ASPI closed 0.12% higher at 16,355.91 after volatile trading, led in part by Cargills rising to Rs.509.75; S&P SL20 was up 0.11% at 4,816.36. Turnover rose to Rs.2.4bn and banking, construction and consumer-durables shares were active.

Dividend · Rs 11.70 · XD May 29, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 11.7/share; XD 2025-05-29; record 2025-05-29; payable 2025-06-17; FY ended 31st March 2025

Hayleys Solar has renewed its partnership with Cargills to deliver Phase 2 solar installations — 2.1 MW across 25 outlets; Phase 1 delivered 2.4 MW across 21 locations, offsetting ~19,321 tonnes of CO2.

The CSE opened May on a mixed note as turnover hit a new high of Rs. 6 billion while the ASPI rose 52 points to 15,852; crossings in CT Holdings and Cargills dominated activity, together accounting for the bulk of turnover. Banking and food retail stocks, including Pan Asia Banking and Lankem, were also among top contributors.

Cargills Bank said it engaged cyber security experts and law enforcement after a cyber security incident and that there was no breach of core banking systems or customer accounts and operations remain uninterrupted. The bank notified regulators, initiated legal action and strengthened security.

Bristo Products won the Best National Industry Brand award (Small Scale) at the National Industry Brand Excellence Awards 2024. D & A Marketing supplies Bristo cookware to retailers including Singer Sri Lanka and Cargills, and the brand is targeting further domestic and international expansion.