Company filings and market news from across Sri Lanka's stock market.
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts (part of John Keells Hotels) has appointed AVIAREPS India to lead PR and brand strategy as it expands its presence in India; its Cinnamon Life integrated resort (USD 1.3bn, 687 rooms) opened last year and a new mall will open later this year.
Colombo market reverted to YTD positive as the ASPI rose 73 points (0.46%) to 16,007, leaving YTD up 0.39%, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 282m. Top movers included HAYL and CTC; turnover was Rs. 2.3bn led by Capital Goods and Food, Beverage & Tobacco sectors.
Gratiaen Trust unveiled the longlist for the 32nd Annual Gratiaen Prize, with the prize cycle presented in partnership with John Keells Foundation (the John Keells Group’s CSR arm). The shortlist will be announced on 28 April and winners on 31 May 2025.
The Colombo market opened April higher, with the ASPI up 119 points (0.76%) on turnover of Rs. 1.9 billion. Banking stocks saw early selling around XD dates while blue-chips and capital goods (e.g. Hayleys, John Keells, Melstacorp) were key contributors.
Sri Lanka stocks rose as the ASPI closed up 0.46% (73.06 pts) at 16,007.44 with turnover Rs 2.29bn; top contributors were Hayleys (+3.0%), Ceylon Tobacco (+1.7%), Royal Ceramics (+2.6%), Chevron Lubricants (+2.9%) and Dialog Axiata (+2.1%). Most active by volume were John Keells, Browns Investments and Access Engineering.
Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.76% to 15,934.38 as buying interest returned, but turnover remained light at 1.91 billion rupees. Top contributors included Melstacorp, Hayleys, HNB, NDB and LOLC, with banks, capital goods and diversified financials leading turnover.
Union Assurance (UAL.N0000) hosted 'Blog It Symposium 2025', the life insurer's first sector-wide symposium and part of its Blog It initiative, which saw 1,100+ entries in 2024. Union Assurance is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH.N0000).
John Keells Holdings' unit has begun deliveries of BYD electric cars in Sri Lanka and has set up EV charging stations at Keells Supermarkets in multiple cities including Kandy, Matara and Negombo. The BYD agency, John Keells CG Auto, is established in collaboration with Nepal's Chaudhary Group.
ASPI fell 67 points (0.4%) on low turnover of Rs.1.65bn; HNB was the largest negative contributor after its ex-dividend date, while SAMP, RICH, HAYL, HHL and SUN were top positive contributors and banks led turnover.
Sri Lanka Tourism launched the 'Sri Lanka, A Story for Every Season' influencer-driven campaign to boost summer travel, targeting 2.2 million travel enthusiasts and over LKR 32 million in media coverage. The campaign follows a strong winter peak with 665,295 arrivals by March 23, 2025.
The Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.2% and S&P SL20 +0.4% as turnover rose to Rs.2.14bn, led by Lankem Ceylon (LCEY) which accounted for about Rs.1.1bn. Capital goods and banking drove activity, with notable movers including HNB, SAMP, COMB, JKH and LIOC.
John Keells CG Auto, part of John Keells Holdings PLC, began BYD NEV deliveries, handing a BYD SEALION 6 and a BYD ATTO 3 to the first two customers at a ceremonial handover in Colombo.
John Keells Holdings' distributor John Keells CG Auto began customer deliveries of BYD new energy vehicles in Sri Lanka, with a shipment that arrived March 14 including SEALION 6, ATTO 3 and DOLPHIN models, starting a phased rollout after import restrictions were lifted.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI +0.22% at 15,882.06 and S&P SL20 +0.38% at 4,759.86. Capital goods led turnover with LKR 1.2bn, banks LKR 446mn, and top contributors were HNB, SAMP, COMB, JKH and BUKI.
The 91st Battle of the Saints (the first-ever three-day Joe‑Pete encounter) will be played 3–5 April 2025 at the SSC Grounds, with the 51st One-Day on 26 April; sponsors include Keells (John Keells Holdings), Aitken Spence, HNB, Alliance Finance and Ceylon Cold Stores.
Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 60 points to 15,848 despite net foreign inflows of Rs.133.8m and turnover of Rs.1.6bn (down 23.4% vs monthly average). Banking-led turnover (HNBN top at Rs.297m) saw HNB, CINS, JKH, DFCC and CFIN drag the market while CCS and Richard Pieris attracted buying.
John Keells Holdings (JKH.N0000), through John Keells Properties, hosted a felicitation at The Residences at Cinnamon Life honoring Maheesh Theekshana for becoming the ICC's No. 1 ODI bowler.
Colombo market closed flat (ASPI -4) despite higher turnover of Rs.2.9bn led by Sampath Bank (Rs.1.2bn); banking drove 52% of turnover while capital goods and food/beverage/tobacco made up 26%. Foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.122m) and several large crossings dominated activity.
Sri Lanka stocks closed flat as the ASPI fell 0.03% to 15,908.23 with turnover of Rs2.89bn driven by crossings and heavy bank trades, including a Rs1.1bn off-board Sampath Bank transaction. Notable movers included Ceylinco Insurance (-5.7%), Dipped Products (-3.0%), HNB and DFCC.
Sri Lanka Agripreneurs Forum hosted a workshop on carbon footprint and climate reporting as SLFRS S1 and S2 have become mandatory for listed companies in Sri Lanka; the event covered emissions measurement, reporting practices and trends in climate finance.
The Lanka India Business Association (LIBA) was launched in Sri Lanka to strengthen business links with India, aiming to boost trade, tourism, tech/start‑ups and exports (including tea and garments). The governing council comprises senior Sri Lankan business leaders from multiple industries.
Sri Lanka Agripreneurs Forum held a workshop on carbon footprint and climate reporting, highlighting that SLFRS S1 and S2 are now mandatory for listed Sri Lankan companies. Experts shared practical guidance on emissions calculations, climate finance and sustainability reporting, and SLAF will expand the series.
ASPI rose 33 points (0.2%) as turnover hit Rs.1.9 billion, led by crossings in Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank and CIC Holdings; banking stocks were the main drivers while materials also saw heavy trading.
Sri Lanka stocks closed marginally up as the ASPI rose 0.21% to 15,912.61 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.16% to 4,759.06; turnover was 1.9 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 140 million rupees.
John Keells Group supported Kala Pola 2025 on 16 Feb, which featured 394 participating artists and generated estimated sales of about Rs. 54 million. The Group's CSR said it will introduce an annual 'Emerging Kala Pola Artist' award from the next edition.
The Gratiaen Trust announced the panel of judges for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize and the HAIG Goonetileke Prize for Translations; John Keells Foundation (the John Keells Group CSR arm) is the principal sponsor since 2019.
ASPI rose 0.1% for the week and jumped 1.4% (216 points) on Friday as banking and capital goods stocks led gains. Turnover averaged Rs.1.9 billion for the week and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.140.2 million.
Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 1.38% to 15,879.33 as buying interest returned, led by gains in Commercial Bank, HNB, NDB, DFCC and Carson Cumberbatch; turnover fell to 1.66 billion rupees and there was a net foreign outflow of 140 million rupees.
John Keells CG Auto (part of the John Keells Group) received the first shipment of BYD new-energy vehicles at Hambantota Port and will begin deliveries to pre-booking customers in the coming weeks.
Prima KottuMee Korean Ramen won the "Breakthrough Product of the Year" award at the Keells Partner Power 2025 Supplier Convention. John Keells Holdings PLC presented the award, spotlighting supplier innovation in the retail food/FMCG sector.