News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.30% to 20,619 with turnover of Rs 6.21bn, led by gains in banks and capital goods. Key risers included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB, Aitken Spence, DFCC and active trading in Sierra Cables.

Banking system net foreign assets fell from about $3.3bn in April 2025 to $2.90bn in July 2025, reversing after rate cuts and a pickup in private credit. Central bank net foreign assets also eased to around $1.41bn in June (≈$1.46bn in July), buying $142m from the interbank market in August.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI and S&P SL20 declined 1.25% amid profit-taking led by banks, with ASPI down 257 points — the largest intraday drop since 23 June. Turnover was Rs.4 billion and foreigners recorded a net outflow of Rs.80.5 million; several bank counters led losses.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC acquired over 1 acre on Station Road, Bambalapitiya for Rs.3.5 billion via a Sampath Bank public auction. Prime paid a Rs.350 million (10%) advance and will settle the balance within 30 days; the group says this is its largest land investment.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.25% to 20,355.39 as investor uncertainty over the next IMF tranche and possible new budget taxes prompted selling; major banks (Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, HNB) and Melstacorp led declines.

ASPI fell 379.58 points week-on-week to 20,612.40, and the S&P SL20 lost 131.48 points to 5,873.12. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Browns Investments, Sampath Bank and Bukit Darah were top negative contributors; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.2.3 billion and weekly turnover averaged Rs.5.8 billion (Chevron Lubricants off-board trades Rs.2 billion).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, with the ASPI down 0.14% (29.43 pts) at 20,612 as budget concerns created volatility. Market turnover was 5.847 billion rupees; DFCC, Nations Trust and Watawala were among top gainers while Commercial Bank and Sampath weighed on the index.

Sampath Bank was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for ESG at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 after channelling Rs.1.44 billion into renewable energy projects, cutting its carbon footprint by 8% and increasing solar generation by 36%.

Siyapatha Finance PLC opened its 57th branch in Thambuttegama. Siyapatha is the largest fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank PLC, which may benefit from the network expansion and branch services (including gold financing and Smart Pay).

ASPI fell 0.6% (128 pts) to 20,642 on turnover of Rs.6.5bn, led by Prime Lands Residencies (Rs.1.9bn), Chevron Lubricants and Sierra Cables; banks and blue-chip names including HNB, JKH and DFCC were top negative contributors.

Siyapatha Finance PLC, the largest fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000), completed a 13-programme nationwide financial literacy initiative covering all provinces. Sessions addressed personal money management, leasing, gold loans, factoring, green finance and AML/consumer protection aligned with Central Bank regulations.

Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000) was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for ESG at the Euromoney Awards 2025 after reporting Rs.1.44 billion in renewable-energy lending, an 8% carbon footprint reduction and other sustainability initiatives.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI gained 0.46% to 20,769, with a C T Holdings crossing contributing Rs 3.6bn to turnover; C T Holdings closed down Rs 29.75 at Rs 689. Banks led gains with HNB, NDB and DFCC up, while Sampath and Nations Trust fell.

LOLC sold part of its stake in Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PickMe) while foreign fund Tundra increased buying; PickMe dominated turnover with Rs.1 billion on 23.4 million shares and closed at Rs.132.75 (up Rs.0.50). Several other listed names saw notable turnover and mixed price moves.

Daraz Sri Lanka launches its 9.9 Birthday Cart Sale (Sep 9–20) with discounts up to 85%, Rs.20m in vouchers and partner bank/card discounts up to 15% from Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank AmEx, Sampath Bank and LOLC Finance.

The Colombo ASPI fell 1.11% to 20,674.11, dragged down by declines in CTC, JKH, Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata and HNB.

Sampath Bank and Sathosa Motors signed an MoU to offer vehicle buyers a 0.5% reduction on lease interest, interest-free insurance loans if paid within two months, 0% 12-month card repayments for insurance, and discounts of Rs.50,000 on trucks and Rs.100,000 on double cabs plus other promotions.

ICCSSL hosted a July 30 Coffee Evening where CSE and SEC officials and practitioners discussed the Colombo Stock Exchange's new governance regulations for listed companies, focusing on compliance complexities and implementation challenges.

Sampath Bank PLC signed an MoU with Prime EV Automobiles to finance Deepal electric vehicles, offering a 0.5% p.a. interest-rate discount, interest-free two-month insurance loans and 0% interest 12-month credit-card instalments.

Ramp Up 2025, a WCIC fashion showcase on 9 Sept at Hilton Colombo, will spotlight women-led designers and is sponsored by companies including Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000), Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS.N0000) and Janashakthi Insurance (JINS.N0000).

Colombo Bourse fell as investors took profits, with the ASPI down 72 pts to 20,991 and turnover of Rs. 7.5bn (foreign net inflow Rs. 97m). Declines were led by CTC, SAMP, NDB and COMB while Alumex, Sierra Cables and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings posted gains.

People’s Bank reported an all-time-high 1H Profit Before Tax of Rs. 28.0 billion and PAT of Rs. 18.2 billion. The bank also reported Rs. 3.6t in assets, Rs. 3.1t deposits, improved net interest margins and a digital customer base of 3.7m.

Hatton National Bank MD Damith Pallewatte is leading the Sri Lanka FinTech Summit 2025 (Sept 24–25) to coordinate a national fintech ecosystem, targeting measures like 95% financial inclusion by 2030 and $100m in near-term fintech investment; workstreams will focus on SME lending, KYC interoperability, blockchain pilots and cross-border payments.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 38 points (+0.2%) and S&P SL20 gained 6 points (+0.1%), with turnover up to Rs.5.1 billion led by Teejay Lanka, Sierra Cables and Sampath Bank. Construction and banking stocks led gains; DFCC, SAMP and DIAL were top index movers and foreigners net bought Rs.56.1m.

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 73 points (0.36%) and the S&P SL20 declined 0.78% on Rs. 4.4bn turnover, with foreign investors net sellers of Rs. 801.2m amid profit-taking and political uncertainty following the remand of former President Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka's stock market closed up 0.32% as the ASPI rose 64.88 points to 20,640 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.39% to 6,066; turnover was 5.14 million rupees. Top contributors were DFCC Bank, Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank.

The Exporters' Association of Sri Lanka held its 28th AGM with EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno stressing compliance, sustainability and the CBAM framework for exporters. Yohan Lawrence was re-elected chairman and the executive committee includes representatives from listed firms such as HNB, Hayleys, Sampath, Lion Brewery, CIC, Dipped Products and Dankotuwa Porcelain.

Sampath Bank joined the Asian Development Bank’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program, making Sampath-issued trade finance instruments eligible for ADB credit guarantees to expand access to trade finance for Sri Lankan exporters and importers.

Sampath Bank launched its API Banking platform and onboarded Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB.N0000) as the first corporate client, enabling seamless, secure payments directly from CDB’s ERP system.

Colombo market closed up for a fifth straight session as the ASPI inched to a record 20,715.49 (up 0.69 points) on turnover of Rs. 10.5 billion. Gains in Dialog Axiata, Sunshine and Royal Ceramics helped lift the index while banking names (HNB, Sampath) dominated turnover and foreigners were net sellers (Rs. 552.6m).