News & market updates

Sri Lanka's stock market fell after Israel bombed Iran, with the ASPI down 1.33% to 17,427.08 and the S&P SL20 down 1.58% to 5,191.86. Heavyweights HNB, DFCC, Sampath, John Keells and Melstacorp declined and helped drive the sell-off as oil prices rose on geopolitical tensions.

Vidullanka PLC launched Sri Lanka’s first listed Sukuk, raising Rs. 500 million with subscriptions opening 17 June. The SEC- and CSE-approved issue (backed by its mini hydropower plant and Fitch A+(lka)) will settle Rs. 400m of short-term debt and offers fixed and AWPLR-linked return options.

ASPI rose 0.9% to lift its YTD return to 10.74% as turnover reached Rs.5.68 billion led by LVEF (Rs.500m), RCL (Rs.304m) and TILE (Rs.269m), with banking and capital‑goods/construction counters among the session’s key drivers.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.90% to 17,657.60, led by John Keells (JKH) and gains in major banks HNB, NDB, DFCC and Sampath, with turnover of LKR5.6bn. Export‑exposed names were mixed — Dipped Products and Haycarb fell while Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fabric gained.

HNB (Hatton National Bank) has partnered with Mediccon Health Care to provide leasing solutions for advanced medical diagnostic equipment across Sri Lanka, aiming to expand access for healthcare providers.

Colombo market sustained an all-time high as the ASPI closed at 17,500.24, up 105.79 points (+0.61%) with turnover Rs.2.85bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.19.3m. Banking-led activity and retail buying drove gains, with Hayleys Fabric, Ceylinco, Ceylon Cold Stores, HNB and Ceylon Tobacco among top drivers.

ASPI crossed the 17,500 mark for the first time, closing at 17,500.24 after a 105.79-point (0.61%) gain; S&P SL20 rose to 5,208.95 and turnover was Rs. 2.85bn, led by Hayleys, Ceylinco Holdings, Ceylon Cold Stores, Hatton National Bank and Ceylon Tobacco.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.61% to 17,500.24 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.64% to 5,208.95, led by gains in Hayleys, Ceylinco Holdings, Ceylon Cold Stores, HNB and Ceylon Tobacco amid retail buying and lower interest rates.

HNB PLC launched a ZeroPlastic Commitment Certification pilot at HNB Towers, achieved carbon-neutral certification under ISO 14064-1:2018, and will be the Platinum Sponsor and Official Banking Partner of ICPIES 2025 to advance plastic reduction and sustainability initiatives.

DFCC Bank says Sri Lanka banks are using excess US dollar balances to finance Indian firms via syndicated loans and GIFT City, with Hatton National, NDB, Seylan, Pan Asia, Commercial Bank and Sampath participating (e.g., Satin Creditcare's $100m GIFT City loan).

Alpha Fire Services PLC sold 22.15 million shares (58% stake) to new buyers at Rs.10 per share on June 2, 2025. HNB Investment Bank/Stockbrokers acted as manager/advisor across the listing, rights issue and share restructuring as AFS’s market cap rose from ~Rs.32M at listing to over Rs.500M and public holding to 24.74%.

Colombo market stayed at an all-time high as the ASPI rose 82 points (0.47%) on turnover of Rs.5.6bn, led by heavy activity in John Keells, Hemas, Browns Investments, People’s Leasing and Lanka Milk Foods; foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.41.4mn and capital goods and diversified financials led turnover.

ASPI rose 81.89 points to a record 17,434.94, extending its rally to a 12th straight session led by John Keells, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, Lion Brewery and Dipped Products. Market turnover was Rs.5.59bn and the S&P SL20 gained 34.13 pts to 5,193.79.

Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index rose 0.47% to 17,434.94 for a third straight session, led by John Keells, Sampath Bank, HNB, Lion Brewery and Dipped Products. Market breadth was broadly positive with low interest rates, strong corporate earnings and PMI support; turnover was Rs 5.59bn.

Daraz Sri Lanka will run its 6.6 Mid-Year Sale from June 6–10 with discounts up to 85%, free shipping and over Rs.20 million in vouchers. Several banks — Commercial Bank, DFCC, Nations Trust, NDB, Sampath and Hatton National — are payment partners offering extra savings and instalment plans.

ASPI rose 234 points (1.4%) to 17,214 on turnover of Rs.7.37bn, led by banking stocks with HNB, SAMP and COMB among top contributors. Turnover was 72% above the monthly average and foreigners recorded a net outflow of about Rs.273.6m.

HNB PLC has partnered with Toyota Lanka to provide flexible leasing solutions for commercial and private vehicles, formalised on May 19, 2025. Customers will benefit from fast-tracked approvals, personalised repayment options and comprehensive aftersales support via HNB's branch network and Toyota dealerships.

Colombo's ASPI rose 1.38% to 17,214.39, hitting an all-time high led by gains in banking stocks including Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, Central Finance and HNB. Turnover rose to 7.3 billion and the S&P SL20 closed up 1.91%.

Colombo bourse opened June higher as ASPI rose 0.74% (125 pts) and S&P SL20 gained 1%, with turnover Rs.5.8bn and foreigners net selling ~Rs.3bn. Top turnover leaders were Access Engineering, Capital Alliance, Panasian Power, Commercial Credit and Alpha Fire, with banks and capital-goods stocks driving the rally.

Colombo ASPI rose 0.74% to 16,979.89 on Monday, led by gains in banking shares including Sampath Bank, DFCC Bank, NDB and HNB, with Access Engineering also among top contributors. Turnover was Rs 5.8bn and the S&P SL20 gained 1.07% to 5,034.92.

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded in May with the ASPI up 6.68% and the S&P SL20 up 7.28%, the best monthly gains since October 2024; average daily turnover rose to Rs.4.2bn and net foreign inflow was Rs.136mn. The month included a major Rs.14bn deal where Ceylon Steel bought a 9.9% stake in HNB from Browns Investments.

HNB Assurance Group reported Rs. 8.0 billion GWP in Q1 2025, up 30% YoY, with group profit rising 28% to surpass Rs. 300 million. Life GWP was Rs. 4.5bn (36% growth) and General Insurance GWP Rs. 3.6bn (23%), while the group readies for SLFRS 17 and digital rollouts.

HNB PLC launched TxB TradeX, a 24/7 digital trade finance platform with IFINITY and Finastra to digitize letters of credit, shipping guarantees, bill processing, SLPA payments and ASYCUDA settlements. The platform targets large corporates to SMEs and will be rolled out with simplified onboarding and training for HNB trade clients.

HNB General Insurance senior managers Ruwan Weerasinghe and Suranga Rosa were named Great Managers at the 2024 Great Manager Awards. The company also noted being named Sri Lanka’s Most Awarded General Insurance Company for 2024 and a Fitch rating upgrade to 'A(lka)'.

The Insurance Association of Sri Lanka appointed its 2025/26 office bearers at the AGM, naming HNB Assurance CEO Lasitha Wimalaratne as President. Amana Takaful CEO S. Karthigun was appointed Secretary, while Softlogic Life's Roshan Peiris and LOLC's Dinusha Thilanka were named to IASL subcommittee leadership roles.

LANWA (Ceylon Steel) invested Rs. 14 billion to acquire a 9.9% stake in Hatton National Bank (HNB) as part of diversifying into key growth sectors.

Colombo market extended gains as the ASPI rose 0.33% and the S&P SL20 0.19% on turnover of Rs.4.3 billion, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.162.7 million. Hemas, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence, Sampath and Digital Mobility were top contributors; John Keells and Hatton National Bank fell.

Nandana Lokuwithana (Onyx) bought a c.9.99% voting stake in Hatton National Bank through Ceylon Steel for about Rs.14.42 billion (Rs.305–313/sh), lifting HNB shares to close at Rs.319.50 (+Rs.17.25). The block was sold by Browns Investments, which retains non-voting shares.

Hatton National Bank saw a 9.99% stake divestment (45.9m shares) by Browns Investments via nine off‑board trades at Rs.305, driving turnover to Rs.18.7bn and lifting the ASPI ~1%. Banking counters led gains and accounted for 81% of turnover, with broad buying across banks and select FMCG names.