By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange was bullish yesterday due to low interest regime, favourable economic conditions as well as the upgrading of sovereign ratings following the completion of external debt restructuring, market analysts said.

Owing to those positive factors both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index up by 232 points (closing at 15,400.53 – a new all-time high) while S&P SL20 up by 96 points. Turnover stood at Rs 7 billion with nine crossings.

Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank, which crossed 1.15 million shares to the tune of Rs 127 million and its share price traded at Rs 112, Renuka Holdings five million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 101.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 20, Ceylon Cold Stores 734,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 60 million and its share price traded at Rs 82, TJ lanka 987,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 47.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 48, Access Engineering 1.3 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 46.15 million and its share price traded at Rs 95.50, Sunshine Holdings 230,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 21.5 million and its share price traded at Rs 95, LMF 500,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 21.75 million and its share price traded at Rs 43.52, Hayleys Fabrics 390,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 20.8 million and its share price traded at Rs 53.20, and Commercial Bank (Non Voting) 185,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 20.2 million and its share price traded at Rs 109.50.

In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were Waskaduwa Resorts Rs 411 million (193 million shares traded), LOLC Holdings Rs 378 million (585,000 shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 366 million  (52.1 million shares traded), HNB Rs 261 million (899,000 shares traded) and HNB Rs 206 million (898,000 shares traded). During the day 534 million share volume changed hands in 47000 transactions.

The banking sector, especially Sampath Bank and HNB, while the manufacturing sector was the second largest contributor for the market. The service sector also was active yesterday to a significant degree.

Yesterday, the Central Bank announced the US Dollar rate. The rupee was trading stronger at Rs 294.30/60 to the US dollar in the spot market, from Rs 294.00/295.50 on Tuesday, while bond yields were down, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 9.40/50 percent, down from 9.40/55 percent.A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 was quoted at 9.75/85 percent, down from 9.77/87 percent.A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 10.10/15 percent, down from 10.10/20 percent.A bond maturing on 01.05.2028 was quoted at 10.28/35 percent.A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 10.65/75 percent, down from 10.65/80 percent.

This festive season, Daintee confectioneries is set to surprise and delight children and families with a truly unique experience. For the first time in Sri Lanka, Daintee will present an edible, live-size gingerbread house at One Galle Face Mall, inviting children to explore, enjoy, and indulge in a first ever real size edible ginger bread house.

Daintee, a brand under Sunshine Consumer Lanka Pvt Ltd, is dedicated to building “world-ready kids for a better tomorrow.” With a strong commitment to quality and locally sourced ingredients, Daintee has become a trusted brand in Sri Lanka’s confectionery market.

The Daintee Gingerbread House is an extraordinary creation made from gingerbread and the wide range of Daintee products, including Jujubes, Cheweez, éclairs, and Hearts chocolates. This massive, real-scale house will allow kids to experience the magic of the season by exploring the structure, eating pieces of it, and taking home a selection of Daintee’s finest confectioneries. The event promises fun, excitement, and inspiration, encouraging children to engage with the world of sweets in an innovative and immersive way.

In light of the food elements involved, Daintee has taken extra care to ensure the highest standards of hygiene, health, and safety throughout the event. The entire activation will be supervised and guided by the PHI Association of Sri Lanka, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for all visitors.This event reflects Daintee’s commitment to providing children with a platform to explore their creativity and spark innovation while also ensuring hygiene and safety.

Siyapatha Finance PLC hosted its highly anticipated annual event, Siyapatha Night 2024, on November 16, 2024, at the prestigious City of Dreams, Cinnamon Life, Colombo. The event brought together over 1,000 employees from 53 Siyapatha Finance branches across the island, offering a platform to foster fellowship, celebrate achievements, and embrace the company’s vibrant corporate culture.

The evening commenced with inspiring addresses from the company’s leadership, which included Chairman Sumith Cumaranatunga, Managing Director Ananda Seneviratne, and Chief Human Resources Officer Prasad Udugampola.

Commenting on this milestone occasion, Siyapatha Finance PLC Managing Director, Ananda Seneviratne, shared: “Siyapatha Night is a tribute to the remarkable contributions of our employees, whose dedication continues to strengthen our journey toward success and industry leadership. Together, we continue to set new benchmarks and pave the way for a promising future.”

His speech was followed by the other members of the company’s leadership team who acknowledged the invaluable contributions of each employee to Siyapatha Finance’s continued success and growth during their speeches.

In a significant milestone, Siyapatha Finance launched the Siyapatha Finance Digital Academy, further embracing technological advancements to enhance its continuous learning culture. This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the evolving financial landscape.