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.
Sri Lanka sold Rs8,000 million of on-tap Treasury bills at average yields of 8.96% (3-month), 9.27% (6-month) and 9.81% (12-month), taking this week's total T-bill sales to Rs88 billion. Total market subscription for the tap offering was Rs23,833 million.
Treasury Bill weighted-average yields fell for an eighth consecutive week at the auction, 91-day 8.96%, 182-day 9.27%, 364-day 9.81%, as the PDMO fully raised the Rs.80 billion on offer with bids 2.54x. Secondary government bond yields were volatile amid profit-taking and higher oil prices.
Colombo bourse edged up as the ASPI rose 0.03% to 21,325.64 on turnover of over Rs.1.2bn; banks led activity while geopolitical tensions and higher global oil prices weighed on sentiment and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.7.2m.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 328.30/60 to the US dollar, slightly weaker than 328.00/10 the previous day, while government bond yields closed mostly higher across maturities (e.g. 15.12.2029 at ~10.30-10.38%, 15.08.2036 up to ~11.78-11.85%).
Sri Lanka sold all Rs80bn of Treasury bills at Wednesday's auction while yields fell across maturities: 3-month 9.96% (-10bps), 6-month 9.27% (-17bps), 12-month 9.81% (-8bps).
The Sri Lankan government has empowered the Securities and Exchange Commission to be the official regulator for virtual assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers, aiming to formalize crypto oversight and align VASPs with AML standards. The legislation still needs drafting and passage, with licensing timelines and compliance details to be defined.
Asian stocks tumbled as renewed US-Iran fighting pushed Brent crude to $95.91/bbl and triggered a global bond selloff, lifting the US 10-year yield to an intraday high of 4.8122% and MSCI Asia‑Pacific ex‑Japan down 1.5%. Traders price a higher chance of Fed tightening while RBNZ hiked rates 25bp to 2.75%.
The Colombo market opened the month lower as the ASPI fell 0.1% to 21,318.31, with turnover above Rs.2.3bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.612.5m. Selling late in the session hit JKH, BREW, DFCC, DIAL and MELS, while CCS and Asia Siyaka rose.
Fintech Forum Sri Lanka, led by Vice-Chair Conrad Dias (also chairman of LOLC Finance PLC), is pushing to help local fintechs access regional markets of about 200 million people by strengthening collaboration with banks, regulators and international partners. The Forum will focus on accelerating innovation, regulatory engagement, open banking and embedded finance to enable scale beyond Sri Lanka's 20m domestic market.
HNB PLC partnered with Continental Cars (Volkswagen distributor) to offer an exclusive financing and leasing programme for Volkswagen vehicles, including special leasing rates with residual values for leases up to seven years. Customers will also get an HNB credit card with the first-year fee waived and discounted vehicle insurance via HNB General Insurance.
Colombo Stock Exchange traded mixed midday with the ASPI down 0.07% (14.27 points) at 21,304.04 and the S&P SL20 up 0.09% at 5,991.70; market turnover was LKR 466.2m, led by banks at LKR 179.15m. SANASA Life Insurance said its debt securities will remain on the Watch List after a qualified audit opinion and is planning an equity raise to restore its credit rating within 15 months.
Secondary government bond yields fell across key tenors while buying interest remained strong; a Treasury Bill auction today will offer Rs.80 billion (Rs.35bn 91-day, Rs.25bn 182-day, Rs.20bn 364-day). Money-market liquidity stayed in a Rs.138.76bn surplus and the Central Bank conducted repos to absorb liquidity.
Foreign investors bought a net 8,059 million rupees (US$24.8m) of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week to Aug 28, boosting foreign holdings to 210.6 billion rupees-the highest figure in the Central Bank's Weekly Economic Indicators. The inflows coincided with a firmer rupee (around LKR332) after a sharp depreciation in May and follow a May 100bp policy rate rise.
Sri Lanka sold Rs5,000 million of Treasury bonds on tap, bringing the week's total bond sales to Rs55 billion. The 1 Aug 2030 paper yielded 10.54% and the 15 Mar 2035 paper yielded 11.70%.
Sri Lanka's current account posted a $142m deficit in July, the fourth consecutive monthly deficit, leaving a January-July cumulative deficit of $387m, the central bank said. The trade deficit widened to $6.5bn Jan-Jul, fuel import costs rose 68% YoY in July, tourism earnings fell while remittances and some foreign inflows rose.
Conrad Dias, vice-chair of Fintech Forum Sri Lanka, says local fintechs must target larger regional markets (for example ~200 million people in parts of Africa) to achieve scale; the Forum is working with banks, the Central Bank and international partners to boost collaboration, policy engagement and market access.
Colombo Chief Magistrate has directed the Financial Crimes Investigation Division to probe whether goods were actually shipped to Sri Lanka against overseas advance payments in an FCID case alleging 89 Sri Lankan companies remitted large sums to exporters but did not receive imports. One suspect (Jiffry Mohamed) and four junior bank employees were remanded until 3 September.
CSE corporate earnings rose 10% YoY to Rs.168.3bn in 2Q (1QFY27), lifting 1H earnings 8% YoY to Rs.354.9bn, led by banks which contributed 37% of quarterly profits. Food & Beverage and Diversified Financials were the next-largest contributors; top 10 counters made about 56% of profits.
The external current account recorded a $142m deficit in July, bringing the Jan-July cumulative shortfall to $387m as the merchandise trade deficit widened to $6.5bn (imports up 26% to $14.6bn). Fuel imports rose ~60% YoY to $3.62bn; the rupee was 5.5% weaker YTD to end‑Aug and reserves were $6.6bn at end‑July.
Secondary bond market opened on a positive note with yields edging lower on selected tenors, e.g. 15.12.28 at 10.10%, 15.12.29 at 10.30% and long-dated 2033-37 maturities around 11.20%-11.82%. CCPI inflation accelerated to 8% YoY in August; net liquidity surplus was Rs.132.33bn, the Central Bank absorbed Rs.70bn via repos and USD/LKR closed at 328.10/328.30.
Government and industry launched the inaugural Sri Lanka FinTech Festival 2026 to leverage the country's digital-payment infrastructure and boost FinTech innovation, investment and international connectivity; the two-day event is scheduled for 2-3 November at Shangri-La Colombo. Organisers aim to connect regulators, banks, FinTech firms and international partners to translate payment rails into broader economic value while emphasising trust, security and regulatory engagement.
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