News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally lower: ASPI fell 0.01% to 23,459.75 and S&P SL20 fell 0.34% to 6,435.93. Top negatives included Melstacorp, Sampath Bank, Diesel & Motor Engineering and Hayleys; Dipped Products posted a Sept-quarter net profit of LKR 920m and rose, while Ceylon Tobacco said volumes fell and its stock dipped.

Sampath Bank reported PAT of Rs 21.5 Bn for the nine months to 30 Sep 2025, up 21% year-on-year (PBT Rs 35.3 Bn; group PAT Rs 23.1 Bn). Net interest income fell 6% and NIM narrowed to 4.09%, while non-fund income rose 107% and impairment charges fell 62%.

Sampath Bank reported profit up 4% y/y to LKR 7.5 billion in the September 2025 quarter (earnings LKR 6.41 per share). Fee and commission income rose 43% to LKR 6.2bn while net interest income declined as interest expenses grew faster; loans rose 22% and Group Tier 1 ratio was 14.06%.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as profit taking pushed the ASPI down 0.82% to 23,466.09 and the S&P SL20 down 1.46% to 6,462.04, with turnover of 6.42 billion rupees; top negatives included Sampath Bank, HNB, John Keells, NDB and Bukit Darah.

NCCSL and KPMG held a post-Budget 2026 seminar stressing fiscal discipline and a development focus, noting the VAT threshold has been lowered to Rs. 36 million per annum. Panelists highlighted priorities of digitalisation, export diversification, SME empowerment and sustained public investment.

The ASPI closed at 23,502.59, up 0.70% (164.34 pts), crossing 23,500 for the first time on positive sentiment after the 2026 Budget. Banking names HNB, SAMP, COMB, NDB and DIAL led gains as Budget measures proposed concessional SME loan schemes and credit guarantees expected to boost loan demand.

Sri Lanka stocks rose 0.7% on Monday, led by financial shares as the ASPI gained 164.34 points to 23,502.59. Top contributors from the shortlist included HNB, Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and NDB, while construction names like Access Engineering and Kelani Cables also gained and John Keells reported a 21% quarterly profit rise.

Softlogic Finance PLC appointed Hewage Sisira Samantha Dabare as Deputy Chairman, with approval from the Central Bank's Director of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions. Dabare is a career banker with over 33 years’ experience, including roles as Group Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Recoveries at Sampath Bank PLC.

Daraz Sri Lanka will run its 11.11 Biggest Sale from Nov 10 (8:00pm) to Nov 21 with discounts up to 90%, Rs.120 million in vouchers and sitewide flash deals. Participating banks (NTB, HNB, NDB, Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, Pan Asia) and brands including Hayleys will offer additional partner discounts and instalment options.

Sampath Bank’s subsidiary Siyapatha Finance PLC was named 'Best Employer Brand' for the third consecutive year at the Employer Branding Awards 2025. Siyapatha, the largest fully owned subsidiary of the Sampath Bank Group, was recognized for its employee engagement and employer-branding practices.

Colombo bourse rose on Budget optimism as ASPI gained 0.98% (225 pts) and S&P SL20 rose 1.13%; banking led activity (23% of turnover) and key positive contributors included SFCL, COMB, SAMP, HNB and VONE, with DFCC, LAUGFS and Bogala among high-turnover winners.

Sri Lanka stocks rose 0.98% as the ASPI gained 225.77 points to 23,338.25 amid the national budget reading; top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and HNB, with Kotmale Holdings the top gainer.

Sampath Bank PLC signed an MoU with Ideal Motors to offer vehicle financing with a 0.5% p.a. reduction in published leasing rates. The deal also includes interest-free insurance loans if settled within two months and Sampath credit cards allowing 0% interest on insurance payments for up to 12 months.

Lanka Tiles PLC has appointed Harsha Amarasekera as a Non-Executive Director; he also joins the board of Lanka Walltiles PLC. Amarasekera is an experienced attorney and currently holds leadership roles at Sampath Bank, CIC Holdings, Swisstek, Vallibel Power Erathna and Royal Ceramics.

Siyapatha Finance, the fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank, opened its 58th branch in Mannar to expand its presence in the Northern Province. The branch will offer leasing, fixed deposits, gold financing, business and personal loans, factoring and Smart Pay bill payment.

Sampath Bank is the principal partner for S. Thomas’ College’s All-Island Schools National Startup Innovation Event during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025; the Top 25 shortlisted school entries will showcase projects on 2 Nov.

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.39% (88 pts) to 22,777.12 with turnover around Rs 5.38bn and foreign investors net sellers of Rs 372.5m. Key movers included Windforce (+17.6%), Colombo Dockyard (-9.9%) and gains in LAUGFS Gas and Lanka Realty Investments.

Colombo market fell for a third straight session, with the ASPI down 0.44% to 22,689.22 and the S&P SL20 down 0.84%; turnover was Rs. 6.19bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 42.48m. Major movers included declines in JKH, SFCL and SAMP, while DOCK, COLO, ASCO and LGL posted notable gains.

PayMedia Ltd won the Overall Gold Award at NBQSA 2025 for BOC Flex, named Best of the Best Software Application in Sri Lanka. The release notes PayMedia's long-term partnerships with banks including Sampath Bank, Seylan Bank and Amana Bank.

ASPI closed 0.17% lower at 22,812.52 (‑38.43 pts) as profit-taking pushed the market into the red; turnover was Rs.6.2bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.25.8m. Capital Goods led activity while HARI, SAMP, MELS and SFCL were key negative contributors and DOCK and RCL saw notable moves.

Sampath Bank renewed its partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters for 2025 and will sponsor 30 member companies to obtain the NCE Certificate of Ethical Trading. The agreement also includes Sampath's participation in NCE seminars, regional delegations and the 33rd Annual NCE Export Awards on 13 Feb 2026.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.17% to 22,812.52 on Friday as selling pressure trimmed the market by 38.43 points; top decliners included Harischandra Mills, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp and Senkadagala Finance.

Sampath Bank PLC renewed its partnership with the National Chamber of Exporters for 2025 and will sponsor 30 member companies to obtain the NCE Certificate of Ethical Trading. The deal also gives Sampath Bank brand visibility at NCE seminars, regional delegations and the 33rd Annual NCE Export Awards.

The Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally up as the ASPI gained 0.03% (7.45 pts) to 22,791.07 on turnover of Rs.6.61bn; DOCK, SAMP, CFIN, HARI and HUNT were among top contributors while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.235.1m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 0.03% at 22,791.07 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.11% to 6,276.86; market turnover was Rs6.61bn led by capital goods (Rs1.5bn) and banks (Rs1.19bn). Top ASPI contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Sampath Bank, Central Finance and Harischandra Mills.

The EPF recorded an unrealized profit of Rs.73.97 billion on its Colombo Stock Exchange holdings as of June 30, 2025, with its Rs.85.88 billion invested across 64 listed companies rising to a market value of Rs.159.85 billion.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.56% (123.87 pts) to 22,416.15 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.45% on turnover of around Rs. 8.9bn, with foreigners net selling Rs. 1.4bn. Hemas, Sampath, Vidullanka, Richard Pieris and DIMO were key positive contributors while banking stocks led turnover.

Colombo ASPI rose 0.56% to 22,416.15 on Thursday, led by gains in Hemas Holdings, Sampath Bank, Vidullanka and Diesel & Motor Engineering, with market turnover of 8.8 billion rupees.

Sampath Bank began restoration of five tanks under its 'Wewata Jeewayak' programme to uplift 1,112 farming families and rejuvenate 2,182 acres of paddy land.

ADB urged Sri Lanka to make cybersecurity and data protection core to its digital transformation. Government advisers said recent laws and institutions (PDPA, Data Protection Authority, National Cyber Security Centre) and a forthcoming Cyber Security Bill will underpin plans to grow the digital economy to $15bn by 2029 and boost digital exports.