John Keells Holdings (JKH) has returned to profit in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, helped by strong growth in its port, property and consumer businesses.
The diversified conglomerate reported a profit of Rs. 62 million for the three months ended 30 June 2026, recovering from a loss of Rs. 804 million recorded in the same period last year.
Group EBITDA, which measures operating performance before interest, tax and depreciation, rose 26% to Rs. 16.35 billion. Excluding exchange losses, JKH said its underlying profit reached Rs. 1.95 billion, compared with an underlying loss of Rs. 418 million a year earlier.
Port business leads growth
The biggest contribution came from JKH’s transportation business, where EBITDA jumped 223% to Rs. 5 billion.
The company said the growth was mainly driven by the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) and its bunkering business, Lanka Marine Services.
CWIT has already reached full capacity in its first phase, while construction of the full terminal remains on schedule for completion by December 2026.
Consumer businesses continue to grow
JKH also announced its entry into the quick-service restaurant (QSR) market after signing a franchise agreement with Wendy’s. The first restaurant is expected to open by December 2026.
Meanwhile, its existing consumer businesses continued to perform well.
Consumer Foods increased EBITDA by 21%, supported by higher sales of beverages and confectionery products.
The supermarket business also recorded 16% EBITDA growth as more customers visited stores and spent more per shopping trip.
Property and banking deliver strong results
The property business recorded one of the strongest performances during the quarter, with EBITDA rising 358%.
JKH said the increase came from recognising revenue from residential sales at VIMAN, TRI-ZEN and Cinnamon Life.
Its Financial Services business also grew, with EBITDA increasing 9%. The company attributed the performance to Nations Trust Bank and the successful integration of HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail banking business, completed in May 2026.
Leisure faces headwinds
The Leisure business faced a more difficult quarter as tensions in the Middle East affected travel demand.
Despite this, City of Dreams Sri Lanka increased EBITDA by 139%, supported by higher hotel occupancy and casino rental income.
Vehicle sales remain strong
JKH’s automotive business handed over more than 2,400 vehicles during the quarter.
The company said customer demand remained healthy. However, profits were lower because more buyers chose lower-priced vehicle models.
Carbon footprint continues to fall
JKH also reported progress on its sustainability targets.
During the quarter, the Group reduced its carbon footprint by 12.2% and cut water withdrawal per million rupees of revenue by 8.4%.
Last modified: July 28, 2026
