COLOMBO – 28 August 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded trading today with marginal upward movements in its key indices, according to the daily report released by the CSE. Investors witnessed a mixed day of trading activity, characterized by notable foreign participation and significant turnover figures, signaling continued interest in the Sri Lankan equity market.
Index Performance: ASPI and S&P SL20 Edge Higher
On Friday, 28 August 2026, both the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index registered modest gains. The ASPI advanced by 36.26 points (0.17%) to close at 21,315.91, while the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index increased by 10.53 points (0.18%) to reach 6,005.34. This upward movement indicates a slight recovery, though the year-to-date (YTD) returns still show a contraction, with ASPI at -5.78% and S&P SL20 at -2.47%.
The Total Return Index on All Share (ASTRI) stood at 33,562.09, up from 33,505.00 the previous day, and the Total Return Index on S&P Sri Lanka 20 was 12,754.01, compared to 12,731.65 yesterday.
Turnover and Market Capitalization Overview
The total equity turnover for the day reached an impressive Rs. 2,204,053,473.75, reflecting active trading across various counters. The market capitalization stood at Rs. 7,716,270,670,167.20, showing a daily change of 0.16% from the previous day’s Rs. 7,703,785,841,432.45.
Foreign investors demonstrated a positive net inflow, with foreign purchases amounting to Rs. 850,121,925.55 and foreign sales at Rs. 824,127,666.80, resulting in a net foreign inflow of Rs. 25,994,258.75. Domestic investors accounted for Rs. 1,353,931,548.20 in purchases and Rs. 1,379,925,806.95 in sales.
The total volume of turnover for equity reached 66,462,946 shares across 17,477 trades. The YTD average daily turnover is recorded at Rs. 3.99 billion, with an average daily share volume of 154.43 million.
Market Contributors and Top Performers
Leading the positive contributions to the ASPI were companies such as CARG.N (+13.31 points), HAYL.N (+7.09 points), and NTB.N (+6.95 points). Conversely, SAMP.N (-13.75 points), BREW.N (-8.81 points), and JKH.N (-5.53 points) were among the top negative contributors.
Key highlights from individual stock performance:
- Top 10 Gainers: INSUREME (INME-N-0000) surged by 11.24%, followed by MAHAWELI COCONUT (MCPL-N-0000) at 10.11%, and CABLE SOLUTIONS (CSLK-N-0000) at 8.21%.
- Top 10 Losers: BANSEI RESORTS (BRR.N0000) saw a significant drop of -16.09%, with SERENDIB HOTELS (SHOT.N0000) declining by -7.06% and AGARAPATANA (AGPL-N-0000) by -6.13%.
In terms of market capitalization, DIALOG (Rs. 428.7 Bn), JKH (Rs. 351.3 Bn), and CEYLON TOBACCO (Rs. 336.6 Bn) remained the top contributors. For total turnover, WINDFORCE (Rs. 494.85 Mn), PICKME (Rs. 258.37 Mn), and SIERRA CABL (Rs. 245.95 Mn) led the activity.
Sectoral Insights and Corporate News
The GICS Industry Group Statistics revealed varied performance across sectors. Telecommunication Services (49%), Commercial & Professional Services (35%), and Real Estate Management & Development (20%) exhibited the highest year-to-date returns, indicating robust long-term growth in these areas.
Several corporate announcements were highlighted today:
- Cash Dividends: DIALOG AXIATA PLC announced an XD Date of August 28, 2026, for a dividend of Rs. 0.70 per share, with payment scheduled for September 15, 2026. JAT Holdings PLC also saw its dividend payment of Rs. 0.72 per share due today, August 28, 2026.
- Annual General Meetings (AGMs): INSUREME INSURANCE BROKERS PLC held its AGM today, August 28, 2026, virtually.
- Right Issues: ASIA ASSET FINANCE PLC has its provisional allotment date set for July 31, 2026, with the Last Date for Acceptance on August 28, 2026.
- Sub Division of Shares: PEGASUS HOTELS OF CEYLON PLC announced a sub-division of shares, with a dealing suspension period from September 14, 2026, and commencement date of September 21, 2026.
Economic Indicators and Global Context
The daily indicative exchange rate for USD against LKR stood at 325.11 (Buy) and 334.23 (Sell), with an indicative rate of 330.17. The latest available Consumer Price Inflation (CCPI) was 7.20% and NCPI at 4.40%, showing continued inflationary pressures. Policy rates remain at 8.75% for the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) and 2.00% for the Standing Rate Reserve (SRR).
Globally, market performance in the APAC region was mixed. While South Korea (KOSPI) and Taiwan (Taiwan Weighted) showed strong YTD returns, Sri Lanka’s CSE All-Share Index’s YTD return of -5.8% places it among the lower performers in the region’s frontier and emerging markets. Global news included Venezuela’s potential OPEC exit, Wall Street’s call for stronger anti-inflation messages from the Fed, and the FTC preparing a lawsuit against YouTube, indicating a complex international economic and regulatory landscape.
For detailed information, please refer to the official report.
Source: Read original document
