Colombo, Sri Lanka – 07 September 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded trading on Monday, 7 September 2026, with a day of modest upward movement across its key indices. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P Sri Lanka 20 (S&P SL20) both registered marginal gains, reflecting a cautious yet positive sentiment in the market, even as year-to-date figures remain in negative territory.
Index Performance: A Glimmer of Green
The bellwether All Share Price Index (ASPI) climbed by 3.22 points (0.01%) to close at 21,623.66. Similarly, the more liquid S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index saw a rise of 7.63 points (0.13%), ending the day at 6,066.55. Despite these daily upticks, both indices are yet to recover their year-to-date losses, with the ASPI showing a -4.42% return and the S&P SL20 a -1.48% return for 2026 so far.
Total Return Indices also reflected the day’s movements, with the TRI on All Share (ASTRI) reaching 34,056.91 and the TRI on S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index hitting 12,884.01.
Market Activity: Turnover and Investor Sentiment
The total turnover for the day reached an impressive Rs. 2,133,618,365.50 for equity, complemented by Rs. 787,237,147.74 from the debt market. The overall market capitalization stood at Rs. 7,836,063,413,858.15. A total of 63,983,080 shares were traded across 17,418 transactions.
Investor composition for the day revealed a net foreign outflow of Rs. 18,537,703.10, with foreign purchases amounting to Rs. 22,535,345.20 and foreign sales at Rs. 41,073,048.30. Domestic investors dominated trading, with purchases of Rs. 2,111,083,020.30 and sales of Rs. 2,092,545,317.20.
Key Market Multiples and Trading Statistics
As of September 7, 2026, the CSE reported a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.47x, a Price-to-Book Value (P/BV) of 1.31x, and a Dividend Yield (DY) of 3.24%. Out of 289 listed companies, 272 saw active trading today, indicating broad market participation.
Top Performers and Market Movers
Several companies made significant contributions to the day’s index performance:
- Positive ASPI Contributors: Hayleys PLC (HAYL.N) led with 19.85 points, followed by ACL Cables PLC (ACL.N) at 6.36 points, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLTL.N) at 4.81 points, Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB.N) at 4.23 points, and Dialog Axiata PLC (DIAL.N) at 4.21 points.
- Negative ASPI Contributors: Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC (BREW.N) contributed -8.81 points negatively, followed by Carsons Cumberbatch PLC (CARS.N) at -7.70 points, Haycarb PLC (HAYC.N) at -7.30 points, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH.N) at -5.53 points, and Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS.N) at -5.09 points.
Among individual stocks, the top 10 gainers included E – Channelling PLC (ECL.N) with a 10.00% increase, Janashakthi Financial Services PLC (BFN-N) up 9.60%, TESS AGRO PLC (TESS.X) gaining 7.14%, Vidullanka PLC (VLL.N) rising by 6.83%, and Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLTL.N) up 6.69%.
Conversely, Fortress Resorts PLC (RHTL.N) experienced the steepest decline, falling by -6.85%, followed by Renuka Holdings PLC (RHL.X) at -6.25%, Millennium Housing Developers PLC (MHDL.N) at -5.68%, Lighthouse Hotel PLC (LHL.N) at -5.46%, and Mahaweli Reach Hotels PLC (MRH.N) down by -4.68%.
Sectoral Highlights
Analyzing sectoral performance, the Telecommunication Services sector continued its strong year-to-date run, boasting a 56% return. Commercial & Professional Services followed with 39%, Real Estate Management & Development at 24%, Health Care Equipment & Services at 9%, and Transportation at 7%.
Key contributors to market capitalization were Dialog Axiata PLC (DIALOG) with Rs. 449.0 billion, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) at Rs. 345.9 billion, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC (COMMERCIAL BANK) at Rs. 338.1 billion, and Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CEYLON TOBACCO) at Rs. 335.5 billion.
Economic Overview: A Stable Backdrop
The broader economic landscape provided a relatively stable backdrop for today’s trading. The indicative exchange rate for USD to LKR stood at 330.17. Consumer Price Inflation (CCPI) was reported at 7.20%, while the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) was 5.10%. Quarterly GDP growth in Q4 2024 registered a modest 0.8%, highlighting the ongoing recovery. Lending and deposit rates remained stable, with the annual Treasury Bill rate at 10.21% and the Official Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.75%.
Corporate Announcements
The CSE also saw several corporate announcements, including updates on rights issues, sub-division of shares, scrip dividends, cash dividends, and extraordinary and annual general meetings. These disclosures provide crucial information for investors and are available in detail on the CSE website.
Today’s trading session demonstrates the resilient nature of the Sri Lankan equity market, as it seeks to build on daily gains despite persistent year-to-date challenges. Investors will be closely watching global market developments and domestic economic policies in the coming days.
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