The Colombo ASPI fell 0.6% to 20,817.82, sliding to a six-month low as losers (163) outpaced winners (31) and turnover barely topped Rs.1bn. Top decliners and contributors to the drop included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Overseas Realty, Singer, Tokyo Cement and Ceylinco, while John Keells closed flat.
Ada Derana·Sep 29, 2026·Promotional / marketingPositive
Keells marks 35 years, surpassing 150 stores and 2.9 million Nexus members; the Keells supermarket business highlights direct sourcing from over 4,000 farmers, a workforce of 6,500+ and multiple community and employee programs.
Consumer Staples (FMCG)
Ada Derana·Sep 29, 2026·Promotional / marketingPositive
John Keells CG Auto and BYD opened BYD's 11th showroom in Negombo on 11 September, expanding BYD's retail and service presence in Sri Lanka and strengthening Keells' NEV support network. Keells has deployed 43 chargers and a partnership adds 73 more, bringing the public network to 116 chargers nationwide.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower with the ASPI down 0.39% to 20,955.56 and turnover at Rs595.97mn. Top contributors included Distilleries, Ceylon Tobacco, Laugfs Gas and Hayleys, while SMB Finance, Carson Cumberbatch, Sri Lanka Telecom and Dialog were among the laggards; ACL Cables announced a 60 cent interim dividend.
Colombo stock market ended the week marginally lower (ASPI down 0.09% to 21,037.35) with subdued investor sentiment ahead of next Wednesday's Central Bank Monetary Policy announcement; market turnover was below Rs.815m and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.193.3m.
CIF, an international multi-surface cleaning brand, has launched in Sri Lanka and is now available at Cargills, Keells, Glomark and Celeste and online via Daraz and uStore, priced at Rs. 900 for 500ml.
Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to B- from CCC+ with a Stable outlook, and the Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI rose 0.36% to 21,054.01 on Tuesday. Top positive contributors were Access Engineering, Overseas Realty, Dialog Axiata and Hatton National Bank, while Kotmale, Namunukula Plantations, Sri Lanka Telecom, CDB and John Keells were among the decliners.
The Colombo bourse fell to a near six-month low as the ASPI dropped 0.37% to 20,979.18 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.33% to 5,909.45. Market turnover was over Rs.750m, foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.19.1m, and top ASPI decliners included BREW, MELS, CTHR, CINS and HNB.
The Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka will host Digital Summit Asia/Sri Lanka 2026 on 1-2 October at Waters Edge Colombo. DMASL aims to grow digital marketing's GDP contribution from 4% to 15% and the summit features 75+ international speakers and sponsors including Hatton National Bank, John Keells and Aitken Spence.
Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.16% to 21,056.26 on Friday (S&P SL20 up 0.07%) while the ASPI ended the week down 326.48 points. Market turnover was Rs 1.34bn; People's Leasing plans to list Rs 10bn of 13.75% debentures and DFCC Bank allotted its Rs 12.5bn Tier-2 debenture issue.
The ASPI fell 0.52% (109.98 pts) to 21,023.43, hitting a 23-week low as selling driven by concerns over rising interest rates and sustained crude above $100 pressured the market. Top drags included Melstacorp, Dialog, Hayleys, Ceylon Beverage and RIL while foreigners were net sellers of ~Rs.213m; turnover ~Rs.1.3bn.
Fuel & Energy PricesInterest Rates
Ada Derana·Sep 18, 2026·Promotional / marketingPositive
John Keells Properties (part of John Keells Holdings) unveiled a sales gallery and model apartment for Vauxhall DSTRCT, a 60-floor, 753-residence development in Colombo 02, to allow prospective buyers to experience the design, layout and smart-enabled living features.
Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 0.47% (−100.30 pts) to 21,033.11 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.30% to 5,929.45; market turnover was LKR 1.33bn, led by capital goods (LKR 282.3m). Investors cited slowing GDP momentum, US midterms and possible crude oil price rises as factors.
Colombo market slipped 0.61% to a six-week low as the ASPI closed at 21,133.41 amid rising oil prices and fears of an interest-rate hike; 172 counters fell, turnover was over Rs.1.6bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.8m.
DFCC Bank's 2026/2031 Tier-2 debenture issue was oversubscribed with 117 applications for 147,682,500 debentures valued at 14.768 billion rupees, above the 12.50 billion rupee target. Colombo indices were modestly higher (ASPI +0.14% at 21,162.87; S&P SL20 +0.05% at 5,950.18) with turnover of 43.57 million rupees.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.58% to 21,139.31, with market turnover at 1.63 billion rupees. Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover at 782.3 million rupees; notable movers included Namunukula, Pan Asia Bank and Ceylon Cold Stores (up) and John Keells, Melstacorp, RIL Property and Cargills (down); Hunas Holdings entered a partnership with Tokyo-based CCH Inc for its real estate and hospitality businesses effective Sept 14.
Consumer Staples (FMCG)
Ada Derana·Sep 16, 2026·Promotional / marketingPositive
HNB PLC has extended its partnership with John Keells CG Auto to offer vehicle leasing for BYD and Denza customers, providing special leasing rates and flexible residual-value options of up to seven-year facilities. Customers also receive a waived first-year HNB credit card fee and discounted vehicle insurance.
Ada Derana·Sep 16, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
CFA Society Sri Lanka held the 13th Capital Market Awards on 10 September 2026, with Hemas Holdings Ltd. winning Gold for Best Investor Relations (Mid-to-Large Cap). hSenid Business Solutions won Small-Cap IR Gold; Sunshine Holdings (Silver) and John Keells Holdings (Bronze) were also recognised, and Softlogic received a sector-report award.
The Sri Lanka Retail Forum 2026 convened over 500 retail leaders at Cinnamon Life, Colombo to discuss retail growth, customer experience, digital commerce, AI, data and technology-led transformation. Keells and BYD were Platinum Sponsors, Singer was a Gold Sponsor and NDB Wealth joined as a category partner.
Colombo Stock Exchange indices edged up (ASPI +0.06% to 21,327.69) as Vidullanka subscribed Rs100 million in Vidul Biomass II to develop a 6.6MW Medawachchiya Dendro Power Project, with total cost $16.1m and a ~Rs1.3bn equity commitment.
Infomate Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of John Keells Holdings (JKH.N0000), has opened a second regional BPM/BPO office in Kurunegala to expand delivery beyond Colombo and tap regional talent for serving international clients.
Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 69 points (-0.3%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 8 points (-0.1%). Turnover was Rs.1.5bn (above last week's Rs.1.4bn), foreigners were net sellers of Rs.94.7m, with declines led by ASIR, CCS, SPEN, DIAL and others.
Daily FT·Sep 14, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
The CFA Society Sri Lanka held its 13th Capital Market Awards on 10 Sept 2026; Hemas Holdings won Gold for Best Investor Relations (Mid-to-Large Cap) and hSenid Business Solutions won Gold for Best Investor Relations (Small Cap). Sunshine and John Keells took Silver and Bronze respectively; Hatton National Bank and Capital Alliance were event sponsors.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher with the ASPI up 0.12% (25.00 pts) at 21,382.74 and the S&P SL20 up 0.19% at 6,015.08, on turnover of 333 million rupees. Galle Face Capital Partners received in-principle CSE approval to list up to 4,060,218 new ordinary shares via a scrip dividend; its shares closed down 2.45% at 19.90 rupees.
CSE closed down 0.38% (ASPI −81.43 pts to 21,542.23) as heightened selling amid Middle East tensions and rising global oil prices weighed on sentiment; turnover topped Rs.1.4bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.13.6m. Top negatives were CINS, BREW, CARS, SAMP and JKH; insurance led turnover (23%).
Fuel & Energy Prices
Ada Derana·Sep 9, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
John Keells Holdings' John Keells Foundation hosted the John Keells English Day Finals 2026 on 3 Sept, where 76 Tier 1 scholars from eight teams performed dramas and presentations and competition winners were announced. The JK English Language Scholarship Programme has benefited over 23,700 students since 2004.
DFCC Bank signed an MoU with John Keells IT to extend its Employee Banking Proposition to John Keells IT employees, offering enhanced salary account privileges, personal and home loan solutions, wealth and family-focused services and digital banking convenience.
The Colombo bourse opened marginally higher as the ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,623.66 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.13% to 6,066.55; turnover was over Rs.2.1bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.18.5m. Top positive contributors: HAYL, ACL, SLTL, HNB, DIAL; negatives: BREW, CARS, HAYC, JKH, CCS.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat; ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,623.66 and S&P SL20 was up 0.23%. Market turnover was LKR 2.133bn, led by banks (LKR 473.3m) and insurance (LKR 412.3m). Top movers: ACL, SLTL, HNB, DIAL up; HAYC, JKH, CCS down.
Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.17% to 21,657.17 in early trading while the S&P SL20 gained 0.54% to 6,091.65 on turnover of Rs 446 million. Several firms were placed or moved to the watchlist for non-submission of FY2026 annual reports (SHL, HELA, MEL, LGL, EXT, BFN, TESS, EMER); top gainers included DIAL, HNB, COMB, AEL, ACL and top losers HAYC, DOCK, BIL, CCS.