By Hiran H.Senewiratne

Stock trading was positive yesterday but investor participation remained at a lower range. The turnover level was 60 percent down compared to previous days after suffering its worst dip in over two years and losing Rs. 188 billion in value on Wednesday, market analysts said.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All- Share Price Index went up by 227.95 points while S and P SL20 rose by 72.87 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2 billion with four crossings.

Those crossings were reported in JKH, which crossed six million shares to the tune of Rs 136.3 million, its shares traded at Rs 22.70, Melstacope 450,000 shares crossed for Rs 58.3 million; its shares traded at Rs 130, ACL Cables 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 33.7 million; its shares traded at Rs 135 and Dialog 2 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 26.2 million; its shares traded at Rs 13.10.

In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Browns Investments Rs 115 million (13.2 million shares traded), Access Engineering Rs 88.7 million (2.1 million shares traded), CIC Holdings Rs 88.5 million (792,000 shares traded), Melstacope Rs 85.9 million (678,000 shares traded), Dipped Products Rs 67.8 million (1.1 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 66.9 million (557,000 shares traded). During the day 78 million share volumes changed hands in 17970 transactions.

During the day the main contributors to the All Share Price Index were, Ceylinco Insurance, 34 points, Melstacope 25 points and JKH 21 points.

It is said that high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Amana Bank, Access Engineering and Teejay Lanka. Mixed interest was observed in Browns Investments, HNB and LOLC Holdings, while retail interest was noted in LOLC Finance, Waskaduwa Beach Resort and Dialog Axiata.

The banking sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to HNB and Amana Bank), while the sector index gained 0.76 percent. The share price of HNB edged up by 25 cents to Rs. 334.25. The share price of Amana Bank moved down by 10 cents to Rs. 25.

The Capital Goods sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to Access Engineering), while the sector index increased by 0.79 percent. The share price of Access Engineering recorded a gain of Rs. 1.10 to reach Rs. 40.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 298.40/80 to the US dollar in the spot market, stable from Rs 298.40/70 to the US dollar the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 9.05/15 percent, up from 9.05/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2027 was quoted at 9.75/85 percent, up from 9.70/80 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 10.13/17 percent, down from 10.15/17 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2028 was quoted at 10.35/38 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 10.80/85 percent, down from 10.82/90 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 was quoted at 11.23/28 percent, down from 11.23/33 percent.

Chatham Luxury -the exclusive representative of Chopard in Sri Lanka- held a private preview of the Swiss luxury brand’s newest watch and jewellery collections on Thursday the 23rd of January at the Chatham Flagship Boutique at Galle Face Court; making it the first time a global jewellery label showcased in Sri Lanka.

Representing Chopard at the intimate event was Xavier Lasserre, International Sales Manager of the brand; and as the evening unfolded, models gracefully exhibited exquisite timepieces and jewellery while Lasserre introduced every coveted creation on display with fascinating insight into the design and craftsmanship behind each, while also speaking to the ethos, heritage, and vision of the brand.

Under the spotlight were some of the luxury label’s newest creations that reflected both the masterful artistry and calibre of Chopard, namely the latest additions to the iconic Happy Diamonds and Ice Cube collections.

Chopard’s Happy Diamonds luxury jewellery capsule with its quintessential ‘dancing diamonds’ is recognised for its authentic elegant charm. On the other hand, the brand’s Ice Cube collection of luxury rings, diamond pendants, bracelets, and earrings, perfectly marry classical glamour and sleek modernity.

We dug into the details of what Sri Lankans ordered on Uber Eats last year, and one thing stood out— a love for bold flavours. From “make it spicy,” to “extra spicy,” spice dominated order instructions, proving once again that Sri Lankans love their daiyya (spice) . But it wasn’t all about fiery flavours – Sri Lankans had a serious sweet tooth, with Pancakes, Chocolate Doughnuts, and Chocolate Eclairs leading dessert orders in the hundreds of thousands.

The Uber Eats Cravings Report 2024, a snapshot of the country’s favorite cravings and binge-worthy dishes, uncovered some interesting trends. The country’s long-standing love for Short Eats remained strong, with Chicken Roll, Fish Patty, and Fish Bun topping snack-time favourites.

Rice reigned supreme, with four of the five most-ordered dishes being rice-based, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s unwavering love for rice.

The 2024 Food Menu Royalty:

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken Biryani

Nasi Goreng

Mixed Fried Rice

Chicken Pizza

In a nation known for its tea exports, coffee came on top—Iced Coffee held its stop as the most-ordered drink on Uber Eats in 2024, overtaking Milk Tea once again. Rounding out the top five beverages were Pepsi, Iced Milo, 7UP, and Milo Milk Tea.

Grocery trends reflected kitchen essentials and everyday kitchen staples. Eggs, Big Onions, and Tomatoes, leading shopping lists on the app.

The 2024 Grocery Menu Royalty:

Big Onions

Eggs

Tomatoes

Fresh Milk

Sandwich Bread

True to Uber Eats’ ‘Get Almost, Almost Anything’ promise, non-food orders were a hit, with personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies topping the list.

The 2024 ‘Get Almost, Almost Anything’ Winners

Tissues

Sanitary Pads

Dishwash Liquid

Toilet Paper

Detergent

Sri Lankans showed their generosity, tipping delivery partners over LKR 100,000,000 last year. The highest tips were given on Mother’s Day (May 12); Father’s Day (June 16), and Valentine’s Day (February 14) – proving that consumers made sure delivery partners felt extra special on special days.

And of course, no Cravings Report is complete without some unforgettable delivery instructions. Some gems from 2024:

“Can you please put some eggs? I’m bulking 😭 I’ve been ordering regularly”

“You guys know how I like it—NO onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Just whipped curd with extra chili powder.”

“I MISSED YOU A LOT! I TRIED ORDERING SO MANY TIMES! DON’T GO MISSING AGAIN !”

Six years in, Uber Eats continues to shape Sri Lanka’s food culture – whether you like it spicy, sweet, or with extra eggs. No matter what your cravings are, we’ll keep delivering your favorites, just the way you love them.