Business
Plans to sell controlling stake in Dankotuwa Porcelain boost market; Lanka IOC shares up as well
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
CSE trading was slightly volatile yesterday but in mid- session the market received a boost when plans were announced for the sale of the controlling stake in Dankotuwa Porcelain, market analysts said.It is said that a share purchase agreement was announced between Ambeon Holdings and Ceyline Investments. Ambeon Holdings plans to sell a 50.1 percent stake in Dankotuwa Porcelain to Ceyline Investments, running into Rs 2.3 billion.
The overall market is moving up on domestic debt optimization assurances, picking up several stock counters in the market, analysts said. According to Ambeon, the transaction is subject to completion on conditions precedents identified in the said share sales and purchase agreement.
The Lanka IOC share price also moved up with the announcement that Sri Lanka is in talks with India to build an oil pipeline to transport fuel to the Eastern Port of Trincomalee.
‘There are on-going discussions on bringing an oil pipeline from India to Trincomalee, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told energy investors, according to a statement from his media office.
Trincomalee has a World War II-era 99 tank farm. A part of the tank farm is under the control of Lanka Indian Oil Corporation. The rest is under the joint control of IOC and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Further, the banking and diversified financial sectors are picking up on domestic debt optimization assurances, while investors are seeking alternative investments, bringing up the market on green, an analyst said. The consumer durables and apparel sector drew in 2.3 billion rupees in revenue in mid- day trade.
Amid those developments both indices moved upwards marginally. The All- Share Price Index was up by 1.5 points and S and P SL20 rose by 8.2 points. Turnover stood at Rs 5 billion with eight crossings. Those crossings were reported in Dankotuwa Porcelain, where 81.4 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 2.3 billion and its shares traded at Rs 28.30, Distilleries 1.5 million shares crossed for Rs 33.7 million; its shares traded at Rs 32.50, HNB’s 200,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 32.8 million; its shares traded at Rs 164.
Sunshine Holdings 602,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 30.1 million; its shares traded at Rs 50, Hayleys 300,000 shares crossed for Rs 27 million; its shares traded at Rs 90, JKH 145,000 shares crossed for Rs 23 million and its shares fetched Rs 159m, Bahira Farms 125,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 21.2 million and its shares traded at Rs 170 and Expolanka Holdings 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 21.15 million; its shares traded at Rs 141.
In the retail market top seven companies in the market that contributed to the turnover were Lanka IOC, Rs 409.7 million (2.9 million shares traded), Sunshine Holdings Rs 371 million (7.4 million shares traded), Hemas Holdings Rs 109.7 million (1.4 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 98.2 million (1.5 million shares traded), JKH Rs 74.6 million (469,000 shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 70.1 million (874,000 shares traded) and Aitken Spence Rs 69.6 million (512,000 shares traded). During the day 172 million share volumes changed hands in 13000 transactions.
Lankem Group’s Agarapatana Plantations Ltd. is to list on the Colombo Stock Exchange via an Initial Public Offering worth Rs. 747.6 million.The CSE has approved, in-principle, an application by the company to list on the Diri Savi Board.
The IPO involves 83,070,111 Ordinary Voting Shares at Rs. 9 each. The quantity of shares amount to 16.61% of the post-issue Ordinary Voting Shares of the company.Net Asset Value per share of the Equity (NAV) is Rs. 8.43 and the Offer Price is 1.07 times the NAV. Capital Alliance Partners Ltd. is the manager of the IPO.
Funds raised via the IPO are for investment in modern equipment to develop APL factories to “State of the Art – Processing Centres” (Rs. 672.6 million) and settlement of high-cost term loans worth Rs. 75 million.Yesterday the Central Bank’s US dollar buying rate was Rs 308.16 and selling rate Rs 321.87.
Business
AIA delivers strong first half results in 2026; double-digit growth across key financial metrics
The Board of AIA Group Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the Group’s financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated:
New business performance and embedded value
Value of new business (VONB) of US$3,212 million, up 10 per cent overall and 14 per cent excluding Thailand(1)
Record high annualised operating ROEV of 18.0 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent in full year 2025
EV Equity of US$83.4 billion, up 6 per cent per share over the first half on an actual exchange rate basis
IFRS earnings
Operating profit after tax (OPAT) of US$4,163 million, up 13 per cent per share
AIA now expects to exceed OPAT per share CAGR target of 9 to 11 per cent from 2023 to 2026(2)
Record high annualised operating ROE of 17.5 per cent, up from 15.5 per cent in full year 2025
Cash generation and capital returns
Underlying free surplus generation (UFSG) of US$3,935 million, increased by 10 per cent per share
Net free surplus generation (net FSG) of US$2,758 million, up 12 per cent per share
US$3.6 billion returned to shareholders in the first half through dividend and share buy-back
Interim dividend increased by 10 per cent to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share
Lee Yuan Siong, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, said:
“AIA has delivered another strong performance in the first half of 2026, with double-digit growth across our key financial metrics, while continuing to return substantial capital to shareholders. VONB reached a record high of US$3.2 billion with growth across all distribution channels, and all reportable segments excluding Thailand. The Group has achieved 17 per cent CAGR since the first half of 2023(3), demonstrating consistently strong demand for AIA’s professional advice and differentiated products.
“At the core of our unrivalled distribution platform is our market-leading Premier Agency. I am delighted that AIA has once again been ranked the number one Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) multinational company globally. We have held this position for a record 12 consecutive years and we have more than double the number of MDRT members of our nearest competitor. In the first half of 2026, our Premier Agency achieved strong VONB growth of 11 per cent excluding Thailand(1). Our extensive network of strategic distribution partners further expands our market reach and generated an 18 per cent increase in VONB, supported by very strong performance in both the bancassurance and independent financial adviser (IFA) and broker channels.
“Strong new business, together with disciplined management of our in-force portfolio, has supported sustained growth in recurring earnings with OPAT per share up by 13 per cent in the first half. As a result, we expect to exceed our 9 to 11 per cent OPAT per share CAGR target for 2023 to 2026(2). UFSG, the Group’s core measure of operating cash generation, increased by 10 per cent per share. After allowing for new business investment, net FSG increased by 12 per cent per share. In accordance with our prudent, sustainable and progressive dividend policy, the Board has declared a 10 per cent increase in the interim dividend to 53.90 Hong Kong cents per share. These achievements demonstrate that our financial strategy is working as intended.
“Asia remains the most compelling growth opportunity for life and health insurance. Powerful structural tailwinds across the region continue to create substantial demand for our professional advice and differentiated products and underpin the exceptional long-term prospects for AIA’s business. I am confident that AIA’s disciplined execution of our strategic priorities will continue to deliver long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”
Business
British Council Sri Lanka launches soft skills workshops to elevate learning and empower communication
The British Council Sri Lanka has launched Corporate English Solutions (CES), tailored to the Sri Lankan corporate and education ecosystem, aimed at helping organisations strengthen workplace communication and professional development.
The launch event took place recently at the NH Collection, Colombo 3, gathering corporate partners, clients and education stakeholders throughout the country.
CES extends the British Council’s long-standing work in English language education and teacher training into a dedicated offering for the corporate sector. The launch introduced two new components to the British Council’s presence in Sri Lanka such as public workshops and teacher training programmes, open to learners and educators beyond the organisation’s existing corporate and academic partners. Guests at the event were shown a short video introducing Corporate English Solutions before the formal proceedings began.
Talal Meer, British Council Regional Business Development Director, South Asia, welcomed guests and introduced the British Council’s team in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, Meer set out the scope of the CES launch, covering the introduction of public workshops in Sri Lanka, the rollout of teacher training programmes, and an overview of the CES product portfolio. Meer’s role covers educational partnerships in the South Asia region, and his address framed the Sri Lanka launch within the British Council’s broader regional strategy.
Business
Ogilvy Group tops award tally at ‘Dragons of Sri Lanka’ 2026
Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka delivered a standout performance at the recently concluded Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026 Awards, securing a total of nine awards comprising two Gold Dragons, one Silver Dragon and six Black Dragons, among the festival’s highest overall award tallies. Gold Dragon wins for Phoenix Ogilvy and Ogilvy Digital, together with the seven additional recognitions across multiple categories, highlighted Ogilvy’s ability to combine creativity, strategic thinking and commercial effectiveness to deliver business results.
Organised by the 4As Sri Lanka, the third edition of Dragons of Sri Lanka shortlisted more than 50 agencies and corporates, making it one of the country’s most competitive marketing communications awards. These local awards, along with the chapters in Malaysia and Pakistan are part of the Dragons of Asia platform, one of the region’s leading programmes for marketing communications effectiveness, with entries being judged on strategy, originality, execution and measurable results.
Ogilvy Digital accounted for eight awards in total, including a Gold Dragon in the Business & Trade Marketing category, and a Silver Dragon in the Innovative Idea or Concept category. The Agency additionally received six Black Dragons across the categories of Innovative Idea or Concept, Business & Trade Marketing, Content Creation, Small Budget, Event or Experiential, and Brand Trial or Sales Generation.
Commenting on the achievement, Sajith Weerasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy Digital, said, “These recognitions reflect the breadth of capabilities we’ve built across strategy, creative, content, experience design, technology and performance marketing. The fact that the work was recognised across so many different disciplines demonstrates our ability to apply creativity to a wide range of business challenges and objectives. We’re proud that this achievement spans multiple clients, categories and types of work, reflecting both the versatility of our people and our commitment to delivering results.”
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