News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI plunged 1,290.68 points (5.44%) to 22,443.38 after trading reopened following the Middle East conflict, with the exchange briefly halting trade after the S&P SL20 fell over 5%. Major contributors included Commercial Bank (-11.5%), Hatton National Bank (-18%), Hayleys (-14.5%) and Sampath Bank (-6.75%).

Colombo stock market closed February lower: ASPI fell 47 points (0.2%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 74 points (>1%) with turnover of Rs.7 billion. Banks, conglomerates and blue-chips (COMB, JKH, HNB, CTC, LLUB) weighed on the index while Renuka Agri Foods rose and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.363.8m.

Colombo stocks closed in red, with the ASPI down 0.39% (92.40 pts) to 23,690.62 and the S&P SL20 down 0.71% to 6,681.12 on turnover of nearly Rs.3.7bn. Price losses in John Keells, Melstacorp and Nations Trust Bank were key negatives while ACL Cables, Access Engineering and Dialog were top turnover names.

Banks across Sri Lanka are intensifying AML/CFT controls ahead of the country's third mutual evaluation, warning a negative outcome would damage financial credibility and access to funding. Leading banks such as DFCC and HNB report system upgrades, AI-backed transaction monitoring, stronger KYC/UBO processes and mock evaluations.

Sampath Group posted record 2025 results with group PBT of Rs. 53.0bn, PAT of Rs. 32.6bn and total assets surpassing Rs. 2.0tn. Sampath Bank reported PBT of Rs. 49.3bn, PAT of Rs. 30.2bn, declared a Rs. 10.30 per share final dividend and saw gross loans rise 27% to Rs. 1.2tn.

Sampath Bank reported record bank-level PBT of Rs 49.3 Bn and PAT of Rs 30.2 Bn for the year ended 31 Dec 2025, with gross loans up 27% to Rs 1.2 Tn and a first and final cash dividend of Rs 10.30 per share. NII and NIM declined amid lower rates, while Tier 1 and total CAR were 14.75% and 17.65%.

Dividend · Rs 10.30 · XD Mar 31, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 10.3/share; XD 2026-03-31; record 2026-04-01; payable 2026-04-23; FY 2025

Colombo bourse dipped as the ASPI fell 0.21% to 23,870.07 despite net foreign inflows of Rs.37 million after 22 days of outflows. Capital goods led turnover; John Keells and Hayleys rose while Sampath, Colombo Dockyard, Dialog, DFCC and Commercial Bank were among the negative contributors.

Sampath Bank launched the Sampath COYLE Mastercard World Affinity Credit Card with the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), offering premium travel and lifestyle benefits and directing card transaction contributions to support COYLE welfare and development initiatives.

Sampath Bank launched the Sampath COYLE Mastercard World Affinity Credit Card in partnership with the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs and Mastercard, an exclusive metal premium card for COYLE members offering travel/lifestyle benefits and channeling transaction contributions to COYLE initiatives.

ASPI rose 0.80% (190.27 pts) to 23,900.11 and the S&P SL20 gained 1.38% to 6,710.33, led by strength in large-cap banking stocks. Market turnover was over Rs.5.6bn, foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.167.6m, with HNB, SAMP, COMB, DOCK and NDB among top positive contributors.

ASPI rose 0.24% to 23,709.84 with turnover above Rs.8.5bn and foreign investors net sold Rs.986.2m. Top positive contributors were HNB, RICH, CTEA, COMB and AEL; TKYO led materials-sector turnover (Rs.2.05bn) and JINS recorded a 7.8% price gain.

HNB MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte highlights HNB’s Sarusara agripreneur programme (15,000 participants to date, 30,000 target) and a 2026–2030 strategic plan. He warns of banking-sector challenges (liquidity, asset quality, digital risk) and urges ecosystem-building across exports, agriculture, tourism and digital services.

Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and Seylan Bank acted as Strategic Gold Partners at the Association of Professional Bankers (APB) Convention 2026. The event united public, private and foreign banks to promote professionalism and regional collaboration across Sri Lanka's banking sector.

Home Lands launched four new resort apartment projects totaling 1,000 units in Greater Colombo. Five partner banks (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, NDB and DFCC) are supporting the Home Lands Wealth Builder payment plan, offering flexible financing including up to 100% funding.

The Colombo market ended marginally higher — ASPI +0.02% to 23,655.68 — on turnover of Rs.3.35 billion with foreign net outflows of Rs.64 million. Top positive contributors included NHL, CFIN, CARG, JKH and LLUB, while Samson International, UB Finance and Sierra Cables led turnover.

Colombo stock market ended the week up as the ASPI rose 0.14% to 23,801.96 while year-to-date net foreign selling approached Rs. 11.8 billion. Turnover was nearly Rs. 9.1 billion, led by banks and large crossings (notably Commercial Bank) with gains in ACME, JKH, Sampath, HNB, KZOO, Colombo Dockyard and Teejay.

Sampath Bank PLC has partnered with Intellect Design Arena to implement the eMACH.ai platform to modernise its Corporate and SME banking (cash management, trade finance and supply‑chain finance); the transformation project formally kicked off in January.

Colombo Stock Exchange turnover reached Rs. 11.11 billion in the session, led by John Keells Holdings which accounted for Rs. 4.31 billion of trades. The ASPI and S&P SL20 rose, 131 stocks closed higher, with Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata, Acme and Ceylon Land & Equity among the top positive contributors and HNB contributing Rs. 1.51 billion of turnover.

Home Lands will launch 1,000 brand-new resort-style apartments across four projects at a property investment roadshow on 8 Feb, with five banks (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, NDB and DFCC) offering up to 100% financing and flexible payment plans.

Daraz Sri Lanka is running a 'Fabulous Feb – 2 Good 2 Miss!' 2.2 campaign from Feb 1 (8:00 PM) to Feb 6 with deals up to 85% off, Rs.50 million in vouchers, free delivery, Golden Rush Hour discounts and bank partner payment offers. The campaign also promotes ongoing Everyday Low Price pricing for essentials.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI dropped 0.38% (91.22 pts) to 23,900.89 with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.20.9m. Top negatives included Senkadagala Finance, Ceylon Tobacco, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and C T Holdings while Prime Lands Residencies gained.

NDB Bank has launched Visa's Card Present Connect (CPC) in Sri Lanka, a Cybersource-powered in-person payment acceptance solution for SMBs using Android SmartPOS. The offering supports EMV, contactless and mobile wallets and aims to lower costs, speed onboarding and simplify deployment for acquiring banks.

Sampath Bank PLC has received Central Bank approval to undertake wealth management activities via a wholly owned subsidiary; commencement is subject to obtaining remaining approvals, including from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The bank's board has approved the move and will announce further details once all regulatory clearances are secured.

The Colombo market hit an intraday record of 24,052.06 but closed flat, with the ASPI down 0.01% at 23,953.09 and the S&P SL20 up 0.20% at 6,663.12. Turnover was over Rs.5.4bn; York jumped 24.81% while SAMP, RICH, DFCC, CTHR and CARG were top negative contributors.

Sampath Bank PLC and Prime Lands Residencies PLC signed an MoU to offer a 0% equity financing facility for Prime Residencies condominiums, with Sampath financing 100% for completed projects and releasing 30% upfront for projects under completion.

Sampath Bank and Prime Lands Residencies signed an MoU to offer a 0% equity financing facility for buyers of Prime condominium projects. Sampath will finance 100% for completed projects and release 30% upfront for projects under completion to support buyers and developers.

Government has consolidated MSME financial facilities into a single digital Rs.95 billion framework and the NCGI will issue Rs.7,000 million in credit guarantees in 2026 to unlock about Rs.10,000 million in MSME lending. Sixteen banks, including HDFC, Commercial Bank, NDB, HNB, Sampath, Seylan, DFCC, Nations Trust and Cargills Bank, will participate in channeling concessional and disaster-relief loans.

ASPI closed at an all-time high of 23,806.32, up 0.77% (182.58 pts) on turnover above Rs.9.8bn. Gains were led by Hayleys, Colombo Dockyard and Sampath Bank, with the capital goods and banking sectors among the top contributors.