Business
CSE’s 12-day record breaking performance arrested; profit-takings bust bullishness
The CSE yesterday reported a downward trend due to profit- takings among some stocks, thus breaking a psychological barrier after witnessing a 12- day record breaking performance over the preceding days, market analysts said.
Both indices moved downwards. The All Share Price Index went down by 58.23 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 12.34 points. Turnover stood at Rs 3.3 billion with seven crossings.
Those crossings were reported in Renuka Holdings, which crossed 6.8 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 150.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 22, JKH 3.5 million shares crossed for Rs 82.25 million; its shares traded at Rs 23.50, DFCC 350,000 shares crossed for Rs 53.9 million; its shares traded at Rs 154, LB Finance 314,000 shares for Rs 42.8 million; its shares traded at Rs 136, Hayleys 150,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 29 million; its shares sold at Rs 193.50, HNB 75000 shares crossed to the tune ofRs 28 million; its shares fetched Rs 374.50 and Tokyo Cement 250,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 21.1 million; its shares sold at Rs 84.50.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; JKH Rs 277 million (11.7 million shares traded), Singer (Sri Lanka) Rs 122 million (1.8 million shares traded), NDB Rs 109.7 million (777,000 shares traded), HNB Rs 103.22 million (270,000 shares traded), HNB (Non- Voting) Rs 98.9 million (335,000 shares traded) and Access Engineering Rs 85.4 million (1.4 million shares traded). During the day 142 million share volumes changed hands in 28000 transactions.
It is said that the manufacturing sector and the banking and financial sector were the main contributors to the turnover. When it comes to the manufacturing sector, JKH was the main company that contributed to the turnover, while where the banking and financial sector is concerned DFCC and HNB were the main contributors to the turnover.
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon announced that investors had demonstrated overwhelming support for its green lending aspirations by oversubscribing the bank’s Rs. 15 billion Green Bond issue on its opening day.
Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 300.90/95 to the US dollar in the spot market, stronger from 301.00/03 the previous day, while bond yields were broadly steady, dealers said. A bond maturing on 15.12.2028 was quoted flat at 8.85/90 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.35/37 percent, down from 9.38/40 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed at 10.25/32 percent, up from 10.25/30 percent.
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
Business
Janashakthi Finance appoints Sithambaram Sri Ganendran as CEO
Janashakthi Finance PLC, formerly known as Orient Finance PLC and a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group), announces the appointment of Sithambaram Sri Ganendran as the Chief Executive Officer.
Sri Ganendran, who has held the position of Chief Operating Officer since September 2024, stepped in as Acting Chief Executive Officer during the past four months.
He brings with him almost 27 years of extensive experience in banking. Throughout his extensive career, he has held senior management roles in multiple local and international banks, where he acquired in-depth knowledge in operations, branch banking (across retail and SME sectors), operational risk, business continuity management, business integration, process reengineering, operational excellence, sales governance and credit card operations. He holds a plethora of qualifications including an MBA from American City University. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in the United Kingdom, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI), and a member of the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka.
Rajendra Theagarajah, Chairman of Janashakthi Finance PLC, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sithambaram Sri Ganendran to this important leadership role at a pivotal moment in our journey. His wealth of experience, proven track record, and people-focused leadership style make him well suited to strengthen and guide Janashakthi Finance, ensuring efficient continuity in all ongoing operations.”
The appointment of Sri Ganendran as Chief Executive Officer, reinforces Janashakthi Finance’s deep commitment to seamless operations and growth. It also underscores its dedication to vision of delivering trusted financial solutions, while continuously exploring opportunities for innovation and expansion to serve its customers and communities more efficiently.
Business
Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka reviews performance and unveils Strategic Roadmap for 2026
The Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka (DMASL) reviewed its annual performance and unveiled its Strategic Roadmap for 2026 following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025, held on 10th December 2025 at the Radisson Hotel, Colombo.
The AGM presented a comprehensive review of the Association’s activities during the year, along with the audited financial statements, which confirmed that DMASL recorded its strongest financial performance to date. The Association reported healthy revenue growth, a positive net profit, and a stable financial position, reinforcing its commitment to transparency, accountability, and strong governance.
The meeting confirmed the continuation of the existing Board of Directors for the upcoming term. The Board comprises Arjun Jeger (President), Ms. Gayathri Seneviratne (Vice President), Shalendra Mendis (Vice President), Udara Dharmasena (Secretary), and Muhammed Gazzaly (Treasurer).
In addition, the Executive Committee (ExCo) for the 2025/2026 term was confirmed, bringing together a diverse group of experienced industry professionals to support the Board in driving the Association’s strategic priorities, overseeing programme execution, and strengthening member engagement across the digital marketing ecosystem.
The AGM also reflected on a year of key milestones, including flagship industry events, professional development initiatives, strategic partnerships, and community-focused programmes that strengthened Sri Lanka’s digital marketing ecosystem.
Building on this momentum, DMASL unveiled its ROADMAP 2026, outlining several new strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the industry and creating sustainable impact. These initiatives include:
DMASL Academy: Focused on upskilling the nation’s digital workforce through expert-led education and training programmes.
Digital Services Fair: A national platform designed to showcase Sri Lanka’s digital capabilities, solutions, and service providers.
DMASL Resident Bootcamps: Intensive programmes aimed at developing high-performance digital talent aligned with industry needs.
The Steering Committee (SteerCo) will support the implementation of the 2026 roadmap by facilitating partnerships, guiding research initiatives, identifying skills gaps, and strengthening collaboration across the digital marketing community.
Commenting on the year ahead, Arjun Jeger, President of DMASL, stated that the Association remains focused on raising professional standards, investing in skills development, and positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive digital services hub.
Business
Sampath Bank powers PickMe with cutting-edge payment tech
Sampath Bank PLC has officially partnered with Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka PLC, the legal entity behind PickMe, Sri Lanka’s leading technology platform facilitating mobility, delivery and experiences, to successfully integrate Visa’s CyberSource internet Payment Gateway. This milestone reinforces Sri Lanka’s ongoing transition toward a more secure and cashless digital economy by enabling fast, reliable, and secure card payments across PickMe rides and PickMe delivery services.
The integration marks a strategic collaboration between one of Sri Lanka’s top financial institutions and a pioneering tech platform, aiming to streamline mobile payments, enhance digital security, and deliver frictionless customer experiences. It also reflects Sampath Bank’s broader commitment to empowering local digital businesses through world-class financial technology.
“This integration reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s digital payment systems,” said Chirath Samarasekara, Head of Card Centre at Sampath Bank PLC. He further stated, “We’re proud to support PickMe through Visa’s CyberSource payment Gateway, making payments more secure and convenient for users, while helping our partners grow confidently.”
“At PickMe, we’re committed to driving Sri Lanka’s digital transformation by making everyday transactions faster, safer, and more accessible. This partnership with Sampath Bank and Visa’s CyberSource payment Gateway is a major step forward in delivering seamless payment experiences to our users. Together, we’re building a more connected, cashless, and inclusive digital economy,” says Jiffry Zulfer Hassen, CEO at PickMe.
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