News & market updates

Dipped Products PLC reported a flat net profit of Rs 920 million in the September 2025 quarter, with pre-tax profit down 5% to Rs 1.73 billion and administrative costs up 21%. Six-month net profit rose 14% to Rs 1.8 billion, six-month EPS was Rs 43.01, interim dividends totalling Rs 0.86 were paid, and Hayleys owns 42.1%.

Hayleys PLC reported Profit Before Tax of Rs.13.33 bn for the six months to 31 Mar 2026 (up 5% y‑o‑y) with H1 revenue rising 14% to Rs.269.53 bn. The group expanded into mobility and supermarkets and acquired a substantial stake in Harischandra Mills PLC.

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.

Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC launched its ESG Roadmap 2030, "Progress Through Purpose," committing to renewable energy (solar) and GHG reductions, waste reduction and nationwide e-waste collection across 400+ outlets and broader social and governance initiatives aligned with Hayleys Lifecode and the SDGs.

Several listed firms, including Hayleys (HAYL.N0000), Aitken Spence (SPEN.N0000), Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS.N0000), Alumex (ALUM.N0000), Dipped Products (DIPD.N0000) and Lion Brewery (LION.N0000), received awards or commendations at the ISMM National Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2025.

Hayleys Fentons launched 'The Green Blueprint – ESG Roadmap 2030' on 29 September, targeting 70% clean energy use by 2030 and commitments to zero waste to landfill, biodiversity initiatives and stronger ESG governance; the programme is backed by Hayleys PLC.

Daraz Sri Lanka will run its 11.11 Biggest Sale from Nov 10 (8:00pm) to Nov 21 with discounts up to 90%, Rs.120 million in vouchers and sitewide flash deals. Participating banks (NTB, HNB, NDB, Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, Pan Asia) and brands including Hayleys will offer additional partner discounts and instalment options.

Hayleys PLC won the 32nd Singer MCA Super Premier League 2025 T20 final, defeating CDB 127–122 with Ramesh Mendis named Player of the Final. The victory gives Hayleys its second Mercantile cricket title this season and sees the company reach the finals of all three Mercantile tournaments.

DarazMall launches an Authenticity Guarantee with three-times cashback and exclusive brand deals ahead of 11.11, offering over 17 million branded items and delivery in as fast as two days.

Hayleys Solar won the SLIM Digis 2.5 Best Use of Digital in a Marketing Campaign award (Energy & Utilities) for its “Energy Peramuna” campaign, which generated over 1.2 million organic social media engagements in four days.

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka announced its inaugural Best Workplaces for Parents 2025 list, naming Hayleys Plantations among the 10 winners after surveying 64,000 employees. The study (Nov 2024–Jul 2025) used the Trust Index survey and a Culture Audit to evaluate organisations.

Voyage Sri Lanka 2025, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, concluded on 16 Oct at The Kingsbury with over 250 delegates, showcasing blue-economy opportunities in shipbuilding, offshore energy, boat building and nautical tourism and involving sponsors including Hayleys, Seylan Bank and Lanka IOC.

Cabinet approved only three wind projects on Mannar island and said those three, including Hayleys Fentons' 50 MW project (planned Dec 2026), may proceed; no further wind projects will be implemented without local consent.

Horana Plantations PLC (part of Hayleys) launched T-SHADE, a Verra-registered shade-tree carbon credit pilot that has restored 55 hectares and planted 7,094 shade trees and aims to scale to 100,000 hectares over a 40-year crediting period.

Colombo bourse closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.15% to 22,804.84 amid foreign net selling of Rs.893 million and turnover of about Rs.5.6bn; the S&P SL20 rose 0.18%. Capital goods and materials led activity with notable stock moves including Aitken Spence (-Rs.1), Hayleys (-Rs.0.75) and John Keells (+Rs.0.40).

Voyage Sri Lanka 2025, organised by the Export Development Board on 16 Oct at the Kingsbury, drew over 250 delegates from about six countries and highlighted blue-economy opportunities across shipbuilding, offshore energy (LNG, wind), fisheries and nautical tourism. Sponsors and participants included Seylan Bank, Lanka IOC and Hayleys Advantis.

Hayleys Mobility Limited launched three new-energy SUVs in Sri Lanka—the JAECOO J7 PHEV, JAECOO J6 and OMODA E5—offering EV and PHEV options with fast-charging, long ranges and multi-year warranties, backed by parent Chery Group.

The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025 will be held 2–3 December in Colombo with international speakers and sponsors/partners including Sunshine Holdings, Dialog Axiata and Hayleys, focusing on reform, investment-led growth and topics such as clean energy, logistics and tourism.

Singer Finance and Hayleys Mobility signed an MoU to provide tailored financing for newly introduced electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, giving Hayleys customers access to NEV loans with priority processing, personalised assistance and promotional incentives.

Vidullanka submitted the lowest bid of 3.77 US cents/kWh for the Ceylon Electricity Board's 2×50 MW Mullikulam wind tender; Windforce bid 3.96, Hayleys 4.17, ACL 4.33 and Aitken Spence 4.805. Bids are below the prior 4.65 cents award and reflect efforts to cut generation costs amid a weak rupee.

Hayleys PLC (Hayleys Plantations) signed an MoU with Solidaridad Network Asia and Nucleus Foundation to expand regenerative agriculture and carbon insetting across its estates, aiming to generate verified Carbon Removal Units. Kelani Valley, Talawakelle and Horana estates will scale regenagri protocols, digital tools and traceability to meet global sustainability rules.

The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025 will be held Dec 2–3 at the Shangri‑La Colombo, featuring international speakers on reform, investment, green logistics and climate finance. Event sponsors/partners include Sunshine Holdings, Hayleys (Hayleys Advantis) and Dialog.

Hayleys Plantations (Hayleys PLC) signed an MoU with Solidaridad and Nucleus Foundation to expand Regenagri® regenerative agriculture and carbon insetting across its estates, rolling the programme out at Kelani Valley, Talawakelle and Horana to boost sustainability, traceability and CRU generation.

Colombo market closed marginally up as the ASPI rose 0.26% to 22,850.95 on Rs. 9.2bn turnover, led by gains in Hayleys, Bairaha, Colombo Dockyard, Royal Ceramics, LAUGFS Gas and Dipped Products while DFCC, HNB, Commercial Bank and JKH declined; foreigners were net buyers (Rs. 13.8m).

Hayleys PLC made a mandatory offer to buy 1,140,654 ordinary shares (59.42%) of Harischandra Mills at Rs3,300 per share. Harischandra shares were trading at Rs9,200 and Hayleys had already acquired 778,946 shares (40.58%) at Rs3,300 in mid‑October.

Colombo ASPI rose 0.26% to 22,850.95 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.13% to 6,268.87; top contributors were Hayleys, Ceylon Grain Elevators, Cargills and Bairaha Farms, with market turnover at LKR 9 billion.

Hayleys PLC will enter the large-scale supermarket sector, commencing operations with 100 outlets in Phase 1. The group says the move aims to diversify earnings and leverage its logistics, manufacturing and brand reach to serve urban and suburban consumers.

The Sri Lanka–Greater Mekong Business Council held its 14th AGM and elected Nimal Ratnayake (Lanka Hospitals) as President for 2025–2026; committee seats went to firms including Aitken Spence Travels and Hayleys Advantis as the council promotes trade, tourism and sectoral collaboration (textiles, tea, IT, healthcare).