Colombo, Sri Lanka – 22 September 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded trading today with a modest upward trajectory, as both the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index registered gains. Despite a net foreign outflow, domestic investor activity drove market turnover, while key economic indicators highlighted ongoing stability in the broader Sri Lankan economy.
Index Performance: A Day of Modest Gains
The ASPI closed the day at 21,054.01, marking an increase of 74.83 points or 0.36% from its previous close of 20,979.18. Year-to-date (YTD), the ASPI currently shows a return of -6.94%, with a month-to-date (MTD) return of -1.33%. The index reached its highest point YTD at 23,992.11 and its lowest at 20,264.01.
Similarly, the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index advanced by 19.42 points (0.33%) to settle at 5,928.86, up from its previous close of 5,909.45. This index records a YTD return of -3.71% and an MTD return of -1.34%. Its YTD high stands at 6,750.50, and its YTD low at 5,651.41.
Turnover and Market Capitalization
Total market turnover for the day reached Rs. 1,373,080,541.80, predominantly driven by equity trades. The overall market capitalization stood at an impressive Rs. 7,638,472,787,594.85. Domestic investors accounted for the lion’s share of activity, with purchases totalling Rs. 1,352,999,001.15 and sales of Rs. 1,290,901,584.80. Foreign participation saw purchases of Rs. 20,081,540.65 and sales of Rs. 82,178,957.00, resulting in a net foreign outflow of Rs. 62,097,416.35 for the day.
A total of 58,432,707 shares were traded across 15,372 transactions.
Key Trading Statistics
The market’s valuation metrics showed a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.91x, a Price-to-Book Value (P/BV) ratio of 1.26x, and a Dividend Yield (DY) of 3.15%. Out of 289 listed companies, 264 were traded today, indicating broad market participation.
Market Movers: Top Contributors, Gainers, and Losers
Key positive contributors to the ASPI included Dialog Axiata PLC (DIAL.N) with 16.20 points, Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB.N) contributing 10.62 points, and Ambeon Capital PLC (AEL.N) adding 8.03 points. Conversely, Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC (BREW.N), Citrus Hikkaduwa PLC (CTHR.N), and Commercial Leasing & Finance PLC (CINS.N) were among the top negative contributors.
Leading the list of top gainers were:
- MERCHANT BANK (MBSL-P-0000): 10.99%
- TESS AGRO (TESS.N0000): 5.88%
- SOFTLOGIC (SHL.N0000): 5.33%
Notable among the top losers were:
- DURDANS (CHL.X0000): -9.25%
- TRANS ASIA (TRAN.N0000): -6.05%
- CITRUS WASKADUWA (CITW.N0000): -5.88%
Sectoral Performance Highlights (YTD)
In terms of year-to-date returns, the Telecommunication Services sector has shown robust performance with a 48% return, followed by Commercial & Professional Services at 27%, and Real Estate Management & Development at 21%. Health Care Equipment & Services and Transportation sectors both recorded 3% YTD returns.
Economic Overview: Snapshot of Key Indicators
The latest economic data indicates a daily indicative exchange rate of Rs. 330.81 (selling at 335.29 and buying at 326.27). The Consumer Price Inflation (CCPI) stands at 7.20% and the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) at 5.10%. Treasury Bill rates were reported at 10.21% for both annual and quarter terms, with the Official Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.75%.
Global commodity prices saw Brent Crude Oil at USD 100.34 and Gold at USD 1,439,206.00.
Global Market Context and News
Global markets presented a mixed picture, with notable performance in APAC region. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.4% (YTD 29.2%), while South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.1% (YTD 66.5%), driven by an AI stock surge following Meta’s Muse AI success. Emerging markets like Vietnam and Malaysia also saw gains. However, some indices like Indonesia’s JSE Composite continued to decline.
Internationally, headlines were dominated by Meta’s Muse AI sparking a global AI stock surge, California settling the Paramount-Skydance antitrust case, and China’s JLMag dominating the global market for Tesla robot magnets.
Corporate Announcements
The CSE provided updates on various corporate actions. These include upcoming Right Issues by companies such as Kerner Haus Global Solutions PLC and Printcare PLC. Several companies, including Mahaweli Coconut Plantations PLC and Lake House Printers and Publishers PLC, have announced cash dividends with upcoming XD and record dates. Numerous Annual General Meetings (AGMs) are scheduled, with many companies opting for virtual meetings, such as Abans Electricals PLC and Agarapatana Plantations PLC. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) were also announced for Dialog Axiata PLC and Softlogic Holdings PLC, among others.
Source: Colombo Stock Exchange Daily Report – 22 September 2026
