Business
CSE’s initial bullish spurt fizzles out in the wake of profit-takings in blue-chips
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
The CSE kicked off on a bullish note but subsequently witnessed some mixed reactions yesterday as profit- takings were noted in index- weighted blue- chip companies, stock market analysts said.The All- Share Price Index went up by 61 points and S and P SL20 declined by 8.57 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2.65 billion with eight crossings.
Those crossings were reported in CTC, which crossed 100,000 shares to the tune of Rs 95 million; its shares traded at Rs 950, Melstacope 1.09 million shares crossed for Rs 87.7 million; its shares traded at Rs 82.50, Vallible One 2 million shares crossed for Rs 78 million, its shares sold at Rs 70, Sampath Bank 1 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 70 million and its shares fetched Rs 70, HNB 336,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 59.7 million and its shares traded at Rs 183, Sunshine Holdings 1.06 million shares crossed for Rs 57.4 million and its shares traded at Rs 54, DFCC Bank 500,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 45 million, its shares fetched Rs 90 and JKH 185,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 35.7 million, its shares fetched Rs 193.
In the retail market top five companies that contributed to the turnover were Pan Asia Bank Rs 332 million (15.5 million shares traded), JKH Rs 314 million (1.6 million shares traded), DFCC Bank Rs 314 million (3.4 million shares traded) and Central Finance Rs 286 million (2.3 million shares traded) and Capital Alliance Rs 280 million (four million shares traded). During the day 134 million share volumes changed hands in 32383 transactions.
It is said high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in JKH, Melstacorp and Expolanka Holdings. Mixed interest was observed in Capital Alliance, Teejay Lanka and Commercial Bank, while retail interest was noted in Softlogic Capital, SMB Leasing nonvoting and Browns Investments.
The Banking sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to Pan Asian Bank), while the sector index gained 2.31 percent. The share price of Hatton National Bank appreciated by 1 rupee to reach Rs. 183.25.
The Diversified Financials sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to Capital Alliance) while the sector index increased by 3.78 percent. The share price of Capital Alliance recorded a gain of Rs. 5 to reach Rs. 65.40.
Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 320.50/321.50 to the US dollar, after closing on the previous day at 321.50/321.70 to the US dollar, dealers said.
Bond yields were down. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 was quoted stable at 12.95/05 on Thursday, up from Wednesday’s at 12.95/10 percent.A bond maturing on 01.05.2028 was quoted at down 12.85/95 on Thursday, up from Wednesday’s 13.00/20 percent.
In a significant move for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, NKAR, a stalwart in the industry for over 45 years, has announced a partnership with Holiday Max, Australia’s largest tour operator. Based in Perth, Holiday Max has ventured into Sri Lanka for the first time, marking a promising expansion for both entities.
This collaboration aligns with NKAR’s strategic vision to enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers. Nilmin Nanayakkara, Chairman and Managing Director of NKAR says, “Our policy has always been to promote Sri Lanka to new markets by attracting new operators, rather than competing through price undercutting or making unrealistic promises.” This statement encapsulates NKAR’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth by focusing on quality over cost.
By prioritsing service excellence and maintaining high health and safety standards, NKAR aims to elevate the overall travel experience for visitors. This approach not only positions Sri Lanka as a premium destination but also attracts reputable operators like Holiday Max, who are drawn to the island’s unique experiences and NKAR’s dedication to quality service.
The partnership represents a remarkable opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s diverse offerings to Australian travelers, potentially opening new avenues for tourism growth. As NKAR continues to innovate and adapt, this collaboration is set to bolster Sri Lanka’s standing as a sought-after travel destination, steering the industry away from aggressive price competition towards sustainable growth through authentic experiences.
By focusing on attracting new operators and markets, NKAR is paving the way for a revitalised tourism landscape in Sri Lanka, one that values quality, safety, and the unique charm of the island. NKAR is recognised as one of the top five destination management companies in Sri Lanka. The company recently won 3 major awards at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
LOLC Finance secured five Gold Awards and one Merit Award at the LankaPay Technovation Awards 2025, including the prestigious Overall Excellence in Digital Payments Gold Award for the sixth consecutive year.
The company dominated both bank and NBFI categories, winning Best Digital Strategy Gold Award, proving its superiority over traditional banks in digital finance.
Awards won were as follows.
Gold Awards:
Best Digital Payment Strategy (Banks & NBFI)
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks & NBFI)
Excellence in Customer Convenience (NBFI)
Financial Inclusivity (NBFI)
Overall Excellence in Digital Payments (NBFI)
Merit Award: Most Popular Digital Payment Product (iPay)
CEO Krishan Thilakaratne emphasized digitalization as core to LOLC Finance’s operations, enabling seamless, 24/7 financial access through platforms like LOLC Real Time and iPay.
Chairman Conrad Dias highlighted the audited, performance-based recognition and iPay’s mission to solve real-world financial challenges with cutting-edge tech.
iPay & JustPay innovations were Recognized for leading digital payment adoption with 1M+ downloads, 1.8M monthly transactions, and 65% JustPay market share, featuring biometric security and AI fraud detection.
Financial Inclusivity was recognized for Bridging gaps via multi-lingual services, cashless processes, and rural outreach programs.
Customer Convenience was recognized for real-time solutions (SLIPS, CEFTS) eliminating branch visits for payments and transfers.
Tree House International, located in Dehiwala, has been recognised as the Most Evidence-Based Special Needs School of the Year at BWIO Awards. The only international school in Sri Lanka dedicated exclusively to children with special needs, 75% of its students relocate from abroad for its high-quality, result-driven education.
Last semester, 100% of students transitioned to mainstream or vocational training.
The school is led by Dr. Anton James, a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist with over 20 years of global experience.
His evidence-based approach earned the highest honour from the British Psychological Society, and he was elected a Chartered Scientist. Co-directed by Chrystal Honsaker, an expert with 15 years of international special needs experience, the school also offers an accredited British curriculum alternative to GCSEs.
-
Business3 days agoDIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
Features5 days agoNipping the two leaves and the bud
-
News2 days agoFamily discovers rare species thought to be extinct for over a century in home garden
-
Features5 days agoAvurudu celebrations … galore
-
Features4 days agoProf. Lal Tennekoon: An illustrious but utterly unpretentious and much -loved academic
-
Foreign News2 days agoChina races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon
-
Latest News7 days agoTrump freezes $2bn in Harvard funding after university rejects demands
-
News5 days agoCounsel for Pilleyan alleges govt. bid to force confession