News & market updates

ASPI rose 183.55 points (1.14%) to 16,314.79 as CSE turnover hit Rs.4.55 billion with over 180 million shares traded. Lanka Realty led activity (Rs.467m); JKH, LOLC and Commercial Bank saw heavy trading; Melstacorp, Sampath, Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Aitken Spence helped drive gains while several counters including Dipped Products, Ceylon Grain Elevators, Industrial Asphalts and NDB fell.

Colombo market jumped as the ASPI rose 215 points (1.35%) to 16,131, reclaiming the 16,000 level with turnover of Rs.3.3bn. HNB, COMB, CFIN, SAMP, SPEN and JKH were among the top drivers and foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.25.5m).

Commercial Bank of Ceylon reported March-quarter profit of 14.97 billion rupees, up 38.5% year-on-year, with earnings of 9.07 rupees per share, driven by higher net interest income, fee growth and loan expansion.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Group reported Q1 assets of Rs 2.999 trillion and net profit of Rs 14.97 billion for the three months to 31 Mar 2025, with loans up Rs 116.75 billion to Rs 1.642 trillion. Net interest income rose 23.53% to Rs 34.21 billion and NIM improved to 4.74%.

Colombo ASPI rose 1.63% to 16,176.10 after a US‑China 90‑day tariff pause and some positive interim/annual results lifted markets. Banking names HNB, Central Finance, Commercial Bank and Sampath led gains while DFCC fell after interim results, Dialog Finance noted fraud-related legal action and coconut exporters slipped.

Hayleys PLC's five-year debenture issue was oversubscribed on day one, rising to Rs.7 billion after the company exercised an additional Rs.2 billion option; HNB Investment Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon acted as Joint Placement Agents.

Sri Lanka stocks closed marginally weaker as the ASPI fell 0.06% to 15,916.17 amid lower turnover and investor caution over IMF talks, US tariff discussions and GSP+ uncertainty. HNB reported March-quarter profit up 48% to LKR 10.6 billion, while several exporters and tourism-linked stocks fell.

ASPI rose 84.3 points (+0.5%) to 15,926 on low turnover of about Rs.1.7bn while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.35.1m; gains were led by counters including CINS, MELS, COMB and SPEN, with Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Banking driving activity.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.53% (up 84.32 pts to 15,925.92) after the World Bank pledged US$1bn, lifting banking shares including HNB, Sampath, Commercial Bank and DFCC. Export-oriented stocks such as Teejay Lanka and Dipped Products fell as turnover dropped to LKR1.6bn.

Hayleys PLC's LKR 7 billion senior unsecured redeemable debenture issue was fully subscribed on opening day (base LKR 5bn plus LKR 2bn oversubscription). The debentures are rated 'AAA (lka)' and proceeds will be used to reprofile short-term debt and bolster liquidity.

The ASPI fell 120 points (0.75%) to 15,842 as investors reacted to the ruling NPP's weaker-than-expected LG poll showing, with turnover of Rs. 3.2bn. Major drags included JKH, CINS, COMB, SPEN and SAMP while Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover (61%).

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) has partnered with Evolution Auto to offer special green leasing for electric vehicles, including Evolution Auto discounts of up to Rs 1.5 million on vehicles leased via the bank through end-2025. The bank is treating these as Green Leases and highlights low rentals (Rs 1,598 per Rs 100,000 for a seven-year Super Leasing).

Sri Lanka stocks fell 0.76% after the NPP failed to secure a majority in local government polls, with the ASPI closing 119.99 points lower at 15,841.60. Blue-chip names and most banks led declines and buying interest was weak in export-oriented stocks.

Hayleys PLC's Rs.7 billion senior unsecured redeemable debenture issue was fully subscribed on opening day (base Rs.5bn plus Rs.2bn oversubscription). The AAA (lka)-rated debentures offer three- and five-year fixed and a five-year floating option; proceeds will re-profile short-term debt.

Colombo stocks rose 0.28% as the ASPI closed at 15,961.59 after the exchange shut early at 12:30pm for local government voting. Major banks were mixed—Sampath, Commercial, DFCC and NDB gained while HNB and Seylan fell—and turnover dropped to 1.4 billion rupees.

Colombo stock market opened higher as the ASPI rose 0.41% (up 65 pts) to 15,917; turnover was about Rs.2.0bn while foreigners were net sellers with a Rs.262.5mn outflow. Market momentum was driven by blue-chips and mid-caps, with notable activity in capital goods and food & beverage names.

Sri Lanka’s ASPI rose 0.41% to 15,916.69 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.57% to 4,664.82 as bank and mid-cap stocks strengthened ahead of local elections; HNB, Sampath, Commercial Bank, DFCC, NDB, John Keells and Lanka Milk Foods all closed higher.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon will open a Representative Office in the Dubai International Financial Centre after receiving a DFSA licence and will commence operations shortly. The office will serve clients in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives, promoting the bank's brand and supporting trade and regional client services.

NCGIL issued its first guarantees to Commercial Bank (COMB), Hatton National Bank (HNB) and Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) to partly cover MSME loans under a new ADB-funded program (USD 50m), offering guarantees currently up to 67% of principal.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) has received a DFSA licence to open a Representative Office in the Dubai International Financial Centre and will commence operations shortly. The office will serve clients in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives and support the bank's trade and regional expansion.

NCGIL began operations and issued its first guarantees to Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank and Citizens Development Business Finance to partly cover loans to three MSMEs; the ADB-funded, GOSL-backed vehicle has USD50m funding and offers guarantees up to 67% for term loans (LKR 0.5m–25m).

Hayleys PLC plans to raise up to Rs.7 billion via a listed five-year debenture issue (initial tranche Rs.5bn: 50 million debentures at Rs.100; optional additional 20m), with HNB Investment Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon as joint placement agents. The issue is rated 'AAA (lka)' and subscriptions open 5 May.

The SEC, with ADB technical support, released a regulatory framework enabling issuance and trading of Green, Blue, Social and Sustainability‑Linked (GSS+) bonds on the Colombo Stock Exchange, allowing sovereigns and corporates to raise capital for environmental and social projects.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) opened a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre, becoming the first Sri Lankan bank with a UAE presence. The DIFC office will serve as a contact point for clients from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives and support trade and cross-border services.

ASPI rose 0.33% to 15,851.74 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.12% to 4,638.29, with John Keells Holdings the top negative contributor. Banking stocks were mostly negative (HNB, Sampath, Commercial, NDB down; DFCC, NTB up) and exporters showed mixed moves (Teejay, Hayleys Fabric, Dipped Products, Haycarb).

ASPI rose 51.80 points (0.33%) to 15,851.74 as turnover hit Rs. 5.9bn, driven by Rs. 2bn crossings in C T Holdings and Cargills. Pan Asia Banking, C T Holdings, DFCC, Melstacorp and Nations Trust were top contributors while John Keells, HNB, Commercial Bank, NDB and Access Engineering weighed on the index.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon will co-sponsor New Zealand’s Under-85KG rugby tour of Sri Lanka in May 2025, backing a two-match series and an environmental initiative to plant 1,223 endangered trees.

Colombo market ended a four-day winning streak as the ASPI fell 0.4% (67 points) to 15,800 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.6%. Turnover was Rs.2.37bn; banking, diversified financials and Food & Beverage led declines, and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.90.6m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.31% to 15,818.77 ahead of local elections, led by selling in banking counters such as Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank; export-linked stocks including Hayleys, Teejay Lanka, Haycarb and Dipped Products also slipped.