News & market updates

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.

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.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC renewed its partnership with Mahela Jayawardena as Caltex Havoline brand ambassador for a second consecutive year. The company cited marketing success and a validated 10,000 km extended oil drain interval to reinforce its leadership in the passenger car motor oil segment.

Lanka IOC PLC was awarded the Sapugaskanda power plant A Plant lubricant contract for 414,000 litres, and Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC won the B Plant contract for 389,000 litres for March 2025–February 2026.

Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved lubricant supply contracts for the Sapugaskanda power plant: Lanka IOC to supply 414,000 litres to A Plant (SEMT Pielstick PC 4.2) and Chevron Lubricants Lanka to supply 389,000 litres to B Plant (MAN B&W 8L) for Mar 2025–Feb 2026.

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.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.71% (115 points) and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.69% amid low turnover of Rs. 824.6 million, with banks and blue-chip counters leading the decline.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.71% to 16,000.78 on Monday as turnover dropped to 824 million rupees, with bank and capital goods stocks leading the decline — top negative contributors included Chevron Lubricants, Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and DFCC Bank. Most active volumes were in Browns Investments, R I L Property, Hela Apparel and HNB Finance, with a net foreign inflow of 16 million rupees.

Colombo bourse ended the first week of March lower, with the ASPI down 2.2% and the S&P SL20 down 2.5%; average daily turnover was Rs. 2.73bn and yesterday's turnover Rs. 2.18bn. Primary negatives included LLUB, SAMP, DFCC and COMB, while MELS, HHL and HNB were the top gainers.

ASPI rose 48 points (0.3%) to 16,479 on low turnover of Rs. 1.7 billion, led by gains in the banking sector. HNB, Commercial Bank and Sampath were top positive contributors (with CTC and LLUB also supportive) while CFIN, JKH and DFCC exerted downward pressure; banks accounted for 45% of turnover.

Sri Lanka stocks closed up, ASPI +0.29% to 16,478.67 and S&P SL20 +0.86% to 4,940.49, led by banks and Ceylon Tobacco. Top contributors were HNB, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Ceylon Tobacco and Chevron Lubricants; turnover was Rs 1.7bn with a net foreign inflow of Rs 9.7m.

Dividend · Rs 8.00 · XD Mar 7, 2025

Third Interim dividend of LKR 8/share; XD 2025-03-07; record 2025-03-09; payable 2025-03-27; FY ending 31st December 2024

ASPI closed up 0.26% at 16,257.31 as the Colombo bourse ended higher despite a net foreign outflow of 221 million rupees. Banks and consumer names drew interest; top foreign selling hit John Keells while DFCC, Dipped Products, Hemas and Commercial Bank were among top contributors.

Turnover at the Colombo Stock Exchange climbed to a 10-month high of Rs.9.2 billion as the ASPI recorded a 19th consecutive daily gain. Top contributors included Sierra Cables, Hatton National Bank, Royal Ceramics and Access Engineering, with a net foreign outflow of Rs.227 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.07% to 14,810 and turnover hit Rs9.23bn, the highest since Feb 7. Top contributors included Central Finance, Ceylon Cold Stores, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants; net foreign outflow was Rs226m.

Colombo bourse ended the week mixed: ASPI rose 24 points (+0.19%) while the S&P SL20 fell over 12 points (-0.3%) on Rs.3.7bn turnover and a net foreign outflow of Rs.381.9m. Key contributors included AHUN, LLUB, SAMP and BIL, with consumer services leading turnover and banks and hotels drawing investor interest.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC has partnered with Uber Sri Lanka to offer Caltex-branded lubricants (including special prices for Uber drivers) available to order via the Uber Eats app, which will add a new 'car care' category.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 1.34% to 10,826 and S&P SL20 up 1.92% to 3,037, with bank stocks leading turnover (Rs424mn) and most banks rising. Net foreign outflow was Rs71mn; foreign buying seen in Ceylinco, Chevron Lubricants and Browns Investments while selling affected Commercial Bank, Access Engineering, Co-operative Insurance, Nations Trust and Sunshine.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the All Share Index down 0.33% to 10,801 and the S&P SL20 down 0.32% to 3,035 on turnover of 1.4 billion. Top turnover names included Hemas, John Keells and Commercial Bank, there was net foreign inflow of 11.39 million amid continued selling pressure.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +1.54% and S&P SL20 +1.84% with turnover LKR 1.4bn and net foreign outflow of 68.23mn. Market saw accumulation in banking shares and conglomerates, with top turnover in HNB, Commercial Bank and Ceylon Hospitals; mixed foreign flows across CIC, Tess Agro, JAT, Lanka IOC, hSenid and Softlogic.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid as the All Share Index fell 0.43% to 10,673 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.55% to 2,990 on turnover of 1.1 billion; net foreign inflow was 39 million and several stocks recorded crosses and foreign flows.

Colombo bourse closed mixed: ASPI fell about 12 points to 11,482 while the S&P SL20 gained 2.6 points on turnover of Rs. 547 million, led by Sampath Bank (Rs.112m); banking stocks dominated turnover (32%) while front-line counters showed mixed performance.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed with the All Share Index down 0.11% at 11,482 and the S&P SL20 up 0.08% at 3,302, on turnover of 547 million and net foreign inflow of 580,955. Top movers included Sampath Bank, NDB and Aitken Spence (higher), Chevron Lubricants and Teejay (foreign buying) and Melstacorp (down).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as All Share Index fell 0.08% to 11,494 and S&P SL20 fell 0.02% to 3,300, with differing informal election polls weighing on sentiment. Turnover was 580 million with net foreign inflow of 47.8 million; crossings included JKH, TJL and MELS, and Lanka Aluminium declared a Rs1 dividend.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down—All Share Index fell 0.24% to 11,504 and S&P SL20 fell 0.24% to 3,300, with turnover of 539 million as election polls increased investor uncertainty.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher (All Share +0.31%, SL20 +0.33%) as foreign interest returned, with foreign buying of John Keells (JKH) contributing over Rs100m to turnover. Ceylon Tobacco (CTC) posted higher interim profits and a Rs38.3 dividend, while First Capital Treasuries (FCT) reported profit declines tied to weaker government securities.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell: All Share Index down 1.67% to 11,251 and S&P SL20 down 2.30% to 3,214, with turnover Rs.863 million and net foreign inflow Rs.8.9 million. Market participants cited election speculation hurting sentiment despite positive IMF and fiscal signals; foreign buying was seen on ACL and Chevron Lubricants, while Nations Trust and LOLC saw foreign selling.