The Colombo ASPI fell 0.6% to 20,817.82, sliding to a six-month low as losers (163) outpaced winners (31) and turnover barely topped Rs.1bn. Top decliners and contributors to the drop included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Overseas Realty, Singer, Tokyo Cement and Ceylinco, while John Keells closed flat.
Acme Printing and Packaging PLC and York Arcade Holdings PLC have appointed Arjuna Samaratunga as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Samaratunga was Country Finance Director at Alliance One Indonesia until January 2024 and brings over 40 years of corporate experience including roles at Odel PLC.
C.W. Mackie PLC appointed Asoka Piyadigama as an Executive Director effective 1 August 2026. He currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of York Arcade Holdings and Acme Printing and Packaging and sits on committees within the CFLB Group.
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.
Darley Butler bought 15 million York Arcade shares for Rs.198 million, raising its holding to 15.9m shares (10.6%). Darley Butler is a subsidiary of E.B. Creasy (EBCR); Lankem Ceylon (LCEY) holds a 50.15% controlling stake after buying from Colombo Fort Land & Building (CFLB).