News & market updates

The Colombo market paused its upward run as the ASPI fell 0.37% and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.5%, while foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.170 million. Turnover was Rs.1.5 billion with top contributors John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hayleys and the banking sector leading activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.37% as profit taking and concern over a proposed 18.3% electricity tariff hike weighed on markets, with the ASPI down 61.43 points to 16,336.25 and banking names notably weaker; turnover slipped to 1.5 billion rupees.

Colombo Bourse opened the week higher: ASPI +0.1% and S&P SL20 +0.3% with turnover Rs. 2.6bn, led by banking stocks (Pan Asia, Commercial Bank, Seylan, HNB) and gains in John Keells and C T Holdings.

Sampath Bank appointed Sanjaya Dias Pujitha Gunawardana as Managing Director-Designate effective 1 July 2025; he will become Managing Director on 25 September following the current MD's retirement. The bank also named Deepal de Silva as Chief Operating Officer from 1 July 2025.

Colombo bourse closed the shortened week with the ASPI up 2.9% and S&P SL20 up 3.5%, average daily turnover Rs.3.67bn, led by gains in JKH, LOLC, CARS, EBCR and SAMP; foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs.157.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.40% as the US-China tariff truce lifted sentiment; ASPI gained 64.40 points to 16,379.39, led by gains in John Keells, LOLC, Carson Cumberbatch, E B Creasy and Sampath Bank.

Sampath Bank was designated a Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB) and reported 1Q PBT of Rs.13.4bn and PAT of Rs.8.3bn, up 115% and 149% year-on-year. Deposits rose by Rs.76.6bn, capital ratios remained strong (Tier 1 16.51%, total 20.30%), and NII fell 6% amid lower rates while exchange and investment gains boosted results.

Sampath Bank appointed Sanjaya Dias Pujitha Gunawardana as Managing Director-Designate from 1 July 2025 who will assume office as Managing Director on 25 September 2025 after Ayodhya Iddawela Perera retires; Rahubadde Kankanamge Deepal de Silva will become COO from 1 July 2025.

Colombo market gained further momentum as the ASPI rose 1.15% (183.5 pts) with turnover of Rs. 4.5 billion led by heavy trading in John Keells, Lanka Realty, Commercial Bank, LOLC Holdings and Sampath Bank. Separately, Lanka IOC announced a first and final dividend of Rs. 5 per share.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 1.29% (208.80 pts) to 16,340.04 as mid-cap buying and stronger retail interest lifted the market, with Melstacorp, Sampath Bank and Commercial Bank among gainers while NDB weighed on the index.

ASPI rose 183.55 points (1.14%) to 16,314.79 as CSE turnover hit Rs.4.55 billion with over 180 million shares traded. Lanka Realty led activity (Rs.467m); JKH, LOLC and Commercial Bank saw heavy trading; Melstacorp, Sampath, Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Aitken Spence helped drive gains while several counters including Dipped Products, Ceylon Grain Elevators, Industrial Asphalts and NDB fell.

Sampath Bank launched next-day POS settlements across weekends and public holidays for CEYPETCO fuel stations, enabling station owners to receive card transaction funds as early as the next day. The service accepts major cards, includes 24/7 support and real-time crediting of cash/cheque collections with doorstep pickup until 8:00 PM.

Colombo market jumped as the ASPI rose 215 points (1.35%) to 16,131, reclaiming the 16,000 level with turnover of Rs.3.3bn. HNB, COMB, CFIN, SAMP, SPEN and JKH were among the top drivers and foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.25.5m).

Sampath Bank reported March 2025 quarter net profit of 8.92 billion rupees, up 135% y/y (earnings 7.61 rupees per share). The bank said a 1.2 billion forex gain from rupee depreciation and a 2.7 billion capital gain on T-bills/bonds boosted results while interest income and NII fell.

Colombo ASPI rose 1.63% to 16,176.10 after a US‑China 90‑day tariff pause and some positive interim/annual results lifted markets. Banking names HNB, Central Finance, Commercial Bank and Sampath led gains while DFCC fell after interim results, Dialog Finance noted fraud-related legal action and coconut exporters slipped.

Sri Lanka stocks closed marginally weaker as the ASPI fell 0.06% to 15,916.17 amid lower turnover and investor caution over IMF talks, US tariff discussions and GSP+ uncertainty. HNB reported March-quarter profit up 48% to LKR 10.6 billion, while several exporters and tourism-linked stocks fell.

Sampath Bank launched Sampath Select, Sri Lanka's first fully automated, AI-powered personal loan solution offering intelligent, paperless instant approvals via a five-click process on the Sampath Vishwa mobile app.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.53% (up 84.32 pts to 15,925.92) after the World Bank pledged US$1bn, lifting banking shares including HNB, Sampath, Commercial Bank and DFCC. Export-oriented stocks such as Teejay Lanka and Dipped Products fell as turnover dropped to LKR1.6bn.

The ASPI fell 120 points (0.75%) to 15,842 as investors reacted to the ruling NPP's weaker-than-expected LG poll showing, with turnover of Rs. 3.2bn. Major drags included JKH, CINS, COMB, SPEN and SAMP while Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover (61%).

Sampath Bank launched Sampath Select, Sri Lanka’s first fully automated, AI-powered instant personal loan solution available via the Sampath Vishwa mobile app. It provides paperless, five-click personalised approvals using real-time customer data and is backed by a new Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence.

Sri Lanka stocks fell 0.76% after the NPP failed to secure a majority in local government polls, with the ASPI closing 119.99 points lower at 15,841.60. Blue-chip names and most banks led declines and buying interest was weak in export-oriented stocks.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher in a shortened session, with the ASPI up 45 points to 15,962 (S&P SL20 +0.22%). Turnover was about Rs.1.48–1.5 billion and foreign investors net sold Rs.177.3 million; key contributors included MELS, WIND, SPEN, SAMP and heavy turnover in CTC, BIL and KOTA.

Colombo stocks rose 0.28% as the ASPI closed at 15,961.59 after the exchange shut early at 12:30pm for local government voting. Major banks were mixed—Sampath, Commercial, DFCC and NDB gained while HNB and Seylan fell—and turnover dropped to 1.4 billion rupees.

Colombo stock market opened higher as the ASPI rose 0.41% (up 65 pts) to 15,917; turnover was about Rs.2.0bn while foreigners were net sellers with a Rs.262.5mn outflow. Market momentum was driven by blue-chips and mid-caps, with notable activity in capital goods and food & beverage names.

Sri Lanka’s ASPI rose 0.41% to 15,916.69 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.57% to 4,664.82 as bank and mid-cap stocks strengthened ahead of local elections; HNB, Sampath, Commercial Bank, DFCC, NDB, John Keells and Lanka Milk Foods all closed higher.

NCGIL issued its first guarantees to Commercial Bank (COMB), Hatton National Bank (HNB) and Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) to partly cover MSME loans under a new ADB-funded program (USD 50m), offering guarantees currently up to 67% of principal.

NCGIL began operations and issued its first guarantees to Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank and Citizens Development Business Finance to partly cover loans to three MSMEs; the ADB-funded, GOSL-backed vehicle has USD50m funding and offers guarantees up to 67% for term loans (LKR 0.5m–25m).

The SEC, with ADB technical support, released a regulatory framework enabling issuance and trading of Green, Blue, Social and Sustainability‑Linked (GSS+) bonds on the Colombo Stock Exchange, allowing sovereigns and corporates to raise capital for environmental and social projects.

ASPI rose 0.33% to 15,851.74 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.12% to 4,638.29, with John Keells Holdings the top negative contributor. Banking stocks were mostly negative (HNB, Sampath, Commercial, NDB down; DFCC, NTB up) and exporters showed mixed moves (Teejay, Hayleys Fabric, Dipped Products, Haycarb).