Sri Lanka stocks close down, capital goods lead turnover

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Wednesday trading, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.61 percent. The ASPI was down 133.80 points at 21,828.50, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was down 0.59 percent, or 35.98 points, at 6,099.52. Positive contributors to the ASPI were Richard Pieris and Company (up 4.38 percent at 31.00 rupees), Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) (up 60.00 percent at 0.80 rupees), and Hatton National Bank (up 0.19 percent at 396.00 rupees). Sampath Bank (down 0.88 percent at 140.25 rupees), Hayleys (down 1.37 percent at 234.00 rupees), Dialog Axiata (down 1.35 percent at 44.00 rupees), and LOLC Holdings (down 1.77 percent at 500.25 rupees) were top negative contributors. Market turnover was 2.26 billion rupees. Capital goods led turnover with 727.1 million rupees. Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) announced its Executive Director entered into a binding agreement to sell a 48.03 percent controlling interest (1.8 billion shares) to Arcasia Investment & Trading and ATX Partners, subject to regulatory approvals. Shares closed up 60 percent at Rs.0.80. Meanwhile, Hela Apparel Holdings disclosed that its fully-owned subsidiary, Hela Clothing Egypt, has signed a management services agreement with Emerald Investments to manage its factory operations until December 31, 2026, amid working capital challenges, with an option for Emerald to acquire the Egyptian entity. (Colombo/July08/2026)