News & market updates

Nagarro hosted 'Navigate 2025', convening over 50 Sri Lankan BFSI leaders to discuss adopting technologies such as Agentic/Generative AI, small language models, intelligent process automation and quantum computing. Softlogic Life reported 75% of hospitalisation claims are settled within two minutes and 35% processed without human intervention.

Colombo Stock Exchange jumped 2.54% after President Trump announced an Iran-Israel ceasefire, with the ASPI up 425.80 points to 17,191.20 and the S&P SL20 up 2.86% to 5,133. The rise was led by gains in Commercial Bank, John Keells, Melstacorp, Hayleys and LOLC, with turnover at 5.2 billion.

Colombo market lost Rs. 117 billion as the ASPI fell 1.9% (S&P SL20 -2.1%) amid Middle East tensions, with turnover Rs. 2.5 billion led by HNB, SAMP and EAST. Broad-based declines hit banking and capital goods counters, while foreign net inflows were small.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon was named Best Bank in Sri Lanka by FinanceAsia for the 14th year. The bank reported group assets of Rs 2.876 trillion and said its strong 2024 results reflected resilience amid SLISB restructuring and external challenges.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) was named Best Bank in Sri Lanka by FinanceAsia for the 14th consecutive year. The bank reported group assets of Rs. 2.876 trillion, deposits of Rs. 2.31 trillion and gross income of Rs. 274.976 billion as at 31 Dec 2024.

Sri Lanka stocks fell 1.89% as Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, with the ASPI down 322.55 points to 16,765 and the S&P SL20 down 2.02% to 4,991. Banks and major conglomerates — Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Melstacorp and Hayleys — weighed on the index amid fears of higher crude prices.

Asia Frontier Capital has increased its weight on Sri Lanka equities to 14% from about 5% two years ago. The fund cites improving macro fundamentals, political stability and pickup in tourism and corporate earnings, and lists holdings including JKH, Commercial Bank, HNB, Hemas, Sunshine, Dipped Products and Melstacorp.

Siyapatha Finance PLC's debenture issue was oversubscribed with applications exceeding Rs.5 billion against offered tranches (initial Rs.3bn, subsequent Rs.1bn tranches). The five-year listed debentures carry 11.40% p.a.; proceeds will fund Siyapatha's lending; Siyapatha is a subsidiary of Sampath Bank PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon managed the issue.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon hosted 'Empower North' in Jaffna to promote its ComBank Digital platform, which processes over 5 million transactions monthly and averages more than Rs. 400 billion in monthly transaction value.

The Colombo Bourse rebounded on Friday with the ASPI and S&P SL20 up 1.6% (ASPI closed at 17,088) though the ASPI fell 1.8% for the week. Banking led turnover (28%) and sector gains, with Ceylinco, Sampath, Hayleys, Commercial Bank, Panasian Power and East West among top contributors; foreigners were net sellers (Rs.42.3m).

Siyapatha Finance PLC, a Sampath Bank PLC subsidiary, had its debenture issue oversubscribed, receiving over Rs.5 billion against the offered tranches (Rs.3bn initial and Rs.1bn subsequent). The listed, rated, senior unsecured five-year debentures carry a fixed 11.40% p.a. interest rate and will be listed on the CSE after allotment.

The ASPI fell 1.5% (253 pts) to 16,818 as the bear run continued, with turnover of Rs. 3.3 billion and foreign net inflows of Rs. 77.7m. Key negative contributors included Commercial Bank, John Keells, Ceylon Tobacco and NDB, while the banking sector led turnover and lost 1.43%.

Sri Lanka stocks recovered, ASPI rose 1.60% (269.74 pts) to 17,087.95, led by gains in Ceylinco Holdings, Sampath Bank, Hayleys, Hatton National Bank and Commercial Bank. Turnover was 2.5 billion rupees with 98,864,903 shares traded as regional volatility, gold moves and US rate outlook influenced markets.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon held an 'Empower North' digital-awareness event in Jaffna to promote its ComBank Digital platform, which processes over 5 million transactions monthly with average monthly transaction value of about Rs 400 billion.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon opened its first exclusive 'Anagi Women’s Banking Centre' at its Jaffna branch to serve female customers, staffed by women and offering amenities including a lactation room, children’s play area, dedicated pawning and counselling units.

The CIMA–JXG Pinnacle Awards 2025 resumed in Colombo on 11 June, honoring corporate excellence; Commercial Bank won Bronze for ESG, ACL Cables received a Bronze CFO award, Citizens Development Business Finance won Silver for a digital transformation project, and Union Bank's chairman served on the judges' panel.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.48% to 16,818.21 amid geopolitical uncertainty over possible US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict; the S&P SL20 was down 1.48% to 5,019.15. Turnover dropped to 3.3 million rupees, with declines in LOLC, John Keells, Ceylon Tobacco, NDB and Commercial Bank.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon opened its first dedicated 'Anagi Women’s Banking Centre' at its Jaffna branch, offering women-focused services including a lactation room, children’s play area, dedicated pawning unit, counselling, cafeteria and full banking services. The centre is staffed by a dedicated female team and expands the bank's Anagi portfolio of women-targeted products.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI closed down 0.45% (78 pts) at 17,281 while turnover rose to Rs.6.8bn led by crossings in Hayleys, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, L B Finance and John Keells. Foreign investors were net sellers with a Rs.115.7m outflow.

Siyapatha Finance PLC has opened subscription for a listed, rated, senior, unsecured 5-year debenture issue to raise up to Rs.5 billion at a fixed 11.40% p.a.; the initial offer is 30,000,000 notes with options to issue additional tranches on oversubscription, and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC’s investment banking unit is manager (opening date 19 June).

ASPI fell 0.4% and the S&P SL20 fell 0.7% as Colombo stocks extended losses amid heightened Israel‑Iran tensions. Turnover was Rs.3.15bn; top negative contributors included HNB, COMB, LOLC, HAYL and CTC, while CDB, Hemas, LVL Energy Fund and Lanka IOC saw notable buying/turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI fell 66.89 points (0.38%) to 17,360.19 on Monday, with the S&P SL20 down 36.38 points (0.70%) to 5,155.48 and turnover at Rs.3.15 billion; major losers included Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, LOLC, Hayleys and Ceylon Tobacco Company.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.38% (66.89 pts) to 17,360.19 amid continued Israel-Iran conflict, with S&P SL20 down 0.59% as turnover and volumes slipped and HNB, Commercial Bank, LOLC, Hayleys and Ceylon Tobacco were among the top decliners.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon ran two Agri Modernisation Project programmes in Batticaloa and Welimada, training over 75 participants in Batticaloa and 50 in Welimada on financial literacy, modern machinery, drone-assisted farming, soil sensors, irrigation and climate-resilient techniques.

Executives of Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank said Sri Lanka’s recovery is underway but remains fragile despite stable inflation, reserves and GDP growth above IMF forecasts. They warned policy inconsistency, informality and export concentration risk undermining momentum, while banks see rising credit demand in SMEs, housing, tourism and renewables.

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 1.3% (234 pts) to 17,427 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.6%, with turnover around Rs.4 billion. Diversified financials led turnover while HNB, MELS, DFCC, SAMP and JKH pressured the index; Capital Alliance and Central Finance saw notable moves.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with Senok Trade Combine to offer customised leasing packages for JCB and Kobelco construction equipment, with special prices, lower interest rates, flexible payment plans and free initial services.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) was voted Sri Lanka’s 'Most Loved' Bank and ComBank Digital named 'Most Loved E‑Commerce (Finance) brand' in an LMD survey. The result comes from a PepperCube-conducted January study of 400 LMD readers.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon opened a dedicated Islamic Banking Counter at its Main Street, Pettah branch — the bank's third such counter (others at City Office and Kattankudy) — offering Shariah-compliant accounts, lending, leasing and financing under its Al Adalah Islamic Banking unit.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) has opened a dedicated Islamic Banking Counter at its Main Street, Pettah branch — the bank's third such counter. The counter provides Sharia-compliant services including account opening, lending and products such as Mudaraba, Murabaha and Ijara under the bank’s Sharia Board.