FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Monday with negative impacts seen across most sectors, brokers said.

The ASPI closed down 3.47 percent, or 753.29 points, at 20,939.26.

The S&P SL20 closed down 3.17 percent, or 192.98 points at 5,891.67.

John Keells Holdings (down 5.00 percent at Rs.19.00), Commercial Bank of Ceylon (down 3.05 percent at Rs.198.50), Hatton National Bank (down 2.91 percent at Rs.400.25), Dialog Axiata (down 5.96 percent at Rs.30.00), DFCC Bank (down 4.52 percent at 132.00) were top negative contributors to the ASPI.

The market turnover was 6.59 billion rupees. Most turnover were seen in capital goods (1.53 billion rupees), banks (998 million rupees), diversified financials (1.736 billion rupees).

John Keells Holdings stock closed at Rs.19.00. Brokers had previously projected the share price to hit Rs.24.00 this year, due to the 30 percent profit made for the December quarter, in part due to its dealings with BYD electric vehicles.

Softlogic subsidiaries also saw selling, along with hotels including Galadari and Kingsbury.

Sri Lanka’s Siyapatha Finance, a subsidiary of Sampath Bank, said it received Colombo Stock Exchange approval in principle to list 3.75 billion rupees of 11.50 percent debentures, it said in a stock exchange filing. The stock closed at Rs.150.75, down 1.47 percent.

(Colombo/March16/2026)