News & market updates

Dividend · Rs 28.00 · XD Feb 27, 2026

Fourth Interim dividend of LKR 28/share; XD 2026-02-27; record 2026-03-02; payable 2026-03-19; FY ended 31st December 2025

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.22% (52.82 pts) to 23,734.50, driven by high-net-worth crossings that made up 49.4% of turnover (COMB contributed Rs.3.2bn); market turnover was Rs.8.24bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.1.3bn.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI dropped 0.38% (91.22 pts) to 23,900.89 with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.20.9m. Top negatives included Senkadagala Finance, Ceylon Tobacco, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and C T Holdings while Prime Lands Residencies gained.

EFC's National Best Employer Awards 2025 honoured SPEN.N0000, COMB.N0000, DIAL.N0000, HNB.N0000, HAYL.N0000, HHL.N0000, JKH.N0000 and others as Best Employer winners; honourable mentions included CTC.N0000, LLUB.N0000 and LION.N0000.

Aggregate profits of 273 listed companies fell 12% YoY to Rs.176.5 billion in Sep-25, ending a seven-quarter growth streak. Banks (Rs.52bn, +39% YoY) and diversified financials (Rs.39bn, +112% YoY) underpinned a QoQ rebound, while food, beverage & tobacco and capital goods posted steep declines.

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 Stock Exchange closed marginally lower: ASPI fell 0.01% to 23,459.75 and S&P SL20 fell 0.34% to 6,435.93. Top negatives included Melstacorp, Sampath Bank, Diesel & Motor Engineering and Hayleys; Dipped Products posted a Sept-quarter net profit of LKR 920m and rose, while Ceylon Tobacco said volumes fell and its stock dipped.

Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC.N0000) said volumes fell in the September 2025 quarter after higher taxes, reporting earnings of 6.98 billion rupees (36.77 rupees/share), down from 7.70 billion a year earlier. Turnover rose to 52.79 billion rupees and profit before tax improved to 13.73 billion rupees, while income tax rose to 6.8 billion rupees after cigarette taxes were raised.

Dividend · Rs 37.00 · XD Nov 21, 2025

Third Interim dividend of LKR 37/share; XD 2025-11-21; record 2025-11-23; payable 2025-12-11; FY 2025

Aitken Spence's Western Power incinerated two seized cigarette consignments (1,680 kg and 7,260 kg), destroying an estimated LKR 1.126 billion of illicit goods and generating over 3,584 kWh of electricity which was supplied to the national grid.

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.

LOLC sold part of its stake in Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PickMe) while foreign fund Tundra increased buying; PickMe dominated turnover with Rs.1 billion on 23.4 million shares and closed at Rs.132.75 (up Rs.0.50). Several other listed names saw notable turnover and mixed price moves.

The Colombo ASPI fell 1.11% to 20,674.11, dragged down by declines in CTC, JKH, Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata and HNB.

The Colombo market closed with the ASPI at 20,992, up 16 points, on turnover of Rs.5.6 billion; weekly ASPI and S&P SL20 fell 0.03% and 1.19% respectively. Property, capital-goods and consumer services stocks led turnover while select hotels and developers saw mixed flows and sizable corporate stake transactions were reported.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed up 0.08% (16.25 pts) at 20,991 on Thursday with turnover Rs 5.66bn, led by capital goods (Rs 1bn), consumer services (Rs 895m) and real estate (Rs 790m); top contributors included RIL Property, Ceylon Tobacco, Prime Lands Residencies and John Keells.

Colombo Bourse fell as investors took profits, with the ASPI down 72 pts to 20,991 and turnover of Rs. 7.5bn (foreign net inflow Rs. 97m). Declines were led by CTC, SAMP, NDB and COMB while Alumex, Sierra Cables and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings posted gains.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.34% (71.78 pts) to 20,990.67, weighed down by declines in Ceylon Tobacco, Commercial Bank, National Development Bank, John Keells and DFCC; turnover was LKR 7.53 billion.

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.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.68% to 20,753.21, led by gains in capital goods and diversified financials; top contributors were Access Engineering (up 2.60 to 60.50), Vallibel One (up 3.80 to 93.80), Ceylon Tobacco (up 24.25 to 1,641.75) and Royal Ceramics (up 1.40 to 46.40).

Colombo market closed marginally higher as ASPI rose 0.01% to 19,976 on turnover of Rs.4.46bn with net foreign inflow of Rs.498.3mn. Transportation led turnover driven by Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PKME) which rose to Rs.105.75, while AMF, LVEF, HNB, CTC, LLUB and BERU saw notable activity.

Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC.N0000) said June-quarter volumes recovered to 490 million sticks and quarterly profit rose 2% to 7.3 billion rupees (EPS 39.32). Six-month profit was 14.04 billion rupees (EPS 74.97) and revenues rose ~9.5% to 55.1 billion rupees; the company did not give reasons for the volume increase.

Colombo's ASPI closed flat at 19,975.50 while the S&P SL20 dipped 0.19% to 5,815.64. Ceylon Tobacco said June-quarter volumes recovered to 490 million sticks and profits rose 2% to 7.3 billion rupees, while Haycarb's June profit fell 30% to 517 million rupees.

Dividend · Rs 41.00 · XD Aug 21, 2025

Second Interim dividend of LKR 41/share; XD 2025-08-21; record 2025-08-21; payable 2025-09-10; FY 2025

Colombo market extended its positive streak to nine days as the ASPI rose about 34 points (0.17%) on turnover of Rs.5.28 billion. Key contributors included MELS, SEYB, CTC, ACL and SAMP; ACL rose Rs.6.50 while Access Engineering fell 30 cents, and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.36.2m.

Colombo bourse closed marginally higher as the ASPI rose 0.17% to 19,566.15, led by capital goods and bank stocks. John Keells reported a Rs.803.7mn loss in the June quarter and Ceylon Cold Stores' June-quarter net fell 7% to Rs.1,092.7mn.

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.

Dhammika Perera acquired a 77% stake in East West Properties for about Rs.3.2bn (off‑board at Rs.30.20), lifting EAST to Rs.31.80 as crossings drove turnover to Rs.8.88bn; ASPI fell 10 points. Banking names (Sampath, Commercial Bank, HNB) and diversified stocks also saw heavy activity while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.561mn.

Markets fell as Sri Lanka awaited a US tariff letter: ASPI down 0.06% to 18,032 and S&P SL20 down 0.34% to 5,321. Stocks weighed down included John Keells, C T Holdings, HNB, Royal Ceramics and Ceylon Tobacco; exporters Haycarb, Hayleys Fabric and Teejay Lanka slid while Dipped Products rose.