The Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on Thursday, driven by a historic share sale and gains in financial and retail stocks, though some banking counters declined.
Sri Lanka's stock market advanced on Thursday, with the All Share Price Index climbing 0.49 percent to close at 21,269.67 points, according to CSE data. The more actively traded S&P SL20 index gained 0.48 percent, finishing at 5,973.74 points.
The session was marked by strong performance in several key counters. Central Finance Company led gains with a 4.53 percent increase to 225 rupees, while Cargills (Ceylon) rose 3.35 percent to 679 rupees and C. T. Holdings climbed 3.68 percent to 500 rupees. Commercial Bank of Ceylon added 1.25 percent to 202.75 rupees. On the downside, Bukit Darah fell 3.73 percent to 825 rupees, though banking stocks Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank posted only marginal declines.
Market activity reached its highest level of the year, with total turnover hitting 12.24 billion rupees. The surge in trading volume was largely driven by a landmark share transaction involving Commercial Credit and Finance, which sold a 28 percent stake held by Singaporean company Group Lease Holdings (currently undergoing liquidation) to a consortium of investors for 9 billion rupees. According to CSE records, this represents both the largest book-built trade and the largest single transaction in 2026, with Commercial Credit's shares closing up 1.65 percent at 107.50 rupees. Diversified financial sector stocks accounted for 10 billion rupees of the day's turnover.
Separately, apparel manufacturer Hela Apparel Holdings announced it has filed court proceedings to wind up its operations and subsidiaries Hela Clothing and Foundation Garments, citing mounting debt obligations and severe liquidity challenges.
