News & market updates

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) launched Elephant House Ice Cream in Australia on 4 December 2025 and began local manufacturing in Melbourne—the first time CCS has produced the brand outside Sri Lanka. The launch, held with partner Millennium Imports Pty Ltd, targets wider distribution beyond the Sri Lankan diaspora.

John Keells (Keells Supermarkets) won the Meta Reels Impact Award for an AI-generated campaign that drove a 44.72% surge in doughnut sales and lifted the Prepared Food category by 25%. The campaign, created with Enfection, won the South East Asia regional award for generative-AI reels.

Hayleys PLC's agriculture arm won multiple honours at the Presidential Export Awards 2024/2025: HJS Condiments was named Best Exporter – Processed Fruits & Vegetables, Quality Seed Company won Best Exporter – Floriculture, and Hayleys Agro Biotech received a Merit Award, recognising strong export performance and innovation.

Colombo stock market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.64% to 22,149.09, with the exchange losing Rs.70 billion on the week (ASPI down 1.59% w/w); turnover was Rs.3.45 billion and foreign investors were net sellers.

Browns Investments PLC said its subsidiary Browns Ari Resort sold the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives Resort to ASB Hotel Properties Maldives for USD 57,500,000.

Zakir Hussein Mohamedally was appointed to the boards of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC (as a Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director) and C T Holdings PLC. He has over two decades' experience in audit, assurance and capital markets and is Group COO & Head of Investment Banking at CT Smith Holdings and MD of Odeon Holdings.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower with the ASPI down 0.64% (143.48 points) at 22,149 and turnover Rs 3.45bn; Commercial Bank, Lion Brewery, Carson Cumberbatch and Ceylon Grain Elevators led gains while Dockyard weighed on the index.

Hayleys Mobility opened a state-of-the-art Delivery Centre at No.75, Arnold Ratnayake Mawatha, Colombo 10 to allow customers to view and collect electric and plug-in hybrid SUVs, showcasing models such as the Jaecoo J7 PHEV and Omoda E5 while offering warranties, after-sales support, EV charging and financing options.

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams is offering extensive New Year’s Eve dining and entertainment across more than a dozen restaurants, rooftops and event spaces to welcome 2026.

Aitken Spence PLC's Conventions & Exhibitions unit inaugurated the 40th Colombo Shopping Festival at BMICH, running until 21 December with over 250 local entrepreneurs participating. Commercial Bank of Ceylon is the official banking partner and ticket proceeds will support families affected by recent disasters.

Colombo Bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.17% (37.12 pts) to 22,292.57 on subdued activity and profit-taking, with turnover over Rs.2.3bn. Top negative contributors included DOCK, SFCL, RICH, MELS and BREW, while Tokyo Cement and Hemas saw notable investor participation.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.17% to 22,292.57 (down 37.12 points) with turnover of 2.3 billion rupees. Yaden raised its stake in Maharaja Foods to 10.04%; HNB will list debentures offering 10.25% and 11% on Dec 19; HDFC appointed K B Wijeyratne as chairman pro-tem; United Motors set a 10-for-1 share split date; JKH, CTC, BUKI and DFCC were top gainers.

Sunshine Holdings (SUN.N0000) ran 'Unmask Diabetes 2025' free screenings across 10 Healthguard outlets in Colombo, reaching nearly 900 people on 14–15 November. The Suwa Diviya CSR drive offered free blood sugar and blood pressure tests plus consultations on diabetes prevention and management.

Sampath Bank signed an MoU with Hayleys Mobility to support purchases of new-energy vehicles, offering eligible customers a 0.5% p.a. reduction on published vehicle lease interest rates. The offer also includes short-term no-interest insurance loans, 0% 12-month card plans for insurance payments, Hayleys warranties/after-sales and EV charging access via StarCharge.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Asoka Hettigoda was elected President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and proposed raising the national tourism earnings target to USD 10 billion by 2030. He outlined plans to reach 6 million visitors, boost per-night spending by 30%, invest USD 50m/yr in marketing, and prioritize sustainability and industry unity.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.02% lower as the ASPI slipped to 22,329.69, with banks and capital-goods names dragging the market. LOLC Finance filed to list Rs 15bn of debentures; turnover rose to Rs 3.3bn and net foreign outflow was Rs 130.44m.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.17% (38.48 pts) to 22,333.25 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.31% to 6,071.12. Turnover was Rs 2.85bn on ~77.2m shares with foreign net outflows of Rs 42.8m; top contributors included DOCK, COMB, SAMP, MELS and DFCC.

Colombo Dockyard and several financials lifted the Colombo Stock Exchange 0.17% as the ASPI closed at 22,333.25. Market turnover rose to LKR 2.8bn with a net foreign outflow of LKR 42.76m; Lanka IOC had crossings of LKR 92.25m and Capital Alliance led turnover.

Hambantota International Port welcomed TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 6 on its maiden call on Dec 3, arriving from Colombo with 2,289 passengers and 950 crew. Aitken Spence Travels curated shore excursions, underscoring growing cruise tourism and port services in southern Sri Lanka.

ASPI fell 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77, erasing Rs. 52.9bn of market value; top negative contributors were DOCK, CINS, COMB, CFIN and DFCC.

L B Finance PLC will establish a wholly owned subsidiary, LB Finance Philippines Inc., with an initial investment of $650,000 to provide financial services; the move has been approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. LB Finance is a subsidiary of Vallibel One PLC and will announce further details after incorporation and licensing.

DHL Express is marking 45 years of operations in Sri Lanka, highlighting its 1992 joint-venture partnership with John Keells Holdings and ongoing investments in digital tools for SMEs, e-commerce facilitation, and sustainable aviation fuel (GoGreen Plus).

John Keells Properties has launched sales for Phase 4, the final phase of the VIMAN Ja-Ela residential development. Phase 4 offers two- and three-bedroom homes with amenities and over 60% of the development reserved for open areas and shared facilities.

HNB PLC has partnered with Hayleys Fentons to offer tailored EV leasing, discounted insurance and complimentary life cover (Rs.600,000 natural death; Rs.4,500,000 accidental), plus a 7kW charger and service benefits to support EV adoption.

Hemas Holdings' Hemas Surgicals and Diagnostics, in partnership with Nihon Kohden Singapore, introduced the Cereb Air next-generation EEG at the Sri Lanka College of Emergency Physicians congress and discussed a field study to test rapid seizure diagnosis and potential hospital cost savings.

Aitken Spence PLC's Conventions & Exhibitions unit inaugurated the 40th Colombo Shopping Festival at BMICH, running 12–21 Dec 2025. Commercial Bank is the official banking partner while Browns EV and Nestlé are among other partners; over 250 local entrepreneurs are participating and ticket sales will aid disaster-affected families.