Sri Lanka rupee weaker against dollar, bond yields hold

Monday September 22, 2025 5:19 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 302.45/60 to the US dollar on Monday, weaker from 302.45/50 Friday, while bond yields closed broadly steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed at 8.30/35 percent, up from 8.28/33 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed at 8.65/75 percent, up from 8.65/73 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 closed at 8.90/9.00 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 closed at 9.47/57 percent, from 9.50/54 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 closed at 9.98/10.05 percent, from 10.00/05 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed at 10.38/44 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.11.2033 closed at 10.66/70 percent, from 10.65/75 percent. (Colombo/Sep22/2025)

Monday September 22, 2025 11:20 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – India’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, has arrived in Sri Lanka on a four-day official visit, and is scheduled to meet senior government and defence officials of Sri Lanka.

“The visit of the Indian Chief of Naval Staff also underscored the strengthening of naval cooperation, bolstering maritime security, and fostering collaborative efforts in support of regional stability,” Sri Lanka Navy said.

Admiral Tripathi met with the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo.

“The two Navy Chiefs subsequently discussed matters of mutual interest, with a focus on strengthening partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region and reinforcing the long-standing friendship between the two navies.”

The visit concludes on 25 September, following his participation at the 12th edition of the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy. (Colombo/Sep22/2025)

Monday September 22, 2025 4:30 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index (ASPI) rose 0.67 percent on Monday due to optimism surrounding financial shares, data on its site showed.

The broader ASPI climbed 141.78 points from Friday, to end at 21,226.87; while the more liquid S&P SL20 closed up 1.06 percent, or 63.75 points, at 6,059.91.

The top contributors to the ASPI were John Keells Holdings (up 0.60 rupees at 23.40), C T Holdings (up 33.25 rupees at 699.25), Senkadagala Finance (up 100.50 rupees at 578.25), Commercial Bank (up 3.00 rupees at 193.25) and Vallibel One (up 5.70 rupees at 96.80).

Market turnover was 8 billion rupees on Monday, while the share volumes were 276,333,683.

Elsewhere, equity markets traded mixed in the region.

Indian equity market’s Information Technology related shares slumped as US president Donald Trump imposed a one time US 100,000 dollars fee on new applicants coming through the high skilled worker visa scheme, the H-1B visa policy.

The policy came into effect from Sunday midnight.

“The sector, which earns about 57% of its revenue from the U.S., has long gained from U.S. work visa programmes and the outsourcing of software and business services – a contentious issue for American job-seekers competing with cheaper Indian labour,” Reuters said.

Nifty 50 index fell 0.49 percent to 25,202.35 while BSE Sensex moved 0.56 percent to 82,159.97.

Pakistan’s KSE 100 index fell 0.18 percent to 157,754.03.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index hit record high on Monday as hopes for “stimulus measures to boost the economy as campaigning in the leadership race of Japan’s ruling party kicked off,” Japan’s The Mainichi newspaper said.

The index moved 0.99 percent, or 447.85 points down, to 45,493.66.

As at 4.20 pm Sri Lankan time, spot gold was trading at 3,741.45 US dollars, up 49.09 US dollars. (Colombo/Sep22/2025)

Monday September 22, 2025 4:18 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Softlogic Finance said it will re-launch all its business activities, including re-commencing and accepting new deposits, after Sri Lanka’s central bank lifted regulatory restrictions effective 19 September.

“Softlogic Finance PLC has successfully restored its core capital position in line with the requirements of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka,” the company said in a stock exchange filing.

This was achieved through “structured and effective capital enhancement” through its parent company, Softlogic Capital PLC, it said.

With the approval of CBSL’s governing board, Softlogic Finance said will re-launch all its business activities including re-commencing and accepting new deposits, re-opening all lines of distribution channels both individual and institutional investors and aggressively pursue its business growth plans to re-position itself in the financial industry.