News & market updates

ASPI closed down 4 points at 12,309 while S&P SL20 rose 2 points, with turnover of Rs.1.5 billion and foreign investors net selling Rs.109.4 million. ACL, UAL and HELA were among gainers while CFIN, LMF, LIOC, HAYL, RCL and SPEN were notable losers; Capital Goods led turnover.

Hayleys Solar (Hayleys PLC) installed a 1,273 kWp grid-tied solar PV system at Martin Bauer Hayleys' tea extract facilities in Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, expected to generate 1,486 MWh/year and offset over 1 million kg CO2.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed mixed: ASPI fell 0.03% to 12,309 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.05% to 3,624, with turnover of 1.4 billion and net foreign outflow of 109 million rupees. Top gainers included Sampath Bank, ACL Cables and Hemas; laggards included Hayleys, Central Finance, Royal Ceramics and Aitken Spence, and Lanka IOC reported a 50% drop in Sept quarter profit to 2,525 million rupees.

A Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Council delegation visited Indonesia to strengthen trade and investment ties; the 14-member team included Sunshine Holdings, Hayleys, LOLC and Aitken Spence. The delegation attended the INASCA Business Forum and Trade Expo Indonesia, targeting food, health and technology opportunities.

Alumex PLC relaunched its next‑generation website featuring an OpenAI-powered virtual assistant 'Alunov' that provides personalised guidance on construction materials, regulatory compliance and product specifications. The platform is intended to simplify customer journeys and boost engagement for the Hayleys Group's construction materials arm.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.27% to 12,290 and S&P SL20 +0.17% to 3,613 on turnover of Rs 1.7 billion. Top movers included Dialog, Digital Mobility, Dipped Products, Maskeliya and Hemas, with net foreign outflow of Rs 317 million and mixed foreign buying/selling across counters.

Alumex PLC relaunched its official website (www.alumexgroup.com) with an OpenAI-powered virtual assistant 'Alunov' to provide personalized guidance on construction materials, specifications and compliance. Alumex is the flagship of the Hayleys Group, whose leadership attended the launch.

Daraz Sri Lanka launched a Choice channel in partnership with AliExpress Choice, giving shoppers access to a curated selection of over 1 million products. The channel expands to include local FMCG from Hemas and global brands distributed by Hayleys, with free delivery and 14-day returns.

Daraz Sri Lanka has launched a new AliExpress Choice channel offering over 1 million curated products and expanded its assortment to include local FMCG from Hemas and brands distributed by Hayleys, with free delivery, 14-day returns and promotional deals.

Hayleys Travels, a fully owned subsidiary of the Advantis Group (part of Hayleys PLC), marks its 40th anniversary and is positioned among Sri Lanka's top ten travel agencies. The company offers air ticketing, tours, visa and MICE services and plans further digitalisation and expansion.

Sampath Bank (SAMP) and Hayleys' renewable arm signed an MOU to offer affordable loans for rooftop Solar PV installations targeting residential, commercial and industrial customers. The scheme aims to let customers pay monthly installments lower than current electricity bills, with projected free electricity benefits over 20 years.

Hayleys PLC and John Keells Holdings are platinum sponsors of CA Sri Lanka's 45th National Conference, held 14–16 October. Other shortlist companies sponsoring the event include Nations Trust Bank (exclusive banking partner), Nawaloka Hospitals PLC (exclusive healthcare partner), LB Finance, Capital Alliance, DIMO, Sunshine, C. W. Mackie and Lanka IOC.

Voyage Sri Lanka 2024, a marine and offshore services conference, will be held on 26 November 2024 at Hotel Kingsbury Colombo and registration is open. The event will spotlight the blue economy and lists partners/sponsors including Colombo Dockyard and Hayleys Advantis.

Colombo Bourse closed marginally higher (ASPI +12) with net foreign inflows of Rs.267m, led by strong foreign buying in John Keells (JKH: net +Rs.132.7m; JKH up Rs.4.50 to Rs.198.25). Turnover was Rs.1.6bn; capital goods (via JKH), banking and F&B were top turnover contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.10% to 12,164 and S&P SL20 +0.20% to 3,600, turnover Rs1.5bn and net foreign inflow Rs267m. Top turnover included John Keells, Hayleys, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and Nations Trust; top foreign flows varied across names.

Sarath Ganegoda, an Executive Director of Hayleys PLC, has been appointed Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, replacing Ashok Pathirage. A new Board of Directors for the national carrier has also been appointed.

Jonathan Alles has been appointed to the Board of Hayleys PLC as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Alles is a former MD/CEO of Hatton National Bank with over 37 years' banking experience and was recently appointed to the boards of United Motors Lanka, Ceylon Beverage Holdings and Lion Brewery.

Sarath Ganegoda has been appointed Chairman of SriLankan Airlines effective today; he currently serves as Group Executive Director of Hayleys PLC and Deputy Chairman of Alumex PLC.

Colombo bourse saw net foreign inflows of Rs. 339.1 mn while the ASPI fell 19 points on turnover of Rs. 2.1 bn. John Keells drew the most foreign buying and led turnover, banks (Sampath, DFCC) weighed on the index and AGPL rose 9.8% after a dividend.

The Sri Lanka Logistics & Freight Forwarders’ Association will hold the National Logistics Awards on 23 October at the Shangri‑La Colombo; CL Synergy is the main sponsor and Gold sponsors include Aitken Spence Maritime and Hayleys Advantis.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, the All Share Index fell 0.16% to 12,152 with turnover Rs 2.1bn and a net foreign outflow of Rs 339m; top foreign buying included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, ACL Cables, Melstacorp and Elpitiya Plantations, and Agarapatana Plantations suspended trading after announcing a Rs1 dividend.

Colombo's ASPI rose about 6 points to 12,171 as turnover was Rs.1.4bn, led by Commercial Bank, Hayleys and John Keells. Hayleys (+4.5%) and John Keells (+2.5%) were major index movers while banking counters saw profit-taking (Sampath down) and foreigners net sold Rs.21.4m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up, with the All Share Index rising 0.05% to 12,171 and the S&P SL20 up 0.14% to 3,595. Turnover was 1.3 billion, top turnover generators included Commercial Bank, Hayleys, John Keells and Sampath Bank, and there was a net foreign outflow of 21 million rupees.

Hayleys Fabric PLC received the ZDHC Torchbearer Award for sustainable chemical management at the ZDHC South Asia conference in Chennai on 25 September. It is the first Sri Lankan textile manufacturer to win the award and has been a ZDHC signatory since 2021.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 0.92% to 12,164 and S&P SL20 gained 1.34% to 3,590, led by banking stocks which accounted for Rs 1.4bn of turnover; top contributors included C T Holdings, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Bank.

Hayleys PLC's renewable arm Hayleys Solar launched a children's storybook 'Sunflower and the Bee' in Sinhala, Tamil and English, releasing up to 10,000 copies at the BMICH International Book Fair to mark World Children's Day. A digital version and animations voiced by employees' children were also released.

Colombo's ASPI fell 4 points to 11,930 as the market stayed bearish, with S&P SL20 down 26 points (0.7%), turnover Rs.1.3bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.18m. Major negatives were HNB, SAMP, COMB, HAYL and JKH while CINS and PKME (PickMe) were among gainers; Commercial Credit and Lankem also rose.

Colombo market cooled after 11 straight gains as the ASPI fell about 59 points (0.5%) on turnover of Rs.2.3bn, with banks contributing 59% of turnover. Sampath, Commercial and Hatton National rose, while Vallibel One and Nations Trust fell; JKH, LOLC, NDB, Hayleys and DFCC weighed on the index.

Dhammika Perera is re-joining the corporate sector by re-joining the boards of Hayleys PLC (re-appointed as Non-Executive Director and Co-Chairman) and is expected to return to Vallibel One PLC this week, where he is the largest shareholder.