News & market updates

The Colombo ASPI fell 0.69% (158.23 pts) for the week while net foreign selling totaled Rs. 579.98 million. Turnover was over Rs. 2.8 billion; capital goods led turnover (38%) and banks plus diversified financials contributed 28%, with COMB and HUNT among top positive contributors.

CMA Sri Lanka launched national Cost Accounting Standards to strengthen costing, control and reporting across large and medium public and private institutions; the standards prioritize sectors including power, telecom, manufacturing, drugs and agricultural/tea exporters to improve efficiency, pricing transparency and competitiveness.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat on Friday, with the ASPI up 0.03% at 22,905; Amana Bank said KPMG will replace Ernst & Young as its auditors. Capital goods led turnover and the week ended with mixed movers including Hayleys, Commercial Bank and several financial stocks down.

Dialog Axiata reported a net profit of Rs.9.19 billion for the quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 (up 122.3% y/y) and announced an interim cash dividend of 70 cents per share. The Colombo bourse was up (ASPI +0.28%) midday with Rs.1.81bn turnover, led by capital goods (Rs.870.3m).

Colombo stock market edged down 0.09% to close at 22,899.53 (ASPI down 20.79 pts). Turnover was Rs.2.62bn with foreign investors net selling Rs.116m; top negative contributors included Dialog, Hemas, HNB, LOLC and Colombo Dockyard.

Dividend · Rs 10.50 · XD May 25, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 10.5/share; XD 2026-05-25; record 2026-05-25; payable 2026-06-12; FY 2025 - 2026

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, the ASPI dipped 0.09% to 22,899. Vallibel Finance listed 29,431,675 ordinary voting shares from its rights issue, raising 2,119,080,600 rupees.

Colombo bourse slipped below 23,000 as the ASPI fell 0.41% to 22,920.32 with turnover over Rs.2.8bn and net foreign outflows of Rs.29.5m. Market weakness was blamed on Middle East tensions and weaker Q1 banking earnings; CINS, MELS, BUKI, NDB and DFCC were key negative contributors.

John Keells CG Auto (part of the John Keells group) reached 20,000 BYD vehicle services since last year and has expanded its after-sales network to a combined daily capacity of over 200 vehicles, with 43 fast chargers and a 10,000 sqm spare parts warehouse.

Colombo Stock Exchange was slightly higher midday Thursday — ASPI +0.04% (22,930) and S&P SL20 +0.11% (6,276). Top gainers included John Keells, Alumex, RIL Property and Lion Brewery while Sampath, Vallibel One, Hayleys and Malwatte fell; NDB reported a High Court order in a derivative action and Harischandra appointed four board members.

HNB PLC signed an MoU with Hayleys Solar (Hayleys PLC) to offer customer financing for domestic and C&I solar installations, including flexible repayment periods of up to seven years and competitive interest rates to expand solar adoption.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 104.80 points (0.46%) to 22,910.52. Top negatives were Melstacorp, Sampath Bank and HNB; Ceylon Tobacco declared a Rs34 dividend and Kapruka said it will inject Rs41,510,541 into its subsidiary to buy shares to fund electric delivery vehicles and working capital.

Colombo market ended marginally higher as the ASPI closed up 0.02% at 23,015.32 with turnover near Rs.3.7bn and foreign net outflows of Rs.361.3m; MELS.N0000, RIL.N0000, CIC.N0000, BUKI.N0000 and CARG.N0000 were among the leading positive contributors. Investors stayed cautious amid escalating US‑Iran tensions and rising oil prices.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell, with the ASPI down 0.41% (95 points) to 22,920 and the S&P SL20 down 0.40% to 6,269. Banking stocks saw profit taking while top movers included Nawaloka Hospitals (+8.44%), LOLC (+0.83%) and Seylan Bank (+1.65%), and Ceylon Tobacco declared a first interim dividend of Rs.32.40.

ANC Campus hosted a dialogue with Hayleys' executive director and Janashakthi's CEO on geopolitical risks and private-sector resilience; the University of West England will open its first Sri Lanka branch campus in June. Speakers urged firms to adopt AI, diversify exports and streamline approvals to attract investment.

Acme Printing and Packaging PLC will cut stated capital by Rs. 1.6 billion — reducing stated capital from Rs. 2.26bn to Rs. 665m — to write off accumulated losses and reduce retained losses to about Rs. 9.2m, subject to shareholder approval at an EGM.

Morison, a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, says its Homagama facility began commercial manufacturing in 2022 and it is pursuing EU‑GMP accreditation to enable exports. The company manufactures ~60 products, subjects every batch to 20+ tests, and was named LMD's 2024 Most Respected Entity in pharma.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally higher, ASPI up 0.02% at 23,015.32 with turnover of Rs.3.66 billion. Real estate and transportation led turnover (Rs.495.2m and Rs.485.2m) and Abans Finance listed Rs.1.34bn five-year debentures; its shares rose 3.47%.

SDB bank signed an MoU with Hayleys Mobility to offer structured private vehicle leasing with a notable emphasis on electric vehicle (EV) financing across Sri Lanka. The partnership intends to integrate vehicle selection and financing to improve accessibility and convenience for customers nationwide.

John Keells Holdings chair Krishan Balendra will lead a 19-member Sri Lankan corporate delegation to Mumbai for the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum on 13 May to engage Indian counterparts on trade, investment and partnerships. Sri Lanka and India have also discussed a proposed $450m post-conflict reconstruction package.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.23% to 23,011.72 despite net foreign inflows of Rs. 597.5m; banking sector led turnover with large SEYB crossings and gains, while COMB, CINS, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard were among top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: ASPI -0.23% to 23,011.72 and S&P SL20 -0.30%, with turnover Rs.4.92bn and banks leading at Rs.3.04bn. Movers included Melstacorp, Hemas and CDB up while Ceylinco Insurance, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard fell; Laugfs Power commissioned a 2MW mini-hydro and ACME proposed a capital reduction (EGM Jun 11).

Hapag-Lloyd Lanka, a subsidiary of Aitken Spence PLC, won two Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Customer Service Awards for the Europe and Mediterranean trades. The unit cited CRM implementation and extended working hours as drivers of improved customer engagement and operational performance.

Colombo Stock Exchange was flat at midday: ASPI up 0.01% to 23,065 while banks led turnover at Rs.2.85 billion. Top movers included CDB (+4.65%), JKH (+0.49%), HHL (+1.21%) and NTB (+1.08%), while HAYL, COMB and DFCC fell.

John Keells' JKCG Auto launched a campaign with Bank of Ceylon and Sri Lanka Insurance to boost NEV adoption among government employees from 4 May–31 July 2026, offering financing, preferential leasing, tailored insurance, home charging access and aftersales support.

The Ceylon Chamber will lead a senior corporate delegation to Mumbai for the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum on 13 May 2026, with leaders from John Keells, Aitken Spence, Hayleys, Sierra Cables and Vidullanka among participants to engage Indian investors on trade and investment opportunities.

The ASPI reclaimed 23,000 on 8 May 2026, closing at 23,063.98 (+0.29%) with total turnover of Rs. 4.09 billion. Ceylinco Insurance and Hayleys were the main positive contributors, Colombo Dockyard led turnover, and John Keells was the top negative contributor.

Colombo market rose 2.28% for the week as the ASPI crossed 23,000, closing at 23,063.98. Top positive contributors were CINS, HAYL, DOCK, DIAL and HNB; turnover was ~Rs.4.1bn and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.26.2m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 0.29% (66.12 points) at 23,063 after a volatile session that briefly breached 23,000. Hayleys and Dialog were top positive contributors, and Hatton Plantations said Durga Infra bought 10,245,384 shares and now holds 12.5%.