News & market updates

Dialog Axiata PLC has appointed Tarun Kumar (National Head, Sales & Distribution, Bharti Airtel) as a Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director effective 31 July 2026. Bharti Airtel holds a 10.36% stake in Dialog; Axiata Investments (Labuan) Ltd holds 73.75%.

Sri Lanka's top 100 brands rose 17% to a combined Rs652bn, surpassing the 2019 peak of Rs630bn, says Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report. Banking accounted for 42% (Rs275bn) of the total; BOC remained most valuable while Commercial Bank, Sampath, Nations Trust, Dialog, Keells and PickMe all saw brand value gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading higher midday: ASPI up 0.13% (26.86 pts) at 21,175.57 and S&P SL20 up 0.23% at 5,959.94, with retailing leading turnover at LKR 1.029 billion. Seylan Bank reported Q2 profit attributable to equity holders of LKR 3.21 billion, up 16.31% y/y.

Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report shows the combined value of the nation's top 100 brands rose 17% to a record LKR652 billion, surpassing the 2019 peak; banking brands account for 42% (LKR275bn). Several listed firms including Commercial Bank, Dialog, Sampath, Nations Trust, PickMe and John Keells recorded brand-value gains.

Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report: the combined brand value of the top 100 Sri Lankan brands rose 17% to a record Rs. 652 billion, surpassing the 2019 peak. Banking brands account for 42% (Rs. 275bn) of the total; several banks and digital brands posted double-digit gains.

Colombo bourse traded mixed midday with the ASPI down 0.12% to 21,203.70 and market turnover at Rs200.5mn, led by capital goods (Rs58.5mn). Commercial Bank said its Basel III subordinated debentures will be listed on July 30, 2026; JAT Holdings declared a final dividend of Rs0.72 (ex-div Aug 7, 2026).

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI rose 0.56% to 21,306.64, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp, PGP Glass, Commercial Bank and Kelani Cables while Vidullanka fell. R I L Property disclosed public shareholding is 46.1071% after prior miscalculations.

SLT Group CEO Riyaaz Rasheed warned that Sri Lankan corporates and government bodies underinvest in cybersecurity and urged earlier spending as AI-driven 'agentic' threats rise. He also flagged semiconductor shortages, energy costs and talent shortfalls as constraints on telecom investment.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, ASPI up 0.07% to 21,187.22 with turnover of 2.07 billion rupees; capital goods led turnover at 866 million rupees.

Sri Lanka Brand Conclave 2026 will be held on 28 July at Cinnamon Grand to bring global brand leaders and local senior executives together; senior marketing leaders from Singer (SINS.N0000) and Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) will participate in sessions on AI, digital transformation and brand leadership.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.57% (up 120.83 pts) to 21,293.57 at midday, with market turnover LKR 264 million and capital goods leading turnover at LKR 80.9 million. Ceylon Cold Stores reported June-quarter profit of LKR 1.063 billion, down 3% year-on-year.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.22% (47.45 pts) to 21,160.65 with turnover Rs 3.28bn, led by food & staples retailing and large crossings dominated by Cargills. Dialog, John Keells, Aitken Spence and Lanka Ashok Leyland were top gainers while Ceylinco Insurance, Harischandra Mills and HNB were top losers.

ASPI fell 0.92% (197.31 pts) to 21,208.10, its lowest in over three months, with 193 counters down and market turnover at around Rs.2.6bn. DIAL, COMB, RICH, JKH and CARS were the major contributors to the decline.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI was up 0.06% at midday (13.19 pts to 21,221.29) with market turnover LKR 358.7m and Food, Beverage & Tobacco leading turnover at LKR 201.3m. Positive contributors included John Keells, Dialog, Aitken Spence and Browns; HNB, DFCC and Ceylon Grain were top negatives; Tess Agro listed 125,000,000 shares effective July 21, 2026.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.80% as the All Share Price Index closed at 21,234.81 amid escalating West Asia tensions and rising oil prices. Top decliners included Dialog Axiata and Commercial Bank, with market flows shifting from equities to fixed income amid higher interest rates.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 0.72% to 21,250.49 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.66% to 5,960.20; turnover was 325 million rupees. Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000 down 1.10 to 43.10) and Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000 down 1.75 to 202) weighed on the index.

CSE indices fell sharply — ASPI down 197.31 points to 21,208.10 and S&P SL20 down 56.46 to 5,943.22 — despite turnover rising to Rs.2.63bn. Turnover was driven by crossings in CT Holdings (Rs.561m), Cargills (Rs.544.95m) and Lanka Milk Foods (Rs.232m), while price losses in Dialog, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Carson Cumberbatch led the ASPI decline.

HNB General Insurance appointed Lakshman Silva as Non-Executive/Nominee Director and Sandra De Zoysa as Independent/Non-Executive Director to its board. The appointments are intended to strengthen governance and drive digital/CX transformation as the insurer scales its platforms and customer service architecture.

Miwayz launched on July 12 with over 25,000 pre-registered drivers and passengers and announced strategic partnerships with Dialog Axiata (Dialog Touch payment integration and fuel vouchers) and TVS, plus a 0% commission driver model and passenger discounts.

Colombo bourse snapped a three-day decline as the ASPI rose 0.14% to 21,447.57 with turnover near Rs.1.5bn and foreign net selling of Rs.26.9m; gains were led by DIAL, HAYC, CFIN, JKH and CTHR.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.03% to 21,417.80, extending a third straight day of losses on profit taking and net foreign outflows of Rs.36.7m. Banking led turnover (27%) while Haycarb, Chevron Lubricants, John Keells and Hayleys were among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI gained 0.39% (83.87 pts) to 21,508.86, with banks leading turnover at Rs 41.8 million. Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company proposed a first and final dividend of Rs 25 per share for the year ended March 31.

Sri Lanka Brand Conclave 2026 will be held on 28 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, featuring global marketing speakers and sessions on AI, creativity and digital transformation, with marketing leaders from Singer Sri Lanka and Dialog Axiata participating.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.27% to 21,473.27 at midday, while the S&P SL20 was down 0.04% to 6,019.55. BPPL Holdings said subsidiary Beira Brush will acquire Ravi Industries' customer base and the "Ravi" trademark for a minimum 300 million rupees payable over five years tied to revenue.

Dialog Enterprise (Dialog Axiata PLC) renewed its strategic partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters to accelerate digital transformation for Sri Lankan exporters. The collaboration will deliver converged connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, data analytics, AI and IoT solutions and provide workshops targeting SME exporters.

Dialog Enterprise (part of Dialog Axiata PLC) renewed its strategic partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters to provide digital transformation tools — including cloud, cybersecurity, data analytics, AI and IoT — to strengthen Sri Lankan exporters, with a focus on SME exporters.

Dialog Axiata's Dialog Enterprise renewed its partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters to provide digital tools — including connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, data analytics, AI and IoT — and training to help Sri Lankan exporters, especially SMEs, boost competitiveness.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Friday as the ASPI rose 0.31% (67.84 pts) to 21,765.56, ending a week-long losing streak; turnover was 2 billion rupees. Top positive contributors were Ceylon Cold Stores, Haycarb and Dialog Axiata.

Colombo Stock Exchange picked up midday; ASPI rose 0.32% to 21,768.20 and S&P SL200 gained 0.36% to 6,088.29. Turnover was 905 million rupees and top positive contributors were John Keells Holdings, Haycarb and Dialog Axiata.

The ASPI fell 0.61% (133.80 pts) to 21,828.50, extending its slide to a seventh straight session. Market turnover was Rs.2.25bn on 210.1m shares with foreign net selling of Rs.22.5m and major negative contributors including Sampath, Hayleys, Dialog, LOLC and HNB.