News & market updates

Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s unit CBC Finance listed Rs 1.5 billion of five-year debentures carrying a fixed 11.50% p.a. interest on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The 15 million debentures were priced at Rs100, rated BBB+(lka) by Fitch and the issue was oversubscribed.

CBC Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, listed on the CSE and raised LKR 1.5bn on 27 Nov 2025 via 15m five-year listed subordinated redeemable debentures at a fixed 11.50% p.a. (rated BBB+(lka)).

ASPI fell 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77, erasing Rs. 52.9bn of market value; top negative contributors were DOCK, CINS, COMB, CFIN and DFCC.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon lent Rs. 330.9 billion to SMEs in 2024 (30.3% of Rs. 1.09 trillion), remaining the top SME lender for the fifth consecutive year and 91% ahead of its nearest competitor. The bank directed Rs. 266.8 billion to industry and introduced an AI-powered SME credit underwriting system.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down with the ASPI falling 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77 and turnover Rs 2.22bn, weighed by declines in Colombo Dockyard, Commercial Bank, Central Finance and DFCC Bank. Colombo Dockyard said the SEC approved Onomichi's stake sale to Mazagon, subject to a mandatory offer.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon disbursed Rs. 330.9 billion in SME loans in 2024 (30.3% of national SME lending), remaining the largest SME lender for the fifth consecutive year. It lent Rs. 266.8 billion to industry SMEs (47.8% of that sector's total).

Aitken Spence PLC's Conventions & Exhibitions unit inaugurated the 40th Colombo Shopping Festival at BMICH, running 12–21 Dec 2025. Commercial Bank is the official banking partner while Browns EV and Nestlé are among other partners; over 250 local entrepreneurs are participating and ticket sales will aid disaster-affected families.

Colombo market extended its rally to five sessions as the ASPI gained 1,011.18 pts (4.7%) for the week, reclaiming Rs.320.65 bn in market value; yesterday ASPI closed at 22,508.26 with turnover of Rs.3 bn. Top contributors included SFCL, JKH, HAYL, WIND and VLL; DOCK and HNB saw share price declines.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) was ranked No.1 in Business Today's Top 40 for 2024–25 with an aggregate score of 37.65. Business Today highlighted the bank's record profits, a Rs.22.54bn rights issue, Rs.20bn Tier II debentures, Rs.221.34bn loan growth and Group NII up 36.71% to Rs.118.13bn.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon was named Sri Lanka’s Best Trade Finance Bank at the Euromoney Transaction Banking Awards 2025, after supporting over $5 billion in trade transactions in 2024 and holding a 21% export and 14.26% import trade finance share.

Speculative trading in Colombo Dockyard lifted the Colombo Stock Exchange—ASPI rose 1.90% to 22,452.22 while Colombo Dockyard gained 43 rupees to 217. Momentum spread into banks and construction, with higher turnover of 6.2 billion rupees and several active stocks advancing.

Colombo Stock Exchange regained nearly 40% of last week's Rs. 424 billion loss as the ASPI rose 2.04% (439.46 pts) to 22,034.32. Top contributors included DOCK, CINS, COMB, SAMP and ACL, with turnover around Rs. 3.88 billion.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC was named Sri Lanka’s Best Trade Finance Bank at the Euromoney Transaction Banking Awards 2025, after supporting over US$5 billion in trade transactions in 2024 and holding a 21% export and 14.26% import trade finance market share. The bank also highlighted its ComBank TradeLink digital trade finance platform and ADB recognition as Leading Partner Bank in Sri Lanka.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 2.04% as retail buying boosted construction and major bank shares, with the ASPI at 22,034.32. Top contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Ceylinco Holdings, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and ACL Cables, and Access Engineering was active.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 5.35% for the week, wiping out nearly Rs. 424 billion in market value. The ASPI hit a two-and-half-month low at 21,497.08 yesterday, with heavy losses in banking and capital-goods counters including JKH, HHL, COMB, SAMP, DFCC, NDB and HNB.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has received CBSL approval to acquire HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail banking business for Rs.18 billion, with completion expected in H1 2026. The deal will transfer about 200,000 customer accounts including premium clients, credit cards and retail loans to NTB.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 5.4% over the week after Cyclone Ditwah, closing Friday at 21,497.08 as selling pressure hit the market. Banks and John Keells were top negative contributors, while some construction stocks (e.g., Swisstek) saw buying ahead of expected reconstruction projects.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon joined NCGIL’s 'Liya Shakthi' credit guarantee scheme as a Participating Shareholder Institution to expand financing to women-led MSMEs. The bank handed over the first loan registration at its Head Office; the scheme provides guarantees to help women entrepreneurs without collateral access loans at competitive rates.

AFC Asia Frontier Fund co-manager Ruchir Desai said Sri Lanka is now one of the fund’s top country picks, having raised allocation since November 2022, citing regained political and economic stability, undervalued equities (market ~11x earnings) and strong bank and consumer earnings.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon concluded a four-month Innovation Challenge involving more than 600 staff in 112 teams and said winning proposals will be developed and implemented to improve digital customer experience. The Gold-winning solution from Team Pelawatte was immediately implemented by the bank.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with Brown & Company to provide special leasing via its Agri Lease and Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme to help farmers buy Browns Agriculture machinery. Browns will offer free first-year insurance, initial labour-free services and IoT monitoring for selected equipment.

Colombo bourse fell 1.87% to 21,826.59, wiping Rs.143 billion off market value with turnover of nearly Rs.3.78bn and foreign net selling of Rs.295.5m. Brokers said price losses in counters including Ceylinco, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank drove the slide amid adverse weather forecasts.

Nations Trust Bank received Central Bank approval to acquire HSBC Sri Lanka's retail banking business, adding about 200,000 customer accounts; completion is expected in the first half of 2026.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.87% to 21,826.59 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.75% to 6,030.66. Top decliners included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah; construction names Access Engineering and Sierra Cables also slid, and Hemas appointed Ajith Fernando as chairman effective Jan 1.

Colombo Stock Exchange opened December sharply lower as the ASPI fell 3.04% to 22,022.06 following Cyclone Ditwah; the S&P SL20 lost 2.89% and turnover topped Rs.5.2bn with foreign net outflow of ~Rs.106.2mn. Capital Goods and Banking led turnover while Access Engineering rose and several banks and John Keells fell.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Brown & Company PLC signed an MoU to offer special leasing facilities through the bank’s Agri Lease and Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme to help farmers acquire Browns Agriculture machinery; the program includes bundled benefits such as insurance, free servicing, IoT monitoring and warranties.

Colombo market slid as the ASPI fell 0.80% (182.14 pts) to 22,662.09 and turnover dropped to about Rs.2.34 billion, a near five-month low. Banking counters (SAMP, COMB, HNB) and names including RICH, Hemas, Access Engineering, ACL Cables and Diesel & Motor drove the declines and top turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI fell 0.80% (182.14 pts) to 22,662.09, led by declines in diversified financials including Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and HNB while market turnover dropped to 2.34 billion rupees. SMB Finance's non-voting shares were the top gainer, up 10 cents to 40 cents.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) ran an awareness programme in Polonnaruwa to raise paddy yields (current ~4.5 t/ha vs potential ~6 t/ha) by promoting Good Agricultural Practices, high-tech farming, mechanisation and financial inclusion to support farmers.

Hatton National Bank MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte set out HNB's 'Road to 2030', prioritising digitalisation and remittance-capture as growth drivers and citing worker remittances up ~20% y/y to nearly $6.5bn. He urged banks to align with Budget 2025 targets including a 12% digital-economy goal and DPI like SL-UDI and asset registries.