Colombo, Sri Lanka – August 31, 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded trading on Monday, August 31, 2026, with both key indices registering modest advances. The market observed a positive net foreign inflow for the day, signaling continued investor interest despite challenging year-to-date performance figures. Total turnover for the day surpassed one billion rupees, reflecting active participation across various sectors.
Index Performance: A Day of Incremental Growth
The bellwether All Share Price Index (ASPI) saw a slight uptick, gaining 22.78 points (+0.11%) to close at 21,338.69. Similarly, the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index (S&P SL20), which tracks the top 20 most liquid and largest companies, also recorded a positive movement, rising by 4.35 points (+0.07%) to settle at 6,009.68.
While the daily performance was positive, the year-to-date (YTD) returns for both indices remain in negative territory, with the ASPI down 5.68% and the S&P SL20 down 2.40% since the beginning of the year. This indicates a cautious recovery trend within a broader corrective period.
Turnover Overview: Billion Rupee Mark Achieved
Market activity saw a total equity turnover of Rs. 1,014,976,826.95 for the day. This was complemented by a modest debt turnover of Rs. 6,207,157.65. The market capitalization stood at Rs. 7,730,833,702,726.90, showing a daily change of 0.19%.
A notable highlight was the positive net foreign inflow amounting to Rs. 18,681,825.70. Foreign purchases totaled Rs. 50,934,919.40, while foreign sales were Rs. 32,253,093.70, indicating sustained international investor confidence. Domestic investors accounted for the majority of trading volume, with purchases of Rs. 964,041,907.55 and sales of Rs. 982,723,733.25.
The total volume of turnover was 50,614,182 shares, executed through 16,102 trades. The YTD average daily turnover stands at Rs. 3.98 billion, with an average daily share volume of 153.77 million and 29.42 thousand trades.
Market Contributors and Top Performers
Key contributors to the ASPI’s positive movement included:
- BIL.N: +10.87 points
- CARS.N: +7.83 points
- WIND.N: +5.77 points
- JKH.N: +5.53 points
- DFCC.N: +4.17 points
Conversely, some securities had a negative impact on the index:
- BREW.N: -8.81 points
- VONE.N: -5.13 points
- MELS.N: -4.65 points
- HNB.N: -3.53 points
- SEMB.X: -2.96 points
Top gainers for the day were:
- RADIANT GEMS (RGEM.N0000): +14.38% (Rs. 17.00)
- BANSEI RESORTS (BRR.N0000): +13.47% (Rs. 2.60)
- BROWNS INVESTMENTS (BIL.N0000): +8.16% (Rs. 0.40)
Top losers included:
- S M B FINANCE (SEMB.X0000): -33.33% (-Rs. 0.10)
- LANKEM CEYLON (LCEY.N0000): -6.15% (-Rs. 2.40)
- TESS AGRO (TESS.N0000): -5.26% (-Rs. 0.10)
Sectoral Performance and Economic Indicators
The GICS Industry Group statistics for the day showed strong year-to-date returns in several sectors, with Telecommunication Services leading at 48%, followed by Commercial & Professional Services at 37%, and Real Estate Management & Development at 21%. Notable turnovers were observed in Food Beverage & Tobacco, Capital Goods, and Diversified Financials.
In the broader economic landscape, Sri Lanka’s Consumer Price Inflation (CCPI) stood at 7.20% and NCPI at 4.40% as of August 2025. The indicative exchange rate for the US Dollar was Rs. 330.17 (selling) and Rs. 325.11 (buying). Quarterly GDP growth for Q1 2024 was recorded at 5%. Lending and deposit rates remain a key focus, with the monthly rate at 10.34% and the weekly rate at 10.86%.
Corporate Announcements
The CSE daily report also provided an overview of corporate announcements, including:
- Several companies announced upcoming Right Issues, such as ASIA ASSET FINANCE PLC (4 new shares for every 11 existing shares).
- PEGASUS HOTELS OF CEYLON PLC announced a Sub Division of Shares.
- Numerous Cash Dividends were declared, with notable payments from MAHAWELI COCONUT PLANTATIONS PLC (Rs. 3.00 per share) and CEYLON TOBACCO COMPANY PLC (Rs. 41.00 per share).
- Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) are scheduled for PEGASUS HOTELS OF CEYLON PLC and SOFTLOGIC HOLDINGS PLC in September.
- Annual General Meetings (AGMs) are set for a wide range of companies throughout September, including ABANS ELECTRICALS PLC, BROWNS INVESTMENTS PLC, and DISTILLERIES COMPANY OF SRI LANKA PLC.
Global Market Overview and News
Globally, frontier markets in APAC showed mixed results, with Bangladesh’s DSE Broad up 0.2% and Sri Lanka’s CSE All-Share up 0.1%, while Pakistan’s Karachi All Share was down 0.2%. Emerging markets like South Korea (KOSPI +0.5%) and Thailand (SET Index +0.4%) posted gains, whereas Taiwan and the Philippines saw slight declines. Developed markets in APAC experienced a strong day, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225 surging 2.2%.
Global news highlights included renewed US strikes on Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil market fluctuations. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the Bank of Japan for rate hikes as the yen slid past ¥160/$. President Donald Trump secured a 65-billion-barrel Venezuelan oil deal, positioning the US as the world’s second-largest holder of proven reserves. Tragic floods in Nepal claimed 800 lives, exposing data gaps with China. Meanwhile, Trump’s sanctions on Iran are testing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), with China, Russia, and India meeting at the Bishkek summit.
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