News & market updates

The CSE opened higher with the ASPI up 0.07% at 21,187.22 and the S&P SL20 up 0.10% at 5,948.74; market turnover exceeded Rs.2bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.15.7m). John Keells, Hayleys and HNB were key contributors while capital goods and banking led turnover.

LOLC Finance (LOFC.N0000) will repurchase up to 2,299,122,556 ordinary shares at Rs.7 each (maximum Rs.16.09bn) under a board-approved buyback. The repurchase equals seven shares for every 90 held, record/opening/closing dates are to be announced; public float is ~3.69%.

LOLC Finance PLC opened two new branches in Mirigama (18 June 2026) and Galagedara (2 July 2026) to expand its islandwide footprint and offer its full range of financial and digital services.

Rs.120 billion Treasury Bill auction scheduled today as secondary bond market activity picked up and yields compressed; money-market rates edged down and USD/LKR closed at 336.30/336.40.

LOLC Finance (LOFC) launched 'Al-Falaah Tawarruq for Personal Finance', billed as Sri Lanka and South Asia's first structured Tawarruq-based Islamic liquidity solution; Islamic finance now accounts for 15% of LOFC's loan book and serves 15% of its customer base.

LOLC Al-Falaah launched Sri Lanka's first structured Tawarruq-based personal finance liquidity solution, providing a Sharia-compliant asset-backed mechanism for customers to access liquidity. The product aims to expand Islamic finance options and financial inclusion under the LOLC group.

Colombo market opened down 0.65% as the ASPI fell 146.53 points to 22,263.28 with turnover over Rs.1.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.466.1m; Windforce, CIC and Hayleys were main negative contributors while Windforce, Colombo Dockyard and Sathosa Motors led turnover.

Colombo market fell 0.22% as the ASPI closed at 22,208.58 with turnover near Rs.1.2bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.130.6m. Main negative contributors included SAMP, JKH, LOFC, GRAN and RICH, while SPEN, BOGA and HAYC recorded gains.

LOLC Finance PLC inaugurated a new Gelioya branch on 21 May 2026 and relocated its Galenbidunuwewa branch on 22 May 2026, expanding its islandwide branch network. The moves aim to improve financial access for individuals, SMEs and entrepreneurs as the company grows its network of over 200 branches.

LOLC Finance (LOFC) reported PAT of Rs. 27.4bn for the year to 31 Mar 2026, with underlying profitability up close to 30% and gross loans rising to Rs. 423bn (total assets Rs. 559bn). The company also saw improved asset quality (net NPL ~3.24%), higher deposits and strong capital ratios.

LOLC Holdings PLC reported a 49% increase in results from operating activities to Rs.71.5 billion for FY2026. Gross income rose 28% to Rs.430.3 billion, with the financial services segment contributing Rs.51.7 billion and strong gains across manufacturing, plantations and insurance.

LOLC Holdings PLC reported a 49% rise in results from operating activities to Rs. 71.5 billion for the year ended 31 March 2026, with gross income up 28% to Rs. 430.3 billion. Financial services (Rs. 51.7bn), stronger manufacturing/trading and a return to profitability in plantations underpinned the performance.

Central Bank cut LTV caps on motor financing (to 60% from 70% for >1yr vehicles; to 40% from 60% for newer/unregistered) and on gold loans (to 70% from 80%); Fitch says the tighter caps should strengthen lenders' risk profiles, especially finance companies.

Fitch says Sri Lanka's Central Bank cut LTV caps on motor financing (to 60% from 70% for vehicles >1yr and to 40% from 60% for newer/unregistered vehicles) and reduced gold-loan LTVs to 70% from 80%, measures that should strengthen lenders' risk profiles but may weigh on volumes and earnings, especially at finance companies.

Sri Lanka shares fell, with the ASPI down 1.54% to 21,954.92 and the S&P SL20 down 1.28% to 6,069.81. Capital goods led turnover at 956.7 million rupees; banks including Sampath, Commercial Bank and DFCC weighed on the index while Union Chemicals, LOLC Finance and Aitken Spence gained.

LOLC Finance (LOFC.N0000) appointed Reshan Dewapura as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Dewapura brings over 38 years of ICT experience, is CEO of GSS International and has held senior roles at HP and the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka.

LOLC Finance PLC opened a new Angunakolapalassa branch on 5 March and relocated its Baddegama and Divulapitiya branches on 12 March. The moves aim to improve customer access and provide expanded financial services to individuals, entrepreneurs and SMEs in those regions.

Purchases of Nissan Magnite and Almera through LOLC Finance Leasing qualify for up to LKR 125,000 of free fuel during 1–30 April 2026 (other purchase methods receive LKR 75,000). The offer is provided via a Fuel Touch Card in partnership with Dialog Axiata and applies to limited ex-stock units.

LOLC Finance PLC ran regional MSME training and financial literacy programs that onboarded over 2,000 new customers in the past six months. Programs covered cash‑flow management, digital marketing and included an AI tools demo, with plans to scale via WhatsApp micro-learning and sector-specific modules.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC won the Overall Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Digital Payments’ at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026. Other shortlist winners included HNB (Overall Bronze), Seylan (Overall Merit), LOLC Finance (NBFI Gold), LB Finance (NBFI Silver), Pan Asia and DFCC (category awards).

Commercial Bank won the Gold Award for "Excellence in Digital Payments" at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards; Hatton National Bank took Bronze, LOLC (LOLC Finance) won Gold in the non-bank financial institutions category and L B Finance was runner-up. LankaPay reported total transactions of Rs.42 trillion in 2025, with real-time payments at Rs.23 trillion.

The ASPI rose 3.47% (706.26 pts) to 21,071.23, recovering Rs. 244 billion on reports of a possible de‑escalation in the Middle East; the S&P SL20 gained 3.91% to 5,909.23. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.2 billion with gains led by Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Colombo Dockyard while foreigners were net sellers.

LOLC Holdings PLC was crowned 'People’s Financial Services Brand' at the SLIM Kantar People’s Choice Awards 2026 for the tenth consecutive year. The award, based on independent Kantar consumer research, underscores LOLC’s sustained brand trust, digital initiatives and group presence.