News & market updates

Hemas Consumer Brands (Hemas Holdings) honoured long-service distributor partners at its National Sales Awards 2026, recognising their contribution to getting its FMCG products to market and reaffirming the company's commitment to invest in distributor growth and operational support.

Hemas Holdings' Diva Fresh has relaunched an improved washing powder with Stain Fighter Technology, Perfume Booster and Optical Brightener, plus a larger 60g sachet (extra 10g), aimed at better day-to-day stain removal while maintaining value and affordability.

DTS has appointed MTS Foods (Menon Technical Services Ltd.) as its commercial partner for India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to act as the regional commercial and first-line technical contact for DTS auger-based thermal food-processing applications. MTS will coordinate enquiries, support existing equipment locally and represent DTS at FoodPro 2026 and Anuga FoodTec India 2026.

COOPFED signed MoUs with Lanka Sugar and BCC Lanka to supply 1,000 mt/month of brown sugar and 20,000 liters/month of bottled coconut oil (plus soap and other products) for distribution through 3,500 cooperative retail outlets, with plans to expand to 10,000 by 2029.

Harischandra Mills PLC reported 1QFY27 PAT of LKR 91.8m, up 147% y/y, on revenue of LKR 1.9bn (up 31%) and expanded gross margin to 18%. Management attributed the result to easing raw material costs, volume growth and operational efficiencies; Food segment revenue rose 22% and segment operating profit was LKR 83.2m.

Harischandra Mills PLC reported 1QFY27 PAT of Rs.91.8 million, up 147% YoY. Revenue rose 31% to Rs.1.9 billion and gross margin expanded to 18%, driven by easing raw material costs, volume growth and operational efficiencies led by the Food segment.

Headline inflation in Colombo rose to 7.3% year-on-year in July 2026, up from 6.8% in June, driven by a jump in food inflation to 6.3% (from 3.6%). Non-food inflation moderated to 7.8% from 8.4%.

Court of Appeal fixed 2 October to hear objections in a petition seeking to bar regulators from approving rice and sugar as primary ingredients in beer production. Petitioners say the practice breaches the Excise Ordinance (beer defined as malt-based) and could divert subsidised rice, harming food security.

Full'r Burgers, operated by Giga Foods, opened its second Malabe outlet, expanding the brand's footprint to serve the area's growing residential and commercial population and improve customer accessibility.

Giga Foods opened Solo Bowl and Indian Affair at a new Malabe location, adding two brands under one site to expand its multi-brand restaurant presence and serve the area's growing residential, educational and business communities.

John Keells Holdings (JKH.N0000) will open the first Wendy's restaurant in Sri Lanka by December 2026, re-entering the organised quick-service-restaurant market via wholly owned John Keells Restaurants Ltd. and planning a phased rollout; the initial equity outlay is described as not material.

Future Life Holdings' FLi Super opened its 19th supermarket in Karandeniya, combining a FLiCo electronics corner and an on-site Future Life Investments microfinance branch. The outlet offers groceries and appliances with exclusive interest-free five-instalment payment plans and on-site financial services.

John Keells Holdings (JKH.N0000) will launch Wendy's in Sri Lanka as part of a Consumer Foods expansion; franchise agreements and preliminary work are complete and the first outlet is expected by December 2026.

Fems debuted its #WATCHME fashion-led initiative on 16 July at CCWE Fashion Week and extended it into public spaces at Havelock City Mall, using runway looks and message cards to challenge menstrual myths and raise awareness of menstrual health in Sri Lanka.

Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC is sponsoring the illumination ('Swadeshi Khomba Aloka Puja Sathkaraya') of Kiri Vehera and Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya for the 25th consecutive year (July 15-29, 2026). The company also provided educational tablets to local schoolchildren and carried out related cultural CSR activities.

Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC.N0000) has appointed Adrian Lee Peng Yong as Finance Director, effective 1 August 2026. He joins from the British American Tobacco Group with 20 years of regional finance experience, most recently as Finance Director for BAT Malaysia and Singapore.

Ceylon Cold Stores reported a profit of Rs.1.06bn for the quarter ended 30 June 2026, down 3% y/y, and approved a first interim dividend of Rs.1.08 per share. Group revenue rose 18% to Rs.50.78bn while net finance costs increased 26% to Rs.727.76m.

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC appointed Adrian Lee Peng Yong as Finance Director, effective 1 August 2026. He joins from the British American Tobacco Group with 20 years of regional finance leadership experience across APMEA.

Pelwatte Dairy Industries broke ground on a Greenfield liquid milk manufacturing facility in Kurunegala, scheduled to open in July 2027. The plant will produce plain and flavored fresh milk, expanding Pelwatte from milk powder into liquid dairy to strengthen local supply and support farmers.

Pelwatte Dairy Industries has broken ground on a Greenfield liquid-milk manufacturing facility in Kurunegala, slated to open in July 2027. The plant will produce plain and flavoured fresh milk, marking Pelwatte's expansion from milk powder into liquid dairy products to boost local supply.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.57% (up 120.83 pts) to 21,293.57 at midday, with market turnover LKR 264 million and capital goods leading turnover at LKR 80.9 million. Ceylon Cold Stores reported June-quarter profit of LKR 1.063 billion, down 3% year-on-year.

Asian Paints Causeway launched Royale INFINITY, a premium interior emulsion in Sri Lanka marketed as delivering a finish that is 5x smoother with a 7-year performance warranty. The product targets luxury homeowners and includes 3,000+ shades, advanced stain/mold resistance and low-VOC certifications.

John Keells Group's Keells supermarkets have enabled Dialog Pay across their 150 stores nationwide, allowing customers to use scan-and-pay, link eZ Cash or bank accounts, and earn complimentary Dialog data rewards on eligible transactions.

The ASPI fell 1.09% (232.67 pts) over the week and the S&P SL20 declined 0.95% (57.12 pts). Declines were led by JKH, HNB, CINS, GRAN and BREW while a large negotiated crossing in UML supported market activity; weekly turnover was Rs.2.45bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.1.07bn.

Dividend · Rs 0.27 · XD Aug 5, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.27/share; XD 2026-08-05; record 2026-08-06; payable 2026-08-24; FY 2026/27

Dividend · Rs 1.08 · XD Aug 5, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 1.08/share; XD 2026-08-05; record 2026-08-06; payable 2026-08-24; FY 2026/27

Nutmeg at ITC Ratnadipa is offering a Friendship Day cake collection of four cakes (500g/1kg) priced LKR 3,000–8,000, available 24 July–1 August 2026; Club Culinaire Sri Lanka members receive a 15% discount.

Cargills (Ceylon) Plc supported Soul Sounds' "The Pop Era" concert at the Lionel Wendt on July 12, 2026 as a production partner; the event also listed Havelock City and other brands among its supporters.

Infinite Grace Foundation and Canada's Cha's Organics signed a long-term partnership with Cha's as the Foundation's 'Legacy Partner' to provide financial support for mental health, humanitarian and community development initiatives in Sri Lanka. Future collaborations may direct product proceeds to fund programmes.