Companies of Colombo Stock Exchange categories under 21 sectors according to the industry they are in. For example Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon are fall Under Bank Finance and Insurance category and all companies related to Finance and Insurance industry fall in to this category. Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, Nawaloka hospital PLC and Ceylon Hospital PLC fall in to Health Care Category. Normally a company fall in only one category and a company not fall in to two category same time. Company categories industry is very important to investors who involved in Colombo Stock Exchange. Following are the major 21 sectors which represents Sri Lanka Share Market.
- BANK FINANCE AND INSURANCE
- BEVERAGE FOOD AND TOBACCO
- CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING
- CHEMICALS AND PHARMACEUTICALS
- CLOSED END FUNDS
- DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS
- FOOTWEAR AND TEXTILE
- HOTELS AND TRAVELS
- HEALTH CARE
- INVESTMENT TRUSTS
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- LAND AND PROPERTY
- MANUFACTURING
- MOTORS
- OIL PALMS
- POWER & ENERGY
- PLANTATIONS
- STORES SUPPLIES
- SERVICES
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- TRADING
In the year of 2014 Diversified Holding Sector, Bank Finance and Insurance Sector and Beverage Food and Tobacco Sector represents the most of the shares in market and this may different according to the performance of the sector. The main advantage of secularization of company is, we can identify the tread of performing sector easily. For example in Plantation sector are the most performing sector in early 1990s of Colombo Stock Exchange and there are lots of active trade happened in this sector rather than others. But later this get change and Plantation sector get dropped. The performance of the sector may vary year to year or decade to decade.
Natural Hazards, External impacts, Political influence and Current economy is heavily affected on these sectors differently. For example Hotel and Travel Sector of Colombo Stock Exchange get heavily affected during War Period of Sri Lanka and during this period this sector not performed very well. However in year of 2003 and 2004 year this Hotel and Travel sector prove a good performance and the growth of that sector of extraordinary. The major impact of this sector getting good performance is the agreement between LTTE and Sri Lanka government in that duration. Likewise external impact may get affected to this Share market Sector and company performances directly. Unlike other country Colombo Stock Exchange is so sensitive to political rise and falls. Most of shares get directly and indirectly affected political changes in Sri Lanka. Investor friendly policies and stable political background also very important to the Development of Colombo Stock Exchange.