Malwatte Valley Plantations CEO Shanaka Samaradiwakara was appointed Chairman of the Planters' Association and outlined a five-point plan to revive plantations focusing on value addition, R&D, land-use, irrigation and tenure security. Kahawatte Plantations CEO Binesh Pananwala was named Deputy Chairman.
Colombo Stock Exchange indices rose at midday, ASPI +0.52% to 21,163.12, with materials leading turnover (rupees 88.93m) and total turnover rupees 344.22m. Top gainers included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Hemas, HNB, Ceylon Cold Stores and Ambeon; Malwatte Valley, Palm Garden Hotels and Distilleries were top losers; Aitken Spence will allot its oversubscribed 2026 debentures.
Colombo stocks rose midday, with the ASPI up 0.14% at 21,445.77; Singer Finance announced a rights issue of up to 76,648,787 ordinary shares at Rs 39.20 each (8 new for every 29 existing). Banks led turnover at Rs 231.7m; Dialog, Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Aitken Spence were top gainers while John Keells and Malwatte Valley lagged.
Ada Derana·Aug 10, 2026·Promotional / marketingPositive
Malwatte Valley Plantations (MAL.N0000) is modernising operations-diversifying (400 ha cinnamon, 300 ha new tea), developing a patent-pending mechanised cinnamon-peeling machine, and adopting high-density planting (up to 40,000 VP/ha) to raise productivity and expand value-added exports.
The Colombo Tea Traders' Association held its 132nd AGM on 17 July, re‑electing Lushantha de Silva as chairman and appointing a Board that includes Kelani Valley and Malwatte Valley Plantations. CTTA emphasised value addition, premium branding and sustainable reforms to boost Ceylon Tea exports.
Colombo market fell for an eighth session as ASPI dropped 0.60% (130.78 pts) to 21,697.72 amid renewed Middle East tensions, with turnover over Rs.1.4bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.91.7m. Declines were led by Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Hayleys and John Keells, while capital goods, food & beverage and banking drove turnover.
Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.60% to 21,697.72 as markets slowed amid escalation in the Middle East and global instability. Seylan Bank, Lanka IOC and Malwatte Valley Plantations were among gainers while Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Lion Brewery and Hayleys led declines; Vidullanka authorised a first gross dividend of Rs0.20 per share to be dispatched by Aug 7, 2026.
Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.49% to 21,720.92 midday; HNB Finance listed 381,667,019 new ordinary voting shares and 80,072,222 non‑voting shares from its rights issue. Malwatte Valley Plantations and Seylan Bank were among gainers while Melstacorp was a top decliner.
Available evidence finds Sri Lanka's oil palm (≈10,400 ha, established on degraded/marginal low-country land, not via forest conversion) does not inherently cause greater soil degradation or erosion than tea, rubber or coconut when good management and organic-matter recycling are applied.
Sri Lanka's CSE closed up with the ASPI rising 1.75% to 21,642.95 after US President Trump said he cancelled planned strikes on Iran. Banks led turnover and several banks and blue-chips rose, while Dialog Axiata passed AGM resolutions including a final dividend and its shares closed up.
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