News & market updates

Commercial Bank led the Central Bank’s 'Pay Digital Dambulla' campaign to expand QR payments in Dambulla, onboarding a large number of merchants and enabling acceptance of multiple QR schemes while offering customer discounts of up to 25% to boost adoption.

Colombo Bourse fell as investors took profits, with the ASPI down 72 pts to 20,991 and turnover of Rs. 7.5bn (foreign net inflow Rs. 97m). Declines were led by CTC, SAMP, NDB and COMB while Alumex, Sierra Cables and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings posted gains.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.34% (71.78 pts) to 20,990.67, weighed down by declines in Ceylon Tobacco, Commercial Bank, National Development Bank, John Keells and DFCC; turnover was LKR 7.53 billion.

Colombo's ASPI hit an all-time high, closing at 21,062 (+65) on turnover of Rs.13.2bn with net foreign selling of Rs.1bn. John Keells and Commercial Bank led turnover while investor interest shifted toward property names such as Prime Lands Residencies and RIL Property.

Commercial Bank relaunched its Home Loans Fiesta for 2025, offering lowest market rates, 50% off documentation charges, supplier discounts up to 40% and flexible repayment plans on loans (up to Rs 50m) available until 30 September 2025.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) became the first Sri Lankan bank to cross US$1 billion in market capitalisation after its share price rose to Rs.196.75 at the close on 19 August. The bank also surpassed Rs.3 trillion in group assets in Q2 2025 and was ranked the second most valuable Sri Lankan brand by Brand Finance.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) exceeded US$1 billion market capitalization after its share price reached LKR 196.75 on 19 Aug 2025. The bank also reported surpassing LKR 3 trillion in assets in Q2 2025 and noted its international subsidiaries.

People’s Bank reported an all-time-high 1H Profit Before Tax of Rs. 28.0 billion and PAT of Rs. 18.2 billion. The bank also reported Rs. 3.6t in assets, Rs. 3.1t deposits, improved net interest margins and a digital customer base of 3.7m.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) became the first Sri Lankan bank to surpass US$1 billion in market capitalisation, with its share price at Rs.196.75 at the close on 19 Aug 2025. The bank also exceeded Rs.3 trillion in group assets as of 30 June 2025.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon launched a Visa International Usage Campaign running until 15 Nov 2025 that rewards personal Visa cardholders with luxury travel prizes; customers earn one raffle entry per Rs.200,000 in eligible international spending and five bonus entries for spending over Rs.1,000,000. Prizes include a grand business-class trip for two to Singapore, two Singapore packages and three Maldives packages.

Hatton National Bank MD Damith Pallewatte is leading the Sri Lanka FinTech Summit 2025 (Sept 24–25) to coordinate a national fintech ecosystem, targeting measures like 95% financial inclusion by 2030 and $100m in near-term fintech investment; workstreams will focus on SME lending, KYC interoperability, blockchain pilots and cross-border payments.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 38 points (+0.2%) and S&P SL20 gained 6 points (+0.1%), with turnover up to Rs.5.1 billion led by Teejay Lanka, Sierra Cables and Sampath Bank. Construction and banking stocks led gains; DFCC, SAMP and DIAL were top index movers and foreigners net bought Rs.56.1m.

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 73 points (0.36%) and the S&P SL20 declined 0.78% on Rs. 4.4bn turnover, with foreign investors net sellers of Rs. 801.2m amid profit-taking and political uncertainty following the remand of former President Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka's stock market closed up 0.32% as the ASPI rose 64.88 points to 20,640 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.39% to 6,066; turnover was 5.14 million rupees. Top contributors were DFCC Bank, Sampath Bank, Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.36% to 20,575.59, weighed down by banks with HNB down 6.25 rupees to 397.75. Commercial Bank, John Keells and Hayleys also declined; turnover was 4.4 billion while hotel and construction stocks saw buying amid tourist arrivals topping 1.5 million.

Colombo market ended a five-day rally as ASPI fell 0.32% (down 66.29 pts) to 20,649.20 and S&P SL20 declined 0.31% to 6,089.84 as investors booked profits. Banking stocks (Commercial Bank, DFCC) and conglomerates (Ceylinco Holdings, Carson Cumberbatch, Melstacorp) weighed on the drop.

The Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.32% (66.29 pts) to 20,649.20, weighed down by declines in Ceylinco Holdings, Commercial Bank, Carson Cumberbatch and Melstacorp while DFCC Bank rose. Turnover fell to 5.1 billion and share volume was 181,232,722.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI at 20,715.49 (+0.69) and market turnover of 10.52 billion rupees. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Sunshine, Royal Ceramics, Co-operative Insurance and Ambeon, while most banking stocks — including Commercial Bank, Sampath and HNB — closed lower.

ASPI rose 100.55 pts to 20,571 and the S&P SL20 topped 6,000 as turnover hit Rs.10.8–10.9bn, led by banking stocks; key contributors included Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Carson Cumberbatch, Sampath Bank and Bukit Darah, while Digital Mobility Solutions also saw heavy trading.

S&P SL20 crossed 6,000 for the first time, rising 58.46 points (0.97%) to close at 6,055.92; the ASPI also hit a record 20,571.07 (up 100.55 points, 0.49%) with turnover over Rs.10.8 billion.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.49% to 20,571.07, led by gains in Commercial Bank (up LKR 7.75 to 197.50), HNB (up LKR 13.50 to 399.00), Carson Cumberbatch (up LKR 102.25 to 848.25) and Sampath Bank (up LKR 2.25 to 145.00). Turnover rose to LKR 10.8 billion with volume 234,578,423.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon held a harvest ceremony in Vavunathivu under its Agri Modernisation Village programme, donating a solar-powered water pump with micro-irrigation and reinstating a greenhouse fertigation system for the Eastern University to support farmer modernization.

Colombo bourse rose 252.16 points (1.25%) as ASPI closed at 20,471 with turnover Rs.7.74bn; banking sector led turnover (28%) and top contributors included COMB, CARS, MELS, JKH and DFCC, while some stocks (e.g. PKME) fell.

MetroCorp raised its stake in National Development Bank to 4.7% after buying 2.58% of the lender's voting stock. Softlogic Life Insurance sold 31.7 million NDB shares for 4.4 billion rupees, which were bought by MetroCorp and investor Indra Silva (who holds stakes in Commercial Bank, Sampath and Hatton).

Colombo ASPI rose 1.25% (252.16 pts) to 20,470.52 on Monday, led by gains in the banking sector. Commercial Bank (+Rs7.75 to Rs189), DFCC Bank (+Rs5.75 to Rs166), Carson Cumberbatch (+Rs105.50 to Rs746), Melstacorp (+Rs5 to Rs165) and John Keells (+Rs0.50 to Rs23.50) were among top risers.

Colombo market hit a record as the ASPI rose 289.69 points (1.45%) to close at 20,218 on turnover of Rs. 9.54bn. Banks led activity (bank sector +2.78%), with top contributors including COMB, DFCC, LOLC, NTB and SAMP.

The ASPI rose 1.45% to 20,218.36, led by banking stocks after interim results. Commercial Bank profits +101% to 15.9bn, HNB +37% to 11.74bn, Nations Trust +11% to 4.7bn, NDB -6% to 2,447m and Sampath -17% to 6.7bn.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) became the first private Sri Lankan bank to surpass Rs. 3 trillion in assets (Group Rs. 3.13t; Bank Rs. 3.03t) and reported 1H Group net profit up 64.90% to Rs. 31.17 billion. Loan book grew 13.5% to Rs. 1.731t, deposits topped Rs. 2.51t, NIM rose to 4.63% and capital ratios remained well above regulatory minima.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon reported a 101% rise in profit to 15.9 billion rupees in the June 2025 quarter. EPS was 9.80 rupees and six-month profit was 30.7 billion rupees (up 65%), driven by lower loan-loss provisions and higher net interest income.