The CSE was trending down yesterday as external environmental issues, especially the US-Iran hostilities, continued to impact the global economy adversely.

The All Share Price Index went down by 170.60 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 43.39 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2.63 billion with four crossings.

Turnover stood at Rs 2.63 billion with four crossings. Those crossings were: CT Holdings crossed 1.1 million shares to the tune of Rs 551 million; its shares traded at Rs 510, Cargills Ceylon 856,000 shares crossed for Rs 145 million; its shares sold at Rs 630, LMF 232 million shares crossed for Rs 232 million; its shares sold at Rs 84 and Dialog 457,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 20 million; its shares sold at Rs 43.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; JKH Rs 109 million (5.5 million shares traded), Haycarb Rs 93 million (535,000 shares traded), CCS Rs 60 million (447,000 shares traded), Bairaha Farm Rs 54 million (626,000 shares traded), Ambeon Capital Rs 48 million (1.6 million shares traded), LMF Rs 47 million (556,000 shares traded) and ACL Cables Rs 44 million (455,000 shares traded). During the day 56 million share volumes changed hands in 17347 transactions.

It is said that manufacturing sector counters, especially JKH, performed well. Further, beverage sector counters, especially Cargills and CCS performed significantly well.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 336.20/30 to the US dollar in the spot market, from Rs 336.15/25 Friday, while bond yields edged up, dealers said.

The telegraphic transfer rate for the dollar was 331.80 buying, Rs 340.80 selling; the euro was 376.9467 buying, 390.8637 selling; and the pound was 445.4833 buying, 459.5289 selling.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

HNB Life PLC manifested its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement by securing three Gold Awards in the Quality Improvement Project Category at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity 2026, organized by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP).

The National Convention on Quality and Productivity serves as a premier platform for organizations across diverse industries to showcase successful Continuous Improvement (CI), Quality Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Productivity, and Operational Excellence initiatives. Participating organizations present projects that address business challenges, implement sustainable solutions, and deliver measurable outcomes that enhance organizational performance.

The three award-winning projects presented by HNB Life highlighted the Company’s ongoing efforts to enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and empower its workforce through technology-driven innovation.

Commenting on the achievement, HNB Life’s Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer, Lasitha Wimalaratne, stated, “Winning three Gold Awards at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity is a testament to our culture of innovation and continuous improvement. At HNB Life, we constantly challenge ourselves to identify opportunities that create meaningful value for our customers, saleforce and employees. These awards reflect the dedication of our teams and I’d like to convey my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved.”

Also sharing his thoughts, EVP / Chief Transformation Officer, Dayan Ranasinghe, said, “Technology plays a pivotal role in transforming the way we serve our customers and empower our people. These award winning projects demonstrate how innovation, process optimization, and digital capabilities can work together to solve business challenges and create tangible impact. We are proud to see our teams being recognized at a national level for their efforts in driving meaningful change across the organization.”

Reinforcing its long-standing commitment to architecture, design excellence and the advancement of Sri Lankan living spaces, LANKATILES has announced a strategic partnership with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. The collaboration will support the Trust’s DesignTalk platform, the Annual Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture and other knowledge-sharing initiatives that continue to inspire and cultivate Sri Lanka’s architectural community.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to meaningful dialogue, creative exchange and the continued evolution of architecture in Sri Lanka. Aligning with Geoffrey Bawa’s enduring legacy, LANKATILES seeks to support platforms that nurture future talent and strengthen its engagement with the country’s architectural and design fraternity.

Speaking on the partnership, Priyantha Talwatte, Managing Director of LANKATILES PLC, said, “Our association with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust reflects our shared belief that architecture shapes spaces, cultural identity and lasting legacies. LANKATILES is proud to support a community that inspires future generations of architects and contributes to an enduring culture of design.”