News & market updates

A 26-member Sri Lankan delegation, including Cargills (CARG.N0000), Hayleys (HAYL.N0000) and CIC (CIC.N0000), participated at FoodAG 2025 in Karachi (25–27 Nov 2025) to pursue sourcing, distribution and trade partnerships. Meetings covered livestock import regulation talks and efforts to strengthen trade under the Pakistan–Sri Lanka FTA.

The Colombo stock market gained Rs.84 billion as the ASPI rose 1.42% to 22,445.89. Top contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, Hatton National Bank, Richard Pieris and Commercial Bank, with capital goods, banking and materials driving turnover and hotel stocks seeing buying interest.

Hayleys Fentons, part of Hayleys PLC, was named Sri Lanka's Best Integrated Solutions Provider in Engineering Services at the World Business Outlook Awards 2025 in Bangkok. The international recognition highlights the firm's technical expertise and may bolster the Hayleys group's reputation in engineering and related sectors.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 1.49% as the ASPI closed 313.56 points higher at 22,445.89, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, HNB and Commercial Bank. Market turnover fell to 3.4 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 36.73 million rupees, led by John Keells.

Namunukula Plantations bought 4,039,426 ordinary shares (0.95%) of National Development Bank from Arpico Insurance for Rs. 555.41 million at Rs. 137.50 per share. The transaction is a related-party, non-recurrent deal between subsidiaries of Richard Pieris & Co and falls within CSE Listing Rules limits.

Sunshine Holdings supported a PRASL forum in Colombo where CIPR President-elect Farzana Baduel addressed leaders on reputation management and navigating online crises.

Port City Colombo marks 11 years as CHEC reiterates progress, announcing commissioning of public utility connections to Colombo’s grid and citing over USD 1bn in land development investments, including a USD 120m marina by Browns Investments (LOLC group).

Colombo Stock Exchange opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.29% to 22,132.33 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.06% to 6,037.79 on turnover of about Rs. 3.7bn and net foreign outflows of Rs. 200.5m. Colombo Dockyard, DFCC and Richard Pieris led gains while John Keells and Commercial Bank fell.

Colombo Dockyard and banking shares lifted the CSE All Share Price Index 0.29%, with the ASPI closing at 22,132.33 and Colombo Dockyard the top gainer at 171.75 rupees. Market turnover fell to 3.7 billion rupees and the exchange recorded a net foreign outflow of 200.46 million rupees led by John Keells.

Depositors allege court-appointed controllers of the defunct Finance & Guarantee group diverted asset sale proceeds — including an alleged Rs.200m hotel investment and other withdrawals — contrary to a Supreme Court-approved 51% repayment plan, and will seek renewed Court intervention.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) won the Winner Award at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023 in the Large Manufacturing category, presented by SLSI on 11 November 2025.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed Friday with the ASPI up 0.50% (109.79 pts) to 22,068.84, re-entering the 22,000 mark. Turnover was over Rs.2.7bn, foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.18.9m), with banking counters and names like DOCK and RICH among top contributors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has deferred suspension of trading in Softlogic Holdings PLC shares until 31 August 2026 (previously scheduled for 31 December 2025). Softlogic was placed on the Watch List after auditors raised going-concern emphasis and reported a Rs.3.66 loss per share for the six months to end‑September 2025.

Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.15% to 21,959.05, as John Keells Holdings crossings accounted for about 34% of turnover (total turnover > Rs.4.1bn); foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.331.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.15% higher as the ASPI rose 32.05 points to 21,959.05, led by gains in selected banking, construction and retail stocks. Top contributors included Senkadagala Finance, Sampath Bank, Bukit Darah, Royal Ceramics and Tokyo Cement; turnover rose to Rs 4.1bn with a Rs 331mn net foreign outflow.

CSE ended mixed with the ASPI up 0.13% to 21,927.00 and the S&P SL20 down 0.05% to 6,011.31, on turnover of about Rs.2.56bn and foreign net selling of ~Rs.68.6m. Top positive contributors included DOCK, RICH, SAMP, JKH and CARG, while SFCL, SUN, RCL, LOLC and HHL were among decliners.

Colombo Dockyard led gains as the ASPI rose 0.13% to 21,927.00, with Dockyard up to Rs127.00. Other contributors included Sampath Bank, John Keells, Tokyo Cement and Sierra Cables; turnover fell to Rs2.5bn and the CSE recorded a net foreign outflow of Rs68.58m.

Share split · 1:5 · XD Feb 6, 2026

Colombo market lost Rs. 80 billion as the ASPI fell 1.13% to 21,898.20, led by extended selling in Colombo Dockyard and negative contributions from DOCK, HNB, RICH, CARG and JKH. Turnover was over Rs. 2.9 billion on nearly 81.9 million shares, with capital goods accounting for 33% of turnover.

The CSE announced S&P SL20 rebalancing effective 22 December: four stocks were added (Access Engineering, People’s Leasing, Singer Sri Lanka, Sunshine Holdings) and five were removed (Ceylon Cold Stores, Chevron Lubricants Lanka, Commercial Bank Non-Voting, LOLC Finance, Royal Ceramics).

Hayleys Fentons Limited was named Sri Lanka’s Best Integrated Solutions Provider in Engineering Services at the World Business Outlook Awards 2025 in Bangkok. Hayleys Fentons, part of Hayleys PLC, is recognised as a leading solar EPC and MEP contractor, highlighting its engineering and renewable-energy credentials.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) launched Elephant House Ice Cream in Australia on 4 December 2025 and began local manufacture in Melbourne to support wider availability. This is the first time CCS has produced the product outside Sri Lanka, in partnership with Millennium Imports, with plans to expand distribution and flavours.

Access Engineering (AEL.N0000), Singer Sri Lanka (SINS.N0000) and Sunshine Holdings (SUN.N0000) were added to the S&P Sri Lanka 20 index effective 22 Dec 2025 (after the market close of 19 Dec 2025). The changes are from the S&P Dow Jones Indices 2025 year-end rebalance.

Browns Investments PLC (via subsidiary Browns Ari Resort Ltd.) completed the sale of the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives to ASB Hotel Properties Maldives Ltd for $57.5m (Rs. 17.2bn). The company said the transaction was completed after satisfaction of the conditions precedent.

New owners have committed over Rs. 600 million for safety, operational and aesthetic upgrades at the Altair Colombo apartment and retail complex after Blackstone India's acquisition of its parent, with TWC providing strategic oversight. Blue-chip firms including John Keells and Hayleys are using Altair to showcase products.