Connect with us

Business

Policy rate jitters seize bourse despite previous positive momentum lingering

Published

on

The CSE was able to maintain the previous positive momentum yesterday but investors were concerned about the new policy rates to be announced by the Central Bank today.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 75.95 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 20.03 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 6.5 billion with 13 crossings. Top seven crossings that were reported in LOLC, which crossed 650,000 shares to the tune of Rs 370.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 570, Capital Alliance Holdings 13 million shares crossed for Rs 221 million; its shares traded at Rs 17, VallibelOne 1.06 million shares crossed for Rs 106 million; its sharestraded at Rs 100.

NTB 300,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 93.3 million; its shares traded at Rs 312, Commercial Bank 450,000 shares crossed for Rs 87.75 million and its shares traded at Rs 195, HNB (Non- Voting) 270,000 shares crossed for Rs 79.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 295 and Ceylinco Holdings 20000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 53.5 million; its shares sold at Rs 3175.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Brown’s Investments Rs 434 million (54.50 million shares traded), VallibelOne Rs 319 million (3.1 million shares traded), Sierra Cables Rs 267 million (9.7 million shares traded), Digital Mobility Solutions Rs 248 million (1.2 million shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 246 million (1.2 million shares traded), DFCC Rs 198 million (1.21 million shares traded) and Dipped Products Rs 188 million (2.8 million shares traded). During the day 224 million share volumes changed hands in 38000 transactions.

It is said that the banking and finance sector led the market while the manufacturing sector also actively participated at the floor.

Yesterday the rupee opened at Rs 302.40/60 to the US dollar from Rs 302.45/60 the previous day, while bond yields were broadly steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 was quoted flat at 8.90/9.00 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.48/52 percent, down from 9.47/57 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.70/72 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 10.43/47 percent, from 10.38/44 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.66/70 percent.

The telegraphic transfer rate for the American dollar was 299.0000 buying, 306.0000 selling; the British pound was 403.3856 buying, and 414.7474 selling, and the euro was 351.0459 buying, 362.4091 selling.

By Hiran H Senewiratne



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Janashakthi Finance appoints Sithambaram Sri Ganendran as CEO

Published

on

Sithambaram Sri Ganendran, Chief Executive Officer, Janashakthi Finance PLC

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.

Continue Reading

Business

Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka reviews performance and unveils Strategic Roadmap for 2026

Published

on

1st row L-R – Shanaka Rathnayake, Udara Dharmasena (Secretary), Shalendra Mendis (Vice President), Arjun Jeger (President),Gayathri Seneviratne (Vice President), Muhammed Gazzaly (Tresurer), Indu Nanayakkara, Shehan Selvanayagam 2nd row L-R Sheshan Jayawardana, Supun Jayalath, Hisham Zulfikar, Vimukthi Muthkudaaraachchi, Niranka Perera, Wasaam Ismail, Sagar Hiranand.

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.

Continue Reading

Business

Sampath Bank powers PickMe with cutting-edge payment tech

Published

on

From Left: Kanishka Perera, Marketing Officer – E-Commerce, Sampath Bank, Navod Hettiarachchi, Marketing Officer – E-Commerce, Sampath Bank, Chaminda Samarajeewa, Manager – Merchant Relationships, Digital Products & Card Sales, Sampath Bank, Chirath Samarasekara – Head of Card Centre, Sampath Bank, Darshin Pathinayake, Assistant General Manager – Advanced Analytics & Card Centre, Sampath Bank, Jiffry Zulfer Hassen, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, PickMe, Maduranga Kulathilaka, Chief Financial Officer, PickMe, Sabir Esufali, Senior Product Manager, PickMe, Melissa Diaz, Associate Product Owner, PickMe, Daniel Fernando, Senior Manager Finance, PickMe.

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.

Continue Reading

Trending