News & market updates

Hayleys PLC's engineering arm was appointed to deliver Continental's tyre plant expansion at Wagawatta, Kalutara under a turnkey contract signed on 21 July; the project covers civil, structural, PESB, MEP and utilities work and is expected to create about 200 jobs.

Colombo stocks closed flat with the ASPI up 0.01% at 21,132.12 and market turnover of Rs 1.41 billion; banks led turnover at Rs 411.6 million and Food, Beverage & Tobacco followed with Rs 308.7 million. Notable movers included Melstacorp, HNB, Pan Asia, Central Finance and Aitken Spence; Lanka Realty Investments disclosed an Rs 800m related-party loan settlement.

Advantis Group, the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys PLC, is the Official Logistics Partner and Platinum Sponsor of University of Moratuwa's Falcon E Racing as the team competes at Formula Student Spain 2026; a contingent of 32 students and two lecturers has departed for the event.

The Colombo market ended the week in red: ASPI fell 0.2% for the week and closed yesterday at 21,129.21 (‑0.09%), while the S&P SL20 was down 0.04% for the week. Market turnover was over Rs.4.3bn; main negative contributors were HNB, CFIN, DFCC, HAYL and LOLC, and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.955.2m.

Colombo bourse ended lower: ASPI fell 0.38% to 21,148.71 and S&P SL20 dropped 0.26% to 5,946.03. Market turnover was nearly Rs.1.1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.710,860, with SPEN, CINS, COMB, ACL and RICH among the decliners.

A 31-member Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka to explore trade and investment opportunities, meeting government officials and firms including Hayleys PLC and signing two MoUs to strengthen export and investment cooperation.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the ASPI down 0.38% to 21,148.71 and market turnover of Rs.1.094 billion; capital goods led turnover at Rs.389 million. Bogala Graphite reported an indirect change of control (shares down 2.01%) and Lankem Ceylon disclosed a Rs.500m corporate guarantee for its subsidiary (shares up 5.23%).

The CSE opened higher with the ASPI up 0.07% at 21,187.22 and the S&P SL20 up 0.10% at 5,948.74; market turnover exceeded Rs.2bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.15.7m). John Keells, Hayleys and HNB were key contributors while capital goods and banking led turnover.

Talawakelle Tea Estates' Somerset estate sold a single lot for Rs. 3,050/kg in March 2025, the highest price for the region. The estate also generated 3,622,254 kWh from its 1,100 kW hydro plant in FY2025/26 and has introduced digital weighing, cloud monitoring and drone fertiliser use.

Alumex PLC has deployed four AI and IoT-enabled innovations — including a new AI/IoT extrusion line, Golden Batch extrusion digitisation, a scrap optimisation tool, an AI knowledge hub and IoT energy monitoring — to boost export competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

CSE indices rose modestly and turnover reached Rs.2.07 billion, led by John Keells Holdings with Rs.661 million traded; ASPI closed up 14.48 pts at 21,187.22 and S&P SL20 gained 6.18 pts to 5,948.74.

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.

Hayleys PLC (via Hayleys Plantations) has partnered with UNDP BIOFIN to implement Payment for Ecosystem Services projects across its estates, covering Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations and Kelani Valley Plantations. Projects include watershed conservation, biodiversity-restoration with tourism integration and a PES model evaluation.

Hayleys Plantations, partnering with UNDP BIOFIN, is advancing Payment for Ecosystem Services projects at Talawakelle Tea Estates (Great Western, Wattagoda), Horana Plantations' Bambarakelly Estate and Kelani Valley's Halgolla Estate to fund watershed protection, biodiversity restoration and tourism-linked conservation.

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings opened Hayleys Nature Nest, Sri Lanka's first frozen concentrated coconut water manufacturing facility to produce premium concentrated coconut water for export. The facility is intended to boost value-added agricultural exports and support local coconut growers.

Hayleys PLC's transportation and logistics arm Advantis has embedded an ESG strategy (HELIOS) across its operations and launched Advantis Blue C and Advantis Green C ecosystem restoration programmes, including mangrove projects and an MoU with Horana Plantations.

Hayleys Fabric PLC won the Climate Action Award at the 3rd Global ESG & Sustainability Conference & Awards 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, recognising its measurable climate action including SBTi-validated Net Zero targets, renewable energy investments and decarbonisation initiatives.

Hayleys Plantations launched 'Regenerate', a unified ESG roadmap joining Talawakelle (TPL), Kelani Valley (KVAL) and Horana (HOPL) across 55 estates and ~14,000 ha with 2030 targets including a 42% reduction in Scope 1–3 emissions and 95% renewable-energy reliance. The plan also targets 90% regenerative agriculture, zero deforestation, 100% supplier ESG screening and digital/AI monitoring.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.24% (up 49.81 points) to 21,199.37 on Thursday, with market turnover at Rs 1.078 billion and capital goods leading turnover at Rs 317.4 million. Top positive contributors included HNB, Carson Cumberbatch, Ceylinco Holdings and NDB, while Melstacorp and Hayleys were negative contributors.

Hayleys PLC's subsidiary Sri Lanka Shipping Company Ltd. won a $17.16m contract to lease two 70-ton tug vessels to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for five years. The award followed Cabinet approval and an international competitive bidding process (amount excludes taxes and duties).

Hayleys PLC (via Hayleys Agriculture) opened Sri Lanka's first frozen concentrated coconut water manufacturing facility to produce premium concentrated coconut water for export. The investment is aimed at boosting value-added agricultural exports and supporting local coconut growers.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up 0.02% as the ASPI rose 3.83 points to 21,149.56; top positives included Seylan Bank (98.90) and PickMe, while John Keells (19.60), Hayleys (227.00) and Access Engineering (74.90) were the main detractors.

Hayleys PLC's subsidiary Hayleys Aventura commissioned Sri Lanka's first outdoor automated rotary parking system. The installation offers space-efficient automated parking for urban developments with platform retrieval within a maximum of 2.5 minutes.

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka elected Nalaka Ratnayake as Chairperson at its 29th AGM; the new Executive Committee includes representatives from CIC Holdings, Hayleys, Dipped Products, Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank and Lion Brewery. Speakers urged faster trade digitalisation, lower export costs and improved logistics to boost competitiveness.

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.

Sri Lanka stocks closed flat as the ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,426.43, with banks leading turnover at 327.4 million rupees. Haycarb, John Keells and Ceylon Cold Stores were top gainers while HNB, Central Finance and Commercial Bank were top decliners; Digital Mobility Solutions disclosed ESOP allotments and its shares closed down 0.30%.

Janathakshan, funded by The Coca‑Cola Foundation, concluded the SWYFT project (Aug 2024–May 2026), establishing five MCPCs, launching Sri Lanka's first hydro-powered MCPC with Thalawakelle Plantation (Hayleys Group), and distributing eight electric three-wheelers and 15 e-bikes.

Hayleys Fentons was recognised among Sri Lanka's Most Outstanding Mom-Inclusive Workplaces at the Mom Leaders Conference 2026; 10 employees from the organisation were honoured as Mom Leaders for their leadership and contribution.

A seminar on Beneficial Ownership compliance will be held on 22 July 2026 at The Kingsbury, Colombo to provide guidance on BO filings under the Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 and CBSL Direction 2 of 2026, highlighting the statutory BO filing deadline of 30 September 2026 and non-compliance risks.

Colombo market fell for an eighth session as ASPI dropped 0.60% (130.78 pts) to 21,697.72 amid renewed Middle East tensions, with turnover over Rs.1.4bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.91.7m. Declines were led by Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Hayleys and John Keells, while capital goods, food & beverage and banking drove turnover.