Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Thursday, 23 April 2026 05:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) recorded a sharp increase in the market value of its listed equity portfolio in 2025, rising to Rs. 188.85 billion as at 31 December from Rs. 148.25 billion a year earlier, reflecting a broad-based recovery in share prices.
The increase of over Rs. 40 billion comes despite a reduction in the number of listed holdings, with the portfolio declining to 59 companies in 2025 from 65 in 2024.
A comparison of the two year-end disclosures shows that the EPF fully exited six counters during the year: Cargills Bank PLC, Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC, Colombo Dockyard PLC, Jetwing Symphony PLC, LAUGFS Gas PLC (both voting and non-voting shares), and Sierra Cables PLC. All six appear in the 2024 portfolio but are absent in the 2025 list.
The 2025 portfolio includes one new listed counter not present in the previous year, with Hemas Holdings PLC appearing with a holding of 40 million shares.
The rise in portfolio value was driven by significant price gains across several large holdings. Dialog Axiata PLC increased from Rs. 11.70 to Rs. 29.80, while Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC rose from Rs. 144.75 to Rs. 200.75. Hatton National Bank PLC advanced from Rs. 319.75 to Rs. 398.50, and Sampath Bank PLC from Rs. 118.25 to Rs. 146.50.
Other notable increases include Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, which rose from Rs. 420 to Rs. 767, and Access Engineering PLC, which increased from Rs. 34.50 to Rs. 73.30.
However, performance was mixed in parts of the portfolio. LOLC Holdings PLC declined from Rs. 690.25 to Rs. 560, while Teejay Lanka PLC fell from Rs. 52.40 to Rs. 34.90 over the same period.
The disclosures note that changes in holdings reflect purchases, sales, scrip dividends and other corporate actions, while movements in market value have been recognised in the Fund’s financial performance.
