FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 1.34 percent on Friday, 4.5 percent weaker compared to the same day last week, data on its site showed.
Brent crude prices rose towards 100 dollars per barrel. As at 11.35 am today, the price per barrel was around 100.13 dollars.
The ASPI closed down 1.34 percent, or 295.57, at 21,692.55.
The S&P SL20 closed down 1.42 percent, or 87.63 points at 6,084.65.
Commercial Bank (down 1.68 percent at Rs.204.75), Hayleys (down 2.44 percent at Rs.219.50), and Hatton National Bank (down 1.38 percent at Rs.412.25) were top negative contributors to the ASPI.
The market turnover was 5.27 billion rupees. Most turnover was seen in capital goods (2.29 billion rupees).
In regional markets, India’s NIFTY50 was at 23,725.35, down 0.56 percent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 0.98 percent at 25,465.60.
Melstacorp announced that its parent company Milford Exports Ceylon has acquired “a further 1,000,000 shares of the company in addition to the 499,819,000 shares presently held”. It has increased its shares from 42.89 percent to 42.97 percent. The share closed at Rs.165.00, down 1.05 percent.
(Colombo/March13/2026)
