News & market updates

Lion Brewery (LION.N0000) took delivery of 44 new Suzuki FRONX SUVs from Associated Motorways, with financing facilitated by Central Finance (CFIN.N0000).

Sri Lanka's forex inflows were US$2,337m in September (down from US$2,521m in August) while imports rose to US$2,048m, leaving a US$289m surplus. Vehicle and fuel import increases drove the shift and analysts warn fiscal-buffer use or liquidity injections could erode reserves and pressure the rupee and rates.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.10% to 22,788.79; major movers included Colombo Dockyard (DOCK +24.20%) and Ceylon Hospitals (CHL +25.64%), while C T Holdings, Central Finance and Richard Pieris were among the session's laggards.

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.

The Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally up as the ASPI gained 0.03% (7.45 pts) to 22,791.07 on turnover of Rs.6.61bn; DOCK, SAMP, CFIN, HARI and HUNT were among top contributors while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.235.1m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 0.03% at 22,791.07 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.11% to 6,276.86; market turnover was Rs6.61bn led by capital goods (Rs1.5bn) and banks (Rs1.19bn). Top ASPI contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Sampath Bank, Central Finance and Harischandra Mills.

ASPI rose 0.66% (+149.82 pts) to 22,783.62 as the Colombo bourse extended gains, led by banks and diversified financials with heavy turnover and notable rises in SEYB, HNB, CFIN, COOP, HARI, SIRA, DFCC and WIND.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.66% to 22,783.62 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.47% to 6,292.27, led by heavy buying in banks and finance; top contributors included Central Finance, Co-operative Insurance, Harischandra Mills, DFCC, WindForce and Seylan Bank.

The EPF recorded an unrealized profit of Rs.73.97 billion on its Colombo Stock Exchange holdings as of June 30, 2025, with its Rs.85.88 billion invested across 64 listed companies rising to a market value of Rs.159.85 billion.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.56% (123.87 pts) to 22,416.15 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.45% on turnover of around Rs. 8.9bn, with foreigners net selling Rs. 1.4bn. Hemas, Sampath, Vidullanka, Richard Pieris and DIMO were key positive contributors while banking stocks led turnover.

Colombo bourse rose as the ASPI gained 0.86% (closing at 21,521) with turnover of Rs. 9.29 billion, led by banking-sector activity and top contributors SAMP, CTC, CFIN, SFCL and DIST. Nations Trust Bank fell, while Jetwing Symphony, Ceylon Hotels and Hemas recorded gains.

Colombo ASPI rose 0.86% to 21,521.06 on Thursday, driven by continued interest in banks and financials. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, Ceylon Tobacco, Central Finance, Senkadagala Finance and Distilleries Company; turnover was 9.3 billion rupees.

Colombo market rose after the Central Bank left policy rates unchanged, with ASPI up 0.26% (56 points) to 21,338 and turnover at Rs.5.6bn. Top positive contributors were CINS, LFIN, HAYL, CFIN and COMB; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.118.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.26% to 21,338.45, led by financials and capital goods, with Ceylinco Holdings, L B Finance, Hayleys, Central Finance and Commercial Bank among the top contributors.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 264 points (1.3%) and the S&P SL20 gained 1.2% on turnover of Rs.6.2bn. Banks and hotel counters led gains (COMB, SAMP, HNB, SPEN, DFCC), capital goods and utilities drove turnover, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.270.8m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.30% to 20,619 with turnover of Rs 6.21bn, led by gains in banks and capital goods. Key risers included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB, Aitken Spence, DFCC and active trading in Sierra Cables.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI and S&P SL20 declined 1.25% amid profit-taking led by banks, with ASPI down 257 points — the largest intraday drop since 23 June. Turnover was Rs.4 billion and foreigners recorded a net outflow of Rs.80.5 million; several bank counters led losses.

Central Industries PLC appointed C.S. Hettiarachchi as Non-Executive Chairman and Thilini Wathsala Weerasinghe and Dushan Virantha as Non-Executive Directors. Weerasinghe and Virantha hold senior roles at Central Finance Company PLC and Hettiarachchi is also a director of Tea Smallholder Factories PLC.

Colombo's ASPI hit an all-time high, closing at 21,062 (+65) on turnover of Rs.13.2bn with net foreign selling of Rs.1bn. John Keells and Commercial Bank led turnover while investor interest shifted toward property names such as Prime Lands Residencies and RIL Property.

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.

S&P SL20 crossed 6,000 for the first time, rising 58.46 points (0.97%) to close at 6,055.92; the ASPI also hit a record 20,571.07 (up 100.55 points, 0.49%) with turnover over Rs.10.8 billion.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI fell 0.23% (47 pts) to 19,929 with turnover around Rs.7.1bn and foreign net selling of Rs.28.5m amid profit-taking. Transportation led turnover (20%) driven by Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka, while banking contributed strongly with activity in Sampath Bank and HNB.

Colombo stocks closed down as the ASPI fell 0.23% to 19,928.67 with turnover of Rs 7 billion, including a Rs 1.4 billion trade in PickMe; Lanka Ventures rose while Hayleys, Sampath Bank, Central Finance and NDB were top decliners. Sampath Bank's interim profits fell 17% to Rs 6.7 billion in the June quarter.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.64% to 19,786.23 after earlier crossing the 20,000 mark, with turnover sliding to LKR 4.5bn. Banking counters saw buying while large caps including ACL Cables, Melstacorp, Hayleys and Central Finance weighed on the index.

Colombo Stock Exchange sustained an upward trend as the ASPI rose 0.07% and turnover climbed to Rs. 7.59 billion. The banking sector contributed 38% of turnover, while gains in ACL, Melstacorp, Hayleys and Central Finance and active trading in Sierra Cables and Access Engineering underpinned the session; John Keells weakened.

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.

ASPI rose 136.16 points (2%) to close at 19,379 on turnover of Rs.6.21bn, with banks dominating activity. CINS, CFIN, NDB, COMB and CTC were top positive contributors; NDB rose, DFCC fell and Ambeon (TAP) gained.

The ASPI rose 0.46% to 19,467.71 as retail buying in diversified financials lifted the market. Top contributors included Central Finance, C T Holdings, DFCC Bank, Bukit Darah and Melstacorp.