News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on May 29, 2026, with the ASPI up 111.57 points to 22,310.80 and turnover at Rs.7.37 billion, driven by a ~400m-share block of HNB Finance (Rs.3.52bn) sold by Prime Lands. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Hemas were among the main positive contributors.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.50% to 22,309.23 midday Friday, with turnover Rs.240.5m and capital goods leading turnover at Rs.94.3m. Top movers included Access Engineering, Aitken Spence (declared Rs.4 tax-exempt dividend), Hemas and Central Finance while SMB Finance, Watawala, John Keells and Windforce fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.54% to 22,294.71 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.61%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Ceylon Cold Stores, NDB and Bairaha Farms while Hemas, Lion Brewery and Sampath Bank lagged; Jetwing Symphony declared a final dividend of Rs0.50 and closed at Rs14.30 (+2.88%).

Hemas Holdings reported a 17.6% rise in profit to Rs 3.03 billion for the March 2026 quarter. Consolidated revenue rose 3.9% to Rs 31.54 billion, with healthcare the largest contributor and a final dividend of Rs 0.75 per share approved.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, with the ASPI up 1.98% to 22,364.77, as rupee stabilisation and lower interest rates boosted investor confidence. Ceylon Cold Stores and Hemas posted strong quarterly profits and John Keells declared a final dividend; Dialog, Commercial Bank and Sampath gained while hSenid and Dipped Products fell.

Hemas Holdings (HHL) reported record earnings: Group earnings of Rs.3.03Bn in Q4 (+17.6% YoY) and Rs.8.92Bn for FY26 (+10.7% YoY) on FY26 revenue of Rs.127.4Bn (+8.0%). The group is reinvesting into digital, manpower and healthcare expansion, compressing EBITDA/EBIT margins but delivering higher net profit margin and EPS.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.96% (430.21 pts) to 22,359.85 on Monday, with the S&P SL20 up 1.93%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hemas; Ceylon Cold Stores reported Q1 profit up 75% to Rs 3.76bn and LVL Energy Fund's rights issue was oversubscribed.

Hemas Holdings (HHL) reported record FY2025/26 results with group earnings of Rs.8.92 bn (up 10.7% YoY) and revenue of Rs.127.4 bn (up 8%). The group has earmarked over $100m for investments over the next four years and expects an FY27 acquisition to raise international revenue to 10% from 3%.

Hemas Holdings will issue up to 33.5 million shares (1.12% of issued) under a proposed Employee Share Option Scheme. Current stated capital is Rs.7.99bn (2.99bn shares); total ESOS/ESOP issuance capped at 5% and the plan requires exchange and shareholder approval.

ASPI surged 435.13 points (1.98%) to 22,364.77 with turnover of Rs.2.42 billion, driven by broad domestic buying; top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath Bank and Hemas Holdings, and market cap rose to Rs.8.11 trillion.

Dividend · Rs 0.75 · XD Jun 30, 2026

Final dividend of LKR 0.75/share; XD 2026-06-30; record 2026-06-30; payable 2026-07-17; FY ended 31.03.2026

The ASPI fell 2.59% (592.28 points) to 22,313.47 — its third-largest single-day points decline — as the CSE closed sharply lower with turnover nearly Rs.4.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.114.3m. Key negative contributors included John Keells, RIL Property, Hayleys, Commercial Bank and Colombo Dockyard while capital goods and banking sectors led turnover and losses.

Colombo stock market edged down 0.09% to close at 22,899.53 (ASPI down 20.79 pts). Turnover was Rs.2.62bn with foreign investors net selling Rs.116m; top negative contributors included Dialog, Hemas, HNB, LOLC and Colombo Dockyard.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, the ASPI dipped 0.09% to 22,899. Vallibel Finance listed 29,431,675 ordinary voting shares from its rights issue, raising 2,119,080,600 rupees.

Morison, a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, says its Homagama facility began commercial manufacturing in 2022 and it is pursuing EU‑GMP accreditation to enable exports. The company manufactures ~60 products, subjects every batch to 20+ tests, and was named LMD's 2024 Most Respected Entity in pharma.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally higher, ASPI up 0.02% at 23,015.32 with turnover of Rs.3.66 billion. Real estate and transportation led turnover (Rs.495.2m and Rs.485.2m) and Abans Finance listed Rs.1.34bn five-year debentures; its shares rose 3.47%.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: ASPI -0.23% to 23,011.72 and S&P SL20 -0.30%, with turnover Rs.4.92bn and banks leading at Rs.3.04bn. Movers included Melstacorp, Hemas and CDB up while Ceylinco Insurance, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard fell; Laugfs Power commissioned a 2MW mini-hydro and ACME proposed a capital reduction (EGM Jun 11).

Colombo Stock Exchange was flat at midday: ASPI up 0.01% to 23,065 while banks led turnover at Rs.2.85 billion. Top movers included CDB (+4.65%), JKH (+0.49%), HHL (+1.21%) and NTB (+1.08%), while HAYL, COMB and DFCC fell.

ASPI fell 0.49% (110.70 pts) to 22,584.30 as Middle East tensions dented sentiment; turnover was over Rs.2.1bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.42m. CINS, CTHR, HHL and SAMP were top negative contributors while COMB, LFIN, PKME, ACL, REEF, GRAN and JKH featured among active names.

CSE All Share Index fell 0.49% (110.70 pts) to 22,584 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.31% to 6,225 as brokers said Middle East escalation spurred retail selling. Bank counters saw selling, turnover was Rs 2.15bn with crossings in JKH, COMB, LLUB and LFIN, and Colombo Dockyard narrowed its quarterly loss to Rs 428.1m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up, ASPI +0.07% to 22,635, with diversified financials leading turnover (Rs 1.98bn) helped by the debut of Janashakthi; total market turnover was Rs 4.19bn.

The EPF's listed equity portfolio rose 27% to Rs. 188.85 billion at end-2025. The fund cut holdings from 65 to 59, fully exited six counters (Cargills Bank, Ceylon Hotels, Colombo Dockyard, Jetwing Symphony, LAUGFS Gas, Sierra Cables) and added Hemas (40m shares); gains were led by banks and diversified stocks.

Colombo stocks rose 0.25% as foreign investors turned net buyers after a 21-session selling streak, recording a net inflow of Rs. 19.8 million and lifting the ASPI 55.45 points to 22,625.48. Top contributors included CINS, BUKI, CFIN, MELS and NHL, while consumer services led turnover and oil price moderation supported sentiment.

EPF fully exited holdings in six CSE-listed companies in 2025 — Cargills Bank, Ceylon Hotels, Colombo Dockyard, Jetwing Symphony, LAUGFS Gas and Sierra Cables — and made one new investment, buying 40 million shares in Hemas Holdings; its listed equity count fell from 65 to 59.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up as the ASPI rose 0.82% to 22,773.29 on Apr 17, 2026, led by gains in Central Finance (+5.83%), Hemas (+5.06%), Hayleys (+2.17%) and C T Holdings (+4.14%); NDB (-2.11%), HNB (-0.54%) and Commercial Bank (-0.47%) were top decliners.

Colombo Stock Exchange was up midday as the ASPI rose 0.65% to 22,735.61 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.51% to 6,262.75, with turnover at Rs 2bn. Top movers included Central Finance, Hayleys, Hemas and Browns Investments (up) while NDB, Melstacorp and HNB lagged; Commercial Bank listed scrip-dividend shares and Browns Beach Hotels will resume trading Apr 17–27.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose with the ASPI up 0.85% to 22,451.60 as global markets rallied. Top contributors included Carson Cumberbatch, Royal Ceramics, John Keells and Hemas while LOLC, DFCC and Singer were negatives; Hatton National Bank announced listings of 4,249,706 voting and 1,251,268 non-voting shares.

ASPI fell 1.2% (258.31 pts) for the week and the S&P SL20 dropped 2% (124.30 pts); market turnover was about Rs.1.77bn with net foreign outflows of Rs.68.2m, while breadth was positive and activity was led by capital goods, banks, materials and food & beverage names.

Morison, a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, invested LKR 4 billion in a world‑class Pitipana manufacturing facility and is shifting focus to build branded, high‑quality affordable pharmaceuticals with EU‑GMP targets and export ambitions. Management cites policy, regulatory consistency and tax reforms as key enablers for long‑term viability.

ASPI fell 1.63% to 21,998.12 as Middle East tensions and higher oil prices weighed on the Colombo market. S&P SL20 dropped 1.71% to 6,172.28 with broad declines led by JKH, HNB, MELS, HAYL and SAMP; turnover topped Rs.4.1bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.32.2m.