News & market updates

United Motors Lanka PLC reported a FY2025/26 Group profit of Rs. 3.61 billion and Company profit of Rs. 2.20 billion, up sharply from Rs. 73m and Rs. 338m respectively, driven by a recovery in vehicle sales after the lifting of the import ban and growth in after-sales and trailer exports.

The Body Shop has relaunched its Dewberry fragrance collection in Sri Lanka, offering bath & shower gel, body butter, body yogurt, hand balm and body mist at its Bagatale Road flagship, Odel stores (Alexandra Place), Kandy City Centre, Colombo City Centre, Havelock City, One Galle Face Mall boutique and online.

LG Electronics opened its first LG Business Innovation Centre at Abans Elite in Colombo on 14 May 2026, a dedicated hub for commercial information displays and AV solutions. The centre showcases integrated solutions (video walls, digital signage, Pro TV and management software) for retail, hospitality, healthcare and transport and is open for demos.

Speakers at the Sri Lanka Brand Forum Leadership Summit urged companies to redesign strategy for a new era of permanent volatility, prioritising employee wellbeing, organisational resilience (slack resources), decentralised decision-making, and long-term purpose-driven social programs.

Creative Information Technologies opened a new premium showroom at Unity Plaza on 25 May 2026 to expand its retail and distribution presence. The company distributes brands including Amida, HAVIT and PNY and retails products from HP, Dell, Asus and MSI.

Colombo stocks recovered after the CBSL hiked policy rates by 100bps, with the ASPI up 0.11% at 22,199.23 and turnover around Rs.1.86bn. DIAL, CCS, BREW, CARS and NDB were top positive contributors; VLL saw net foreign buying while AAIC saw net foreign selling and Food & Beverage led turnover.

Swadeshi Industrial Works' Khomba Baby Soap received SLS 547 certification from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution. SLS 547 mandates safety, non‑irritation and quality for infant soaps; Khomba is also dermatologically tested and the brand complies with ISO 9001:2015.

Dr. Nirmal De Silva launched his book 'The 15 Organizational Realities' at BMICH, Colombo, presenting fifteen recurring organizational patterns and practical leadership shifts based on over 7,800 engagements across more than 250 organisations. The launch included a panel of senior private- and public-sector leaders.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) posted Group EBITDA of Rs.80.01 billion for FY2025/26, up 75%. Recurring profit attributable rose 155% to Rs.13.24 billion; group units Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and Union Assurance (UAL) also reported improved results, with NTB completing the HSBC Sri Lanka retail acquisition.

Dividend · Rs 0.82 · XD Jun 8, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 0.82/share; XD 2026-06-08; record 2026-06-08; payable 2026-06-25; FY 31st March 2026

John Keells Holdings reported FY2025/26 Group EBITDA of Rs.80.01bn (up 75%), recurring PBT of Rs.35.72bn (up 143%) and recurring profit attributable of Rs.13.24bn, and declared a final interim dividend of 10 cents to bring FY26 total to 30 cents (Rs.4.42bn). The group cited broad-based contributions from Retail, Transportation and Leisure, and noted improved performance at NTB and double-digit premium growth at Union Assurance.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.54% to 22,294.71 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.61%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Ceylon Cold Stores, NDB and Bairaha Farms while Hemas, Lion Brewery and Sampath Bank lagged; Jetwing Symphony declared a final dividend of Rs0.50 and closed at Rs14.30 (+2.88%).

Swadeshi Industrial Works Plc's Khomba Baby Soap was awarded the SLS 547 certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, confirming it meets mandatory safety and quality standards for infant soaps. The company says the product is also dermatologically tested and ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Lanka Ashok Leyland (ASHO.N0000) reported FY26 PAT of Rs.3.06bn (vs Rs.1.53bn LY) and revenue of Rs.19.33bn, and the board declared a 300% dividend (Rs.30/share). The company said growth was driven by higher vehicle sales, local value addition, exports and operational efficiencies, and it relaunched premium coaches for tourism.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said banks increased their willingness to lend in 1Q 2026, with loan demand rising across retail, corporate, SME and SOE sectors and overall NPLs declining; banks expect lending to rise further in 2Q while warning that geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions pose risks.

The Ceylon United Business Alliance urged the President and Finance Minister to impose a temporary ban on non-essential imports to protect USD reserves, saying restricting apparel imports alone could save about $75–150m per month. It named priority consumer sectors (apparel, footwear, tiles, plastics, processed food, furniture) while asking essential and tourism-related imports to continue.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) became the Colombo Stock Exchange's largest listed company with a market cap of Rs. 367.09 billion after its share price rose 7% to Rs. 39.90 on May 25. John Keells stood at Rs. 359.36bn and Ceylon Tobacco at Rs. 341.91bn; Commercial Bank was the largest bank at Rs. 320.88bn.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.85% to 22,175.14, with market turnover at Rs.4.92bn and insurance stocks leading turnover at Rs.3.18bn. Top gainers included Ceylon Beverage (+5.20%), Lion Brewery (+3.06%) and Ceylon Guardian (+5.43%), while Sampath Bank, Hayleys and HNB were top decliners.

Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, with the ILO and support from Norway, launched the Iranamadu Tilapia culture-based production and semi-processing centre in Kilinochchi to strengthen climate-resilient aquaculture and expand rural livelihoods. The facility targets women’s employment, skills training in processing and food safety, and links smallholder producers to Cargills' supermarket network.

The central bank hiked rates 100bp to 8.75%, and the Colombo Stock Exchange fell with the ASPI down 0.51% to 22,249.88; market turnover was Rs.2.99bn with insurance leading at Rs.2.6bn. Lanka Ashok Leyland proposed a final dividend of Rs30/share and Lighthouse Hotel declared a final dividend of Rs3/share.

Dialog Axiata regained the top spot on the Colombo Stock Exchange with a market cap of Rs. 367.1 billion (4.51% of total market cap), overtaking John Keells Holdings at Rs. 359.4 billion.

Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) will host the MercedesTrophy Sri Lanka 2026 on 6 June 2026 at Nuwara Eliya Golf Club as an exclusive event for DIMO Mercedes‑Benz customers marking Mercedes‑Benz's 140th anniversary. Winners will receive an Arctic Circle Mercedes‑Benz driving experience.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) posted a 75% rise in quarterly profit to Rs 3.76 billion for the March 2026 quarter, with group revenue up 20% to Rs 50.32 billion. The board approved a final dividend of Rs 3.34 per share payable by June 12, 2026, and quarterly EPS rose to Rs 3.95.

Dividend · Rs 30.00 · XD Aug 17, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 30/share; XD 2026-08-17; record 2026-08-17; payable 2026-09-07; FY 2025/26

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, with the ASPI up 1.98% to 22,364.77, as rupee stabilisation and lower interest rates boosted investor confidence. Ceylon Cold Stores and Hemas posted strong quarterly profits and John Keells declared a final dividend; Dialog, Commercial Bank and Sampath gained while hSenid and Dipped Products fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.96% (430.21 pts) to 22,359.85 on Monday, with the S&P SL20 up 1.93%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hemas; Ceylon Cold Stores reported Q1 profit up 75% to Rs 3.76bn and LVL Energy Fund's rights issue was oversubscribed.

Government amended its Gazette (effective 18 May) to make the 50% customs duty surcharge apply to vehicle-import LCs opened on or before 15 May if they were altered after 15 May; changes to quantity, VIN, description or specifications are now subject to the surcharge, closing a loophole amid allegations of prior knowledge.

Hemas Holdings (HHL) reported record FY2025/26 results with group earnings of Rs.8.92 bn (up 10.7% YoY) and revenue of Rs.127.4 bn (up 8%). The group has earmarked over $100m for investments over the next four years and expects an FY27 acquisition to raise international revenue to 10% from 3%.

The Sri Lankan–German Business Forum 2026 will run 27–29 May in Colombo to promote FDI in maritime, ports and logistics and to showcase Sri Lankan IT startups. The conference, attended by the Prime Minister, will focus on port infrastructure financing, boosting exports to the EU and digitalisation.