News & market updates

Lanka Milk Foods (LMF.N0000) has relaunched its Ambewela cheese range, introducing seven cheese types and refreshed, user-friendly packaging. The range includes Edam, Gouda (plain and flavoured), Parmesan, Processed, Mozzarella, Paneer and Spread Cheese in blocks, slices and spreads to meet diverse local demand.

Hasitha Jayawardena has been appointed Chairman of Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC and Madulsima Plantations; Stasshani Jayawardena was appointed Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC and named Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC. Both continue to hold or assume directorships across the group.

Royle Jansz has been appointed Chairman of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, with Executive Director Stasshani Jayawardena named Deputy Chairperson, following the demise of chairman Harry Jayawardena.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI +1.38% to 16,734 and S&P SL20 +1.48% to 4,996, with turnover Rs2bn and net foreign outflow Rs75mn. Top contributors included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank; several chairperson appointments were made following Harry Jayawardena's death.

Aitken Spence PLC appointed D S T (Stasshani) Jayawardena as Chairperson and M R Mihular as Senior Independent Director. Jayawardena is an executive director with leadership roles across the group and holds positions at Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, Melstacorp, Distilleries and Lanka Milk Foods.

Stasshani Jayawardena has been appointed chairperson of Aitken Spence and will chair group companies including Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, the company said in a stock exchange filing. She is also a director of Melstacorp, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka and Lanka Milk Foods.

Two prominent Sri Lankan business figures, Ken Balendra (85) and Harry Jayawardena (82), died yesterday. Both men had led or chaired multiple listed firms, including Melstacorp, Aitken Spence, Distilleries Co., Ceylon Tobacco, Lanka Milk Foods and Hatton National Bank.

Colombo market saw nearly Rs.10bn turnover yesterday as ASPI rose 0.8% (week +4.9%), led by banking and diversified financials; top contributors were HNB, LOLC, DFCC, RCL and MELS, with notable gains in HNB, Commercial Bank, DFCC and LOLC.

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 Stock Market closed mixed: ASPI +40 pts (+0.27%) while S&P SL20 -14 pts (-0.3%), with turnover Rs.5.85bn on 357m shares and a net foreign outflow of Rs.1.5m. Top contributors included Ceylon Cold Stores, PGP Glass, John Keells, Lanka IOC, Dipped Products and Lanka Milk Foods, with Food, Beverage & Tobacco leading turnover.

Colombo market closed with the ASPI up 0.27% at 14,654.26 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.32% to 4,390.12 as profit-taking in banking stocks weighed on the SL20. Top gainers included Ceylon Cold Stores, PGP Glass, John Keells, Dipped Products and Lanka IOC; net foreign outflow was Rs 1.4 million.

Colombo stock market extended its bull run as the ASPI rose about 4% for the week (closing at 14,205) on high turnover (avg Rs.5.66bn), led by heavy trading and price gains in Hemas, HNB, Lanka Milk Foods, John Keells and Alumex.

Lanka Milk Foods (LMF.N0000) reported Ambewela Farms achieved a record single-day milk production of 62,000 litres, up from under 3,000 litres in 2001 and now supplying about 20 million litres annually; the rise follows major modernisation and breeding investments.

Colombo stock market ended the week with marginal losses — the ASPI fell 0.5% for the week (up 0.6% on Friday) with Friday turnover of Rs. 2bn. Ceylon Tobacco announced an interim dividend of Rs. 40.90 per share; notable moves included gains in Royal Ceramics, Dipped Products and Lanka Milk Foods and a decline in John Keells.

Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC has relaunched its Ambewela butter as a 200g block with refreshed packaging, improved taste and expanded distribution to reach more households, bakeries and hotels.

ASPI closed at 12,728, up 9 points as turnover fell to Rs.2 billion; John Keells, Melstacorp and Dipped Products were top contributors while Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank declined, and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.45.2m.

ASPI closed down 4 points at 12,309 while S&P SL20 rose 2 points, with turnover of Rs.1.5 billion and foreign investors net selling Rs.109.4 million. ACL, UAL and HELA were among gainers while CFIN, LMF, LIOC, HAYL, RCL and SPEN were notable losers; Capital Goods led turnover.

Colombo market closed lower with the S&P SL20 down 0.7% and ASPI down 0.4%, while foreigners were net buyers of Rs.153.6m. Banks (e.g. Commercial Bank, Sampath) dragged indices, while Balangoda Plantations, John Keells and Hayleys Fabric led turnover with mixed price moves.

ASPI fell 162.1 points (-1.43%) to 11,200 and the S&P SL20 dropped 2.0%, led by declines in banks and frontline counters including HNB, COMB, LOLC, JKH and SAMP; turnover was Rs. 554.3m and foreigners were net buyers of about Rs. 49m.

Colombo Bourse rose for a fifth straight session as the ASPI gained 1% to close at 11,531 (S&P SL20 +1.3%), with banking and food & beverage stocks led by HNB, SAMP, DFCC, MELS and LMF driving the rally amid Rs.776m turnover.

Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) Plc (LMF.N0000) says its Ambewela UHT milk is ISO-certified, uses UHT processing at 140 degrees centigrade for four seconds and has a six-month shelf life at room temperature. The company highlights unadulterated, high-fat milk from Friesian/Ayrshire stock and quality controls as part of efforts to boost local dairy and reduce imports.

Lanka Milk Foods (LMF.N0000) says its Ambewela brand uses ISO‑certified UHT processing (140°C for 4s) and strict quality controls to produce unadulterated dairy with a six-month shelf life; the CEO highlighted a push to expand local dairy and reduce imports.