Colombo, Sri Lanka – September 8, 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) experienced a day of marginal adjustments on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with both key indices registering slight declines. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index (S&P SL20) edged downwards, even as market activity saw total turnover approaching Rs. 1.5 billion.
Index Performance Reflects Subtle Shifts
The All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed at 21,542.23, marking a decrease of 81.43 points or 0.38% from the previous day’s close of 21,623.66. Year-to-date, the ASPI’s return stands at -4.78%. Similarly, the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index, which tracks the twenty largest and most liquid companies, ended the day at 6,054.52, down by 12.02 points or 0.20%. Its year-to-date return is -1.67%.
Turnover and Market Capitalisation Snapshot
Total equity turnover for the day reached Rs. 1,466,552,908.50, driven primarily by domestic activity. Market capitalization settled at Rs. 7,814,219,663,547.55. Domestic purchases amounted to Rs. 1,422,762,185.20, slightly lower than domestic sales of Rs. 1,436,319,971.45. Foreign investors demonstrated a net inflow, with purchases totalling Rs. 43,790,723.30 against sales of Rs. 30,232,937.05, resulting in a net foreign inflow of Rs. 13,557,786.25. The total volume of shares traded stood at 68,141,141 across 16,971 trades.
Key Trading Statistics and Market Multiples
Out of 289 listed companies, 268 saw trading activity. The market’s Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio was recorded at 11.44x, Price-to-Book Value (P/BV) at 1.31x, and Dividend Yield (DY) at 3.25%. These figures offer insights into the overall valuation and investor sentiment of the Sri Lankan stock market.
Top Contributors and Performers of the Day
Among the top contributors to the ASPI, HNB.N (4.94 points), CARG.N (4.40 points), and SEMB.X (2.96 points) provided positive momentum. Conversely, CINS.N (-33.66 points), BREW.N (-8.81 points), and CARS.N (-7.70 points) were the most significant negative contributors.
The top 10 gainers for the day included ALPHA FIRE (AFS-N-0000) with a 7.43% increase, VIDULLANKA (VLL-X-0000) up by 6.70%, and CFI (CFI.N0000) rising by 6.59%. On the other hand, S M B FINANCE (SEMB.N0000) led the losers with a 9.09% drop, followed by SOFTLOGIC (SHL.N0000) down by 7.78%, and CEYLINCO HOLDINGS (CINS.N0000) decreasing by 6.71%. Notably, AMANA TAKAFUL (ATL.N0000) and JKH (JKH.N0000) were prominent contributors to the total turnover, with Rs. 310.92 million and Rs. 87.68 million respectively.
Sectoral Performance Highlights
The GICS Industry Group statistics revealed varied performance across sectors. Telecommunication Services led year-to-date returns with a remarkable 56%, followed by Commercial & Professional Services at 37% and Real Estate Management & Development at 24%. In terms of daily market capitalization, Banks, Capital Goods, and Food Beverage & Tobacco remained significant players, while Insurance and Materials sectors also showed considerable turnover.
Key Corporate Announcements
The CSE also released several corporate announcements impacting listed entities. Notable actions include:
- Right Issues: Companies like AMBEON CAPITAL PLC, BERUWALA RESORTS PLC, KERNER HAUS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS PLC, MERCHANT BANK OF SRI LANKA & FINANCE PLC, SINGER FINANCE (LANKA) PLC, TAL LANKA HOTELS PLC, and UNION BANK OF COLOMBO PLC announced upcoming right issues.
- Sub Division of Shares: PEGASUS HOTELS OF CEYLON PLC confirmed a sub-division of shares with a record date of September 15, 2026.
- Cash Dividends: Several companies declared cash dividends, including MAHAWELI COCONUT PLANTATIONS PLC (Rs. 3.00), LANKA ASHOK LEYLAND PLC (Rs. 30.00), CEYLON TOBACCO COMPANY PLC (Rs. 41.00), and DIALOG AXIATA PLC (Rs. 0.70).
- Annual General Meetings (AGMs) & Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs): Numerous companies have scheduled their AGMs and EGMs throughout September, with many opting for virtual meeting platforms.
- Director Dealings: Disclosures were made regarding director dealings, including purchases by Ms. M. M. Page in C T HOLDINGS PLC and various entities in GALLE FACE CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC and RENUKA FOODS PLC.
Economic Overview
Amidst the daily market movements, Sri Lanka’s economic indicators show a Consumer Price Inflation (CCPI) of 7.20% and NCPI of 5.10%. The daily indicative exchange rate for USD to LKR is 330.17 (indicative average). Overnight liquidity stands at Rs. 78.51 billion, with CBSL holdings at Rs. 2,492.62 billion. Treasury Bill rates for annual and quarterly terms are 10.21%, while the Official Policy Rate (OPR) is 8.75%.
Globally, markets presented a mixed picture. Frontier markets like Bangladesh and Vietnam showed positive daily returns, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka registered declines. Emerging markets such as South Korea and Taiwan displayed strong YTD returns, far outpacing others. Developed markets like Japan and Singapore also recorded positive YTD gains. International news highlighted Brent oil climbing near $100 due to eased Iran-Oman tensions, Japan’s Q2 GDP revised up to 1.4% amid strong wage gains, and the Yen hitting a 2026 high.
The CSE’s performance on September 8th, 2026, reflects a cautious yet active trading environment, with significant corporate actions contributing to market dynamics.
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