News & market updates

John Keells IT, part of John Keells Holdings, was the main partner of TEDxColombo 2025, which returned for its 15th edition with over 900 attendees at Nelum Pokuna Theatre.

Keells Supermarkets, part of John Keells Group (JKH.N0000), partnered with agency Enfection to win a Silver Award in the 'Use of AI' category at The Drum Awards APAC 2025.

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.

NDB Bank and John Keells Properties (John Keells Holdings) launched a 9.75% (fixed one year) home loan with 100% financing and no upfront payment exclusively for buyers at VIMAN Ja-Ela.

Savin Edirisinghe won the 32nd Gratiaen Prize and Priyangwada Perera won the H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize, announced by the Gratiaen Trust in association with John Keells Foundation at Cinnamon Life City of Dreams. John Keells Foundation (the group's CSR arm) and Cinnamon Life were event partners.

Director Deepa Mehta will film her new Sherlock Holmes-inspired comedy 'Sher' in Sri Lanka using Cinnamon Hotels properties (including Cinnamon Life and Cinnamon Bentota) and Nuwara Eliya; casting begins July 2025 with principal photography later in 2025 and a late-2026 target release.

Colombo market closed the week higher as the ASPI rose 39 points to 16,855, led by gains in HAYL, CALH, COMB, NDB and RIL; total turnover was Rs. 5.2 billion and foreign investors recorded a net outflow of Rs. 441.6 million.

Colombo market rose with ASPI +0.6% and S&P SL20 +0.9% on turnover of Rs.6.4bn, led by Sampath Bank, LOLC, Hemas and Sierra Cables; foreigners were net sellers (Rs.218m outflow). Several firms made gains and interim dividends were announced (RIL, UML).

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.61% as the ASPI closed 18.40 points higher at 16,397.79, led by gains in Ceylon Cold Stores, John Keells, Hayleys Fabric, Central Finance and Teejay Lanka. Export-related shares gained after a U.S. federal court blocked planned tariffs and turnover rose to 6.4 billion rupees.

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.

John Keells Holdings’ auto arm (John Keells CG Auto) signed an MoU with BYD to launch the Denza premium brand and is expanding BYD showrooms and after-sales centres as BYD has rapidly gained market share in Sri Lanka's new vehicle segment since import restrictions eased (as of April 2025).

John Keells Holdings (JKH) will add 15 Keells supermarkets this year as deflation-linked recovery lifts monthly sales growth to about 15% year-on-year, with average basket values broadly unchanged despite lower retail prices.

John Keells Holdings reported 16% volume growth in carbonated soft drinks and 22% in confectionery, and said margins improved due to lower raw material and electricity costs. The group also said convenience foods saw higher profitability as demand rose amid falling prices and a more stable economy.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) reported recurring EBITDA up 12% to Rs.50.43bn for FY2024/25 excluding City of Dreams Sri Lanka, with group recurring PBT (ex-City of Dreams) rising 60% to Rs.22.93bn. City of Dreams pre-opening costs weighed on reported EBITDA while WCT-1 began commercial operations and Nuwa is due to open Aug 2025.

John Keells CG Auto (part of John Keells) signed an MoU with BYD and is expanding showrooms and after-sales as BYD has rapidly gained market share in Sri Lanka's new-energy vehicle segment since import restrictions eased.

Dividend · Rs 0.05 · XD Jun 5, 2025

Final dividend of LKR 0.05/share; XD 2025-06-05; record 2025-06-05; payable 2025-06-25; FY 2024-25

Cinnamon Life announced an Artist Spotlight featuring contemporary artist Firi Rahman and named Sanjiv Hulugalle as its new CEO & General Manager. The property houses over 1,000 commissioned artworks integrated across the hotel, restaurants and public spaces.

Colombo's All Share Price Index closed up 0.01% at 16,496.24 after a volatile session. Large-cap banking stocks including John Keells, Sampath, HNB and Commercial Bank fell and weighed on the market, while exporters such as Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fabric rose marginally after a US trade-talks invite.

The Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week with the ASPI up 0.6% and net foreign inflows of Rs.155.9 million, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.2.97 billion; notable contributors included HHL, COOP, SUN, CTHR and BUKI.

CBSL cut the OPR by 25bps to 7.75%, boosting the Colombo market (ASPI +0.7%, S&P SL20 +0.54%) on higher turnover; key contributors were CARG, MELS, JKH, DIAL and HHL, with strong banking interest and Rs.313.4m foreign net inflows.

Gatz at Cinnamon Life (part of the John Keells hotels group) is now offering High Tea every Thursday–Saturday from 3:00–6:00 PM. The three-tier menu features cold, warm and sweet items with vegetarian options and drinks; the venue shifts to a cocktail-focused Golden Hour from 6:00–8:00 PM.

The central bank cut its policy rate by 25 bps to 7.75%, and Sri Lanka stocks closed higher—ASPI +0.72% and S&P SL20 +0.54%. Top contributors included Cargills, Melstacorp, John Keells, Dialog Axiata and Hemas.

Foreign investors were net buyers with a Rs. 510.4 million inflow as the ASPI rose 0.12% and turnover was Rs. 2.43 billion; key contributors included John Keells, Vallibel One, Commercial Bank, Dialog and others.

Seylan Bank has partnered with John Keells Properties to offer tailored home loan packages for buyers of VIMAN Ja-Ela, a 418-apartment development. The six-acre project allocates over 60% to open space and includes energy-efficient homes with solar features.

The Colombo market paused its upward run as the ASPI fell 0.37% and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.5%, while foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.170 million. Turnover was Rs.1.5 billion with top contributors John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hayleys and the banking sector leading activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.37% as profit taking and concern over a proposed 18.3% electricity tariff hike weighed on markets, with the ASPI down 61.43 points to 16,336.25 and banking names notably weaker; turnover slipped to 1.5 billion rupees.

Colombo Bourse opened the week higher: ASPI +0.1% and S&P SL20 +0.3% with turnover Rs. 2.6bn, led by banking stocks (Pan Asia, Commercial Bank, Seylan, HNB) and gains in John Keells and C T Holdings.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.11% higher (ASPI 16,397.79) as investor confidence lifted stocks, led by gains in Hatton National Bank, John Keells, Seylan Bank, C T Holdings and Commercial Bank; turnover was 2.61 billion rupees.

Colombo bourse closed the shortened week with the ASPI up 2.9% and S&P SL20 up 3.5%, average daily turnover Rs.3.67bn, led by gains in JKH, LOLC, CARS, EBCR and SAMP; foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.157.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.40% as the US-China tariff truce lifted sentiment; ASPI gained 64.40 points to 16,379.39, led by gains in John Keells, LOLC, Carson Cumberbatch, E B Creasy and Sampath Bank.