A market brief each morning, plus company filings and news from across Sri Lanka's stock market. Filter by company, sector and theme, and use sentiment badges to quickly identify Positive or Negative news.
Commercial Bank of Ceylon was named Euromoney's 2026 'Best Bank in Sri Lanka' and 'Best ESG Bank', reporting 2025 profit before tax of Rs.89.38 billion and total assets of Rs.3.26 trillion. Euromoney cited its ESG leadership, including a Rs.15 billion green bond to fund renewable energy and a 19.5% ROE.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 330.75/331.25 to the US dollar on Friday, firming from 331.50/90 the previous day. Local government bond yields fell across maturities (e.g. 15.09.2027 at 9.85/10.00%), with modest declines reported on several longer-dated issues.
Sri Lanka's rupee strengthened to 330.90/331.25 per US dollar on Friday from 331.50/90 the previous day, while government bond yields broadly recovered as rates fell amid buying interest (e.g. the 15.09.2029 issue quoted at 10.85-10.90%). The All Share Price Index rose 0.18% to 21,060 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.16% to 5,934.
Global NPO Coalition co-chair Sangeeta Goswami warned that fear of FATF grey-listing is prompting Sri Lanka to over-comply with AML/CFT rules, causing banks to de-risk non-profits and delay humanitarian transfers. She said the FATF's 2016 shift to a risk-based approach has not been fully adopted by regulators or banks, producing harmful outcomes for civil society and aid flows.
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) signed a five-year framework agreement with the Government of Maldives to mobilise up to $1.5 billion for trade financing between 2026 and 2031. The financing will cover imports of essential commodities and lines to local banks to support SMEs and the private sector.
The ASPI fell 0.52% (109.98 pts) to 21,023.43, hitting a 23-week low as selling driven by concerns over rising interest rates and sustained crude above $100 pressured the market. Top drags included Melstacorp, Dialog, Hayleys, Ceylon Beverage and RIL while foreigners were net sellers of ~Rs.213m; turnover ~Rs.1.3bn.
Secondary bond-market yields fell across several tenors on renewed buying interest (e.g. 15.10.28 10.85%-10.75%; 01.02.31 rallied to ~11.45%), with a money-market liquidity surplus of Rs.107.84bn. USD/LKR closed near 331.50/331.90 as the rupee marginally appreciated.
Visa supported the Scale Up 2.0 National SME Forum 2026 as Platinum Partner, promoting digital payments, cross-border commerce and digital capability-building to help Sri Lankan SMEs scale, improve competitiveness and access new markets.
Sri Lanka sold Rs10,000 million of treasury bills on tap at an average rate of 9.18%, including a 3‑month bill at 9.24%, bringing total bills sold this week to Rs70.01 billion; total market subscription was Rs10,000 million.
Central Bank's Purchasing Managers Index for Sri Lanka's services sector rose to 65.6 in August 2026 from 61.4 in July, signalling faster expansion led by transportation, wholesale & retail trade and professional services; employment and new-business measures also increased.
The Public Debt Management Office raised the full Rs.70 billion offer as Treasury Bill weighted-average yields rose for the first time in 11 weeks, 91-day 9.18% (+15bp), 182-day 9.36% (+12bp) and 364-day 9.88% (+11bp). Secondary bond yields and money-market rates climbed and the USD/LKR closed around Rs.332.
Global markets traded mixed as the Fed is widely expected to lift rates by 25 basis points; the US 10-year yield rose to 5.04%. Brent crude fell to $108.1/barrel and gold dipped to $4,321/oz, while the US dollar eased slightly.
Sri Lanka's Treasury bill yields rose across maturities at Wednesday's auction and all Rs70 billion offered were sold. The 3-month yield rose 15bp to 9.18% (Rs25bn sold), the 6-month was up 12bp to 9.36% (Rs25bn), and the 12-month rose 11bp to 9.88% (Rs20bn).
CFA Society Sri Lanka hosted a high-level industry-academia dialogue on developing the next generation of finance and investment talent, focusing on AI, technology and data analytics, changing skill requirements and closer alignment between universities and employers.
Secondary government bond yields rose for a second straight session, with short-to-belly maturities trading around 10.95%-11.50%; a Rs.70 billion Treasury Bill auction (Rs.25b 91-day, Rs.25b 182-day, Rs.20b 364-day) is scheduled today. The rupee weakened to Rs.330.65/331.10 against the US dollar.
The PDMO raised the full Rs. 70,000 million at today's T‑bill auction while weighted average yields rose across all tenors: 91-day 9.18% (+15bps), 182-day 9.36% (+12bps) and 364-day 9.88% (+11bps). Total bids were Rs. 171,601 million (2.4x the offer); settlement Sep 18, 2026.
Lawyers for suspect Jiffry Mohamed have urged the Attorney General to direct the FCID to fully investigate police allegations that goods paid for via dollar remittances were undervalued yet cleared by Sri Lanka Customs. They say advance payments under the 2011 regulations were lawful, banks conducted due diligence, and Customs and the source of funds should be probed; the suspect remains in remand.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the ASPI down 0.24% (51.79 pts) at 21,262.13 on Rs2.23 billion turnover. SMB Finance, Watawala, Sampath Bank and Lion Brewery were top positive contributors while Dialog, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank led declines; a mandatory offer for Industrial Asphalts fell through after the SEC refused a share transfer due to the company being on the CSE watchlist.
Sri Lanka sold Rs8 billion of Treasury bonds on tap at average rates set at last week's auction, taking weekly bond sales to Rs158 billion. The tap included a 15 Oct 2034 issue (yield 11.96%) and a 1 Jul 2037 issue (yield 12.08%); settlement 15 Sep 2026.
Asian shares wavered as oil rose (U.S. crude $102.68/bbl, Brent $106.96) and global bond yields climbed ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan policy meetings, with markets pricing roughly a 90% chance of a 25bp Fed hike. Middle East tensions and AI slowdown calls added to caution.
Sri Lanka's rupee weakened to 330.15/25 per US dollar in the spot market (from 329.15/35), while government bond yields rose. Quoted yields included 15.10.2028 at 10.45-10.65%, 15.12.2029 at 10.75-10.90% and 01.08.2030 at 11.10-11.20%.
The secondary bond market opened the week bearish as yields rose across maturities-several mid- to long-dated yields trading around 11%-12% (e.g., 01.12.31 11.52%-11.62%; 01.07.37 12.05%-12.08%)-while the rupee weakened to Rs.329.15/329.35 per USD. Money-market liquidity showed a surplus of Rs.131.40bn with the Central Bank absorbing Rs.76.50bn via repo auctions and Rs.58.06bn parked at the SDFR.
Fintech Forum Sri Lanka chairman Channa de Silva said the Forum will enter a new phase focused on building consumer trust, strengthening industry collaboration and accelerating digital adoption to create a more sustainable fintech sector. He warned rising digital fraud risks and urged working with regulators, banks and government to boost uptake.
Colombo Stock Exchange indices edged up (ASPI +0.06% to 21,327.69) as Vidullanka subscribed Rs100 million in Vidul Biomass II to develop a 6.6MW Medawachchiya Dendro Power Project, with total cost $16.1m and a ~Rs1.3bn equity commitment.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed weaker at 329.15/35 per US dollar (from 328.90/329.00), while government bond yields rose across maturities, e.g., the 15.12.2029 was quoted at 10.70/85% (up from 10.60/65%) and the 15.10.2034 at 11.93/12.00%.
Foreign investors bought a net 2,750 million rupees (US$8.5m) of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week to Sept 11, lifting foreign holdings to 213.4 billion rupees and marking 13 consecutive weeks of net inflows totalling 92 billion rupees since June 19.
Sri Lanka's official worker remittances rose 10% to US$748.6 million in August 2026 and totalled US$6,131 million in the first eight months, up 19.8%. The report says the rupee has been largely stable since July, though past exchange-rate uncertainty pushed some transfers into informal channels.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.32% to 21,313.92 with market turnover Rs 1.55 billion and banks leading turnover at Rs 309.87 million. Movers included Carson Cumberbatch, Commercial Bank, Central Finance and Watawala (up) and Dialog, Aitken Spence, LOLC and Ceylon Cold Stores (down); Anilana said Sampath Bank acquired its hotel properties and is contesting the action in court.
Sri Lanka sold Rs150 billion of government bonds: Rs70bn of 01 Aug 2030 at an average yield of 10.83%, Rs50bn of 15 Oct 2034 at 11.96%, and Rs30bn of 01 Jul 2037 at 12.08%; all three bonds are available on tap.
Sri Lanka sold Rs120 billion of government bonds across 2030, 2034 and 2037 maturities, with average yields of 10.83% for 01-Aug-2030, 11.96% for 15-Oct-2034 and 12.08% for 01-Jul-2037; all three issues were sold in full and are available on tap.