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Stock Market Index Performance
Decline in key Colombo Stock Exchange indices at the end of April.
Primary Sources
In Brief 03-05-2026 - Ceylon Today
HSBC Exits Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation officially shuttered its retail doors on Thursday (30 April), marking the conclusion of its high-profile exit from the local personal banking segment. Consequently HSBC’s consumer portfolio migrated to Nations Trust Bank plc (NTB).As of Thursday, approximately 200,000 accounts—comprising HSBC’s Premier banking clientele, credit card holders, and personal loan borrowers—prepared for their official transition to the NTB network, effective, Friday (May 1). Fuelling Illicit cigerette Market Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) appointed international executive Sarmad Abbasi as its new Managing Director and Executive Director, effective from Friday (April 30). He succeeds Fariyha Subhani. CTC remains a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s fiscal health. In its latest Annual Report, CTC noted it contributed Rs. 173.8 billion to the Treasury in 2025, representing roughly four percent of total tax revenue. However, the company issued a warning regarding the sustainability of current tax policies. CTC cautioned that while excise duty hikes are intended to boost government revenue, recent increases, including a six per cent rise in January, are accelerating a shift towards cheap, but illicit, non-revenue generating cigarettes. CTC Chairman Suresh Shah emphasized that the illicit market remains a structural risk, noting that despite the economy’s post-crisis recovery, pressure on consumer discretionary spending continues to impact demand. While the company reported a six per cent increase in revenue and a 10 per cent rise in profit before tax for 2025, it maintains a cautious outlook. Shah warned that the operating environment is becoming more complex, citing global uncertainties alongside domestic tax and regulatory unpredictability. NFOs pass Rs 25B Stocks’ net foreign outflows (NFOs) passed the Rs 25 billion mark for the first time for the year when it suffered NFOs for the third consecutive market day to Thursday (30 April) due to foreign investor uncertainty, market sources told ‘Ceylon Finance Today.’ Thursday’s NFOs were Rs 75.04 million, thereby increasing NFOs in the calendar year to date to Rs 25.03 billion. Consequently stocks fell at Thursday’s trading, where the benchmark ASPI declined by 0.38 per cent (85.47 points) to 22,549.53 points and the more sensitive S&P SL 20 Index fell by 0.54 per cent (33.45 points) to 6,207.56 points on a Rs 3.44 billion turnover. The number of shares that changed hands on Thursd...
Construction PMI expands in March - Hiru News - Srilanka's Number One ...
The Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers' Index for Construction (PMI - Construction), as reflected by the Total Activity Index, recorded a value of 57.1 in March 2026, indicating continued expansion ...
Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers' Index (Construction) - March 2026 ...
) Statistics Department 30.04.2026 Sri Lanka PMI - Construction expanded in March 2026 PMI Construction Total Activity Index March 2026 57.1 The Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers' Index for Construction (PMI - Construction), as reflected by the Total Activity Index, recorded a value of 57.1 in March 2026, indicating continued expansion in construction activities, albeit at a slower pace than the ...
Sri Lanka PMI - Construction expanded in March 2026
The Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers' Index for Construction (PMI - Construction), as reflected by the Total Activity Index, recorded a value of 57.1 in March 2026, indicating continued expansion in construction activities, albeit at a slower pace than the previous month. Many respondents reported a challenging operating environment, mainly due to limited availability of fuel and raw ...
