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Trading activity gets slower among retail investors

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Lankem Ceylon Rights Issue undersubscribed.

By Hiran H.Senewiratne 

Stock trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was marginally positive yesterday and the number of retail investor participation was lower compared to previous trading days. Index heavy LOLC group which accounted for more than 30 percent of the turnover, contributed 20 points to the All Share Price Index, stock market analysts said.

Both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index was up by 35.75 points and S&P SL20 up by 2.01 points. Turnover stood at Rs 1.74 billion sans a single crossing. In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were LOLC Rs 510 million (1.28 million shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 197 million (4.1 million shares traded), Melstacorp Rs 137 million (2.6 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 71.5 million (11.3 million shares traded), Windforce Rs 68.2 million (3.5 million shares traded) and Hayleys Holdings Rs 54.8 million (730,000 shares traded).

Index heavy LOLC, which contributed 20 points to the All Share Price Index, appreciated its share price by Rs 18.75 or 4.85 percent. Its share price started trading at Rs 386.25 and at the end of the day it moved up to Rs 405.

A pioneer in renewable energy, Vidullanka PLC has successfully completed raising additional capital of Rs. 253 million to fuel its expansion drive in the solar power sphere.

Lankem Ceylon Plc, Rs. 677 million worth Rights Issue has been undersubscribed. When the issue closed the Company managed to draw only subscriptions for 17.6 million shares worth Rs. 352.3 million. The original plan was to issue 33.85 million shares at Rs. 20 each aiming at raising Rs. 677 million. The basis was one new ordinary share for every one share held. Funds were to be raised to augment working capital requirements.

During the day 67.9 million share volumes changed hands in 17564 share transactions.



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The World of the Black Leopard

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Sri Lankan explorer, photographer, and author Senaka Kotagama unveils his debut book, The World of the Black Leopard, at its highly anticipated launch in Colombo. This self-published masterpiece, born from over five decades of global exploration—from Sri Lanka’s misty tea highlands to Kenya’s rugged Laikipia plateau—chronicles Senaka’s groundbreaking discovery of Giza (Black Beauty in Swahili), a rare melanistic leopard. In 2023, Senaka became the first Sri Lankan to track this elusive “ghost in the darkness,” inspired by wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas’s pioneering camera-trap images. Blending gripping adventure with a noble cause, all profits from the book support the Rotary for Little Hearts project.

Born in the mid-1960s in Sri Lanka’s lush tea country, Senaka grew up in a family that cherished the outdoors. The rolling hills and dense forests were his playground, fostering a deep connection to nature that would define his life. This early bond with the natural world set him on a path of exploration that few from his homeland have followed. By profession, Senaka is a Tea Taster, but his true calling lies beyond the tasting room—in the untamed corners of the planet.

Senaka’s adventures read like a catalogue of the world’s wildest places. In South America, he tracked jaguars and anacondas through the dense Amazon rainforest. He dived into Brazil’s Abismo Anhumas, a surreal underwater cave, and rafted beneath the roaring Iguaçu Falls. His scuba-diving exploits took him from Sri Lanka’s coastal waters to the pristine Similan Islands, all the way to the Myanmar border, where he swam alongside rare tiger sharks, and the whale-rich seas off Vietnam. In Chile’s Patagonian Andes, he pursued elusive pumas across windswept peaks, while Tanzania’s Serengeti brought him face-to-face with cheetahs and a near call with an angry lioness. India’s Bengal tigers, China’s Manchurian tigers, and Indonesia’s Komodo dragons have all crossed his path, each encounter fuelling his insatiable curiosity.

The World of the Black Leopard immerses readers in Laikipia’s wilderness, a hidden Kenyan gem often eclipsed by the Maasai Mara. Few outsiders have glimpsed Giza, a revered “freak of nature” among the Samburu and local tribes. Senaka’s multiple journeys to this mystical plateau spotlight its wonders, inspiring Sri Lankan and global wildlife enthusiasts to explore this remote region. His vivid prose—often penned on his phone amidst rugged terrain—pairs with stunning photography from his vast archive, capturing the wild’s fleeting magic with authenticity and depth.

More than a memoir, the book fuses drama, firsthand knowledge, and philosophical reflection, offering a window into a shrinking habitat through the eyes of a modern explorer inspired by literary giants like Wilbur Smith. Accompanied by breathtaking illustrations, it invites readers on a journey of empathy, awe, and cognitive awakening. For Senaka, the true reward lies in nature’s lessons, not financial gain. All proceeds from The World of the Black Leopard will fund Rotary for Little Hearts, a Rotary District 3220 initiative aiming to raise $1 million for Sri Lanka’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital. This project seeks to expand intensive care and surgical facilities for over 3,000 children born annually with congenital heart defects, giving them a chance at life through Senaka’s lifelong passion.

By Senaka Kotagama

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War and panic take their toll on bourse which recovers somewhat at close

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The CSE kicked off yesterday on a positive note but later selling pressure mounted due to the West Asian crisis which went on to trigger panic- selling of shares. However, at the tail end of the day the market indicated a slight recovery, market analysts said.

The All Share Price Index went down by 253 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 55.19 points. Turnover stood at Rs 3.32 billion with five crossings.

Those crossings were reported in Central Finance, where 313,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 71.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 228, People’s Leasing 2.2 million shares crossed for Rs 40.7 million and its shares traded at Rs 18.50, Commercial Bank 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 30.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 152, Central Industries 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 23.3 million; its shares sold at Rs 150 and Hemas 745,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 20.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 27.60.

In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; HNB Rs 212 million (672,000 shares traded), Commercial Bank 197 million (1.31 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 164 million (1.4 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 120 million (871,000 shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 114 million (15.3 million shares traded) and Dipped Products Rs 96.5 million (1.9 million shares traded). During the day 139 million share volumes changed hands in 27968 transactions.

It is said that the banking and financial sector led the market, especially Central Finance and HNB, while the manufacturing sector was the second largest contributor to the market, especially Central Industries. Further, the services sector and the plantations sector did not perform well.

Lankem Ceylon plans a one for three rights issue of 17.15 million ordinary shares at Rs 70 each to raise Rs 1.2 billion, CSE sources said. The cash will be used for part settlement of bank loans. The firm’s current stated capital is Rs1.28 billion made up of 55.4 million ordinary shares.

The rights issue is subject to Colombo Stock Exchange and shareholder approval. A subdivision of shares will follow if the proposed rights issue is fully subscribed, the company said, with 68,627,676 ordinary shares split “on the basis of every One (1) Existing issued Ordinary Share being Sub-divided into Two (2) issued Ordinary Shares, thereby increasing the number of shares of the Company to 137,255,352 shares.”

Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 300.50/70 to the US dollar in the spot market, broadly flat against previous day’s close of Rs300.40/60, dealers said, while bond yields were up, particularly in the mid tenors and above.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 8.15/25 percent, up from 8.14/20 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 was quoted at 8.50/60 percent, up from 8.54/60 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2028 was quoted at 8.90/9.00 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.62/67 percent, up from 9.52/56 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 10.05/20 percent, up from 9.98/10.10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 10.35/40 percent, up from 10.31/38 percent.

By Hiran H.Senewiratne ✍️

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TVS Motor announces Sudarshan Venu as chairman of the company

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Sudarshan Venu

TVS Motor Company announced today that The Board of Directors unanimously named Sudarshan Venu as incoming Chairman of the Company, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to the Company’s sustained growth and strategic development during his tenure as Director. Effective August 25, 2025, Sudarshan Venu will be appointed as Chairman and Managing Director.

Its current chairman, Sir Ralf Speth, has informed The Board of Directors that he will not be seeking re-appointment as a company Director at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Consequently, he will step down as Chairman of the Company at the close of the AGM on August 22, 2025.

The Board will also be appointing Sir Ralf Speth as Chief Mentor of the Company for a period of three years effective August 23, 2025, ensuring continued benefit from his extensive knowledge, experience and expertise.

Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Company, said, “I express my sincere gratitude to Ralf for his exceptional leadership as Chairman over the last three years. His contributions have been invaluable in guiding our strategic expansion into global markets and fostering innovation that has significantly strengthened our industry standing. We are grateful for his continued support as Chief Mentor for TVS Motor and in welcoming Sudarshan into his new role. I am confident that Sudarshan, who in his capacity as Managing Director has demonstrated tremendous growth for the business, will take the Company to even greater heights.”

Sir Ralf Speth, said, “It has been an honour for me to steer TVS Motor Company as its Chairman over the last three years. I am grateful for the support, cooperation, and personal friendships developed during my tenure. As I hand over the Chairmanship to Sudarshan, I am confident that under his leadership, the Company will continue its growth journey while championing core TVS values. Sudarshan’s dynamism and passion underscore his vision for the business, and I am confident that TVS is in safe, responsible hands. I wish Sudarshan and TVS Motor a bright future ahead.”

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