News & market updates

Aitken Spence PLC's conventions unit inaugurated the Colombo Shopping Festival – Summer Fair 2025 at BMICH on 18 July; the three-day event (18–20 July) drew strong opening-day footfall with major brand participation, heavy discounts and daily raffle draws.

Colombo market fell as ASPI declined 0.58% (around 106 points) and S&P SL20 down 0.5% on low turnover of Rs.2.4bn; major drags included Melstacorp, Colombo Dockyard, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence and NDB, while turnover was led by Sampath, John Keells and Vallibel Finance.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.58% to 18,042.20 on Monday as US tariff uncertainty damped investor interest, with Melstacorp, HNB, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence and NDB posting declines and turnover falling to Rs2.4bn. Colombo Dockyard announced a rights issue of 323m shares at Rs40.

Heritance Hotels & Resorts (Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings) and Aitken Spence Travels (Aitken Spence PLC) are partnering with the CCC Foundation on the 1333 Bikeathon to raise national mental-health awareness and promote the 1333 helpline, offering accommodation at Heritance properties along the route.

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC’s culinary teams won 116 medals at the Culinary Art Food Expo 2025, with Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ahungalla, Sentido Heritance Negombo and Heritance Tea Factory securing multiple top awards.

Skal International Colombo will host the 54th Asia Congress in Colombo from 26-28 June, welcoming over 200 delegates; Taj Samudra is the main venue and Cinnamon Grand is a partner hotel. Aitken Spence Travels is the official ground-handling partner and SriLankan Airlines the official carrier.

Hosking Partners says it invested tens of millions of USD in Sri Lankan equities in 2023, buying stocks such as Aitken Spence, John Keells, Dialog and others at deep discounts after the CSE market-cap fell to about $9bn (~70% USD decline). They point to rupee-driven inflation, 30% interest rates and a tourism-led recovery as key drivers.

Sri Lanka Tourism hosted a 10-day Familiarization Tour for ten leading Australian travel agents, with Aitken Spence Travels providing transport and five-star accommodation and a B2B session held at Cinnamon Life Hotel; Australian arrivals stood at 47,603 to 18 June 2025.

Aitken Spence will sell its remaining 100 MW Embilipitiya thermal power plant instead of relocating it after the last PPA expired on March 4, 2024, and will divest residual assets as part of a drive to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.

Stasshani Jayawardena has been appointed chairperson of Aitken Spence PLC and paid tribute to her late father in the company's annual report. The group operates across logistics, energy, plantations and hotels with multinational operations.

Aitken Spence PLC's subsidiary Western Power incinerated about 3.1 million illicit cigarettes (4,450 kg) at its Kerawalapitiya Waste-to-Energy plant, generating over 1,500 kWh supplied to the national grid. Ceylon Tobacco Company valued the consignment at over LKR 470 million and collaborated with Sri Lanka Customs.

Dividend · Rs 4.00 · XD Jul 7, 2025

First And Final dividend of LKR 4/share; XD 2025-07-07; record 2025-07-07; payable 2025-07-25; FY 31st March 2025

Colombo market stayed at an all-time high as the ASPI rose 82 points (0.47%) on turnover of Rs.5.6bn, led by heavy activity in John Keells, Hemas, Browns Investments, People’s Leasing and Lanka Milk Foods; foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.41.4mn and capital goods and diversified financials led turnover.

ASPI rose 138 points (0.8%) to 17,353 as the CSE extended its rally on turnover of Rs.7.37bn, led by heavy trading in CDB and CFIN; notable price gains were seen in CDB, CFIN, CTC, HHL, CIC and SUN, while SPEN topped net foreign buying and PKME topped net foreign selling.

Aitken Spence PLC reported EBITDA of Rs. 25.4 billion for FY25 and PBT of Rs. 10.8 billion, a 61% YoY increase. Tourism contributed 54.9% of group contribution, with hotels showing higher occupancies and maritime/logistics also delivering strong results.

Aitken Spence PLC reported EBITDA of Rs. 25.4 billion and Profit Before Tax of Rs. 10.8 billion for FY25, with PBT up 61% year-on-year. Tourism drove performance (54.9% of contribution) and net finance cost fell 29.3%, while maritime, hotels and BPO operations showed strength.

Colombo market extended gains as the ASPI rose 0.33% and the S&P SL20 0.19% on turnover of Rs.4.3 billion, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.162.7 million. Hemas, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence, Sampath and Digital Mobility were top contributors; John Keells and Hatton National Bank fell.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.33% (55.24 pts) to 16,712 on Wednesday with turnover of 4.2 billion rupees; top contributors were Hemas, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence, Dialog Axiata and Sampath Bank, while John Keells weighed on the index after a 71% profit decline.

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.

Sphinx-class AIDAstella made a maiden call at Hambantota International Port carrying 2,000 passengers and 620 crew; the visit was handled by local agent Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd with Lotus DMC managing on-ground excursions.

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.

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC's Turyaa Chennai marks its 10th anniversary on 15 May 2025 with a month-long celebration and community donations of wheelchairs to Tamil Nadu Railways. The hotel said it will pursue more renewable energy, cut single-use plastics and expand digital guest personalization.

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).

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.

Aitken Spence PLC's apparel subsidiaries ACE Apparels and Aitken Spence (Garments) were named among the top 20 at the CPM Best Management Practices Company Awards 2025. ACE was recognised for vertical integration cutting costs and emissions; Aitken Spence (Garments) was honoured for product diversification and onboarding international customers.

Colombo market ended the session marginally down with the ASPI falling 10 points to 15,916 while both ASPI and S&P SL20 gained 0.4% for the week; turnover was about Rs.1.5–1.54 billion and Materials led activity. Ceylon Grain Elevators (GRAN) rose 6.06% and HNB gained, while HHL, TJL, SPEN and RCL pressured the index; ACME closed flat.

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.