News & market updates

Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s 2023 Annual Report won the Banking category and was overall runner-up at the 2025 ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards. The report also won two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze at CA Sri Lanka's TAGS Awards 2024 and is GHG-neutral.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) is among leading corporates sponsoring CA Sri Lanka’s 65th anniversary ‘Broadway: The Greatest Showdown’ Dinner Dance at Cinnamon Life on 22 February; other sponsors include Webex and Lanka Rating Agency.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.9% as the ASPI dropped 0.86% to 16,927.13 amid profit-taking—especially in banks—and a net foreign outflow of Rs 380mn. DFCC reported an 80% rise in December-quarter profits and Sampath an 85% increase.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.7% to 17,074 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.8% on low turnover of Rs.3.7 billion (35.8% below the monthly average). Banks dominated turnover (30%); BUKI and SEMB were top positive contributors while COMB, HNB, HHL, JKH, CTC, SAMP and NDB were among the top decliners.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 0.70% to ASPI 17,074.02 on turnover Rs3.6bn, with a net foreign inflow of Rs307mn. Top turnover and movers included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Hemas, HNB and John Keells; LB Finance announced a Rs2.25 interim dividend.

Colombo market closed marginally higher with ASPI +0.2% and S&P SL20 +0.6% on turnover of Rs.5.5bn. Banking led turnover (30%) and gained 1.25%; notable moves included Sampath +Rs1, Commercial Bank +Rs2, Sierra Cables +Rs0.40, Lanka IOC +Rs0.50 and LOLC -Rs4, with net foreign outflow of Rs.93m.

Budget 2025 raises Capital Gains Tax to 15% for individuals/partnerships and to 30% for other entities. HNB Stockbrokers noted the current CGT definition does not include gains from trading listed equities.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, with the ASPI up 0.22% at 17,193.79 and the S&P SL20 up 0.63% at 5,139.63. Investor interest centred on banks and capital goods (notably Sampath, Commercial Bank and Hemas); Melstacorp, Distilleries, Sampath and Teejay Lanka declared cash dividends and Hemas plans a share sub-division.

ASPI closed up 1.30% (219.36 pts) at 17,156.05, nearing its all-time high amid the 2025 budget presentation. Net foreign inflow of LKR 777m (highest in 2025) drove buying in Ceylinco Holdings, Browns Investments and activity in NDB, Sampath, Hayleys, Sierra Cables and Jetwing Symphony.

HNB, Commercial Bank and DFCC Bank are among multiple institutions sponsoring the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka's 35th Annual Convention scheduled for 19–20 February.

The Galle Literary Festival sold 5,610 tickets and organisers say it delivered a substantial economic boost to Galle and Sri Lanka; partners included Commercial Bank and International Distilleries.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 2.18% (362.03 pts) at 16,940.25, led by gains in diversified counters and bank stocks; the S&P SL20 rose 1.88% to 5,037.52, turnover was 4.8 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 513 million rupees.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 1.42% at 16,578.22, led by banks and finance stocks, with a net foreign outflow of 892 million rupees. Top contributors included Ceylinco (+9.3%), Central Finance (+6.0%), Sampath (+2.1%) and NDB (+2.4%), while Ambeon saw heavy foreign selling.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) donated an ice bath chiller tub to the University of Colombo’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine to support the development of a Hydrotherapy and Recovery Unit for sports medicine and NCD rehabilitation.

ASPI fell 1.3% (221 pts) to 16,345 as the Colombo market stayed bearish for a second day with Rs.2.4bn turnover; the Banking sector led losses and turnover, with HNB, SAMP, DFCC, MELS and COMB the main negatives and CTC, RICH and COOP top positives.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.33% to 16,345.30 as turnover was Rs2.3bn, with banks weighing on the market. Major decliners included NDB, Seylan, HNB, Sampath and DFCC while Nations Trust, Colombo Dockyard and Ceylon Tobacco gained; net foreign outflow was Rs64m.

Sri Lanka stocks fell, with the ASPI down 1.01% to 16,566.27 as investors awaited next week's government budget; turnover was low at Rs 2.07 billion and net foreign outflows totalled Rs 35.5 million, with financials and capital goods weighing on the market.

The ASPI fell 2.3% for the first week of February despite a 1.38% rebound on Friday; weekly turnover averaged Rs.4.16bn and Friday turnover was Rs.2bn. Ceylinco, Melstacorp, John Keells and Aitken Spence were among Friday's top contributors, while Watawala, Seylan Bank and SMB Finance were key detractors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI +1.38% to 16,734 and S&P SL20 +1.48% to 4,996, with turnover Rs2bn and net foreign outflow Rs75mn. Top contributors included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank; several chairperson appointments were made following Harry Jayawardena's death.

Commercial Bank PLC has upsized its Green Bond issuance to Rs.15 billion from the previously indicated Rs.5 billion. It plans to issue 100,000,000 Basel III-compliant Tier 2 listed, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable Green Bonds (Rs.100 each) for 5, 7 and 10-year tenures with an option to issue a further Rs.5 billion on oversubscription and will not proceed with a previously announced Rs.5 billion senior green bond.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon celebrated the success of its pilot 'Agri Modernisation Village' in Mahilankadu, Kilinochchi, hosting a harvest ceremony, demonstrating modern agro-tech and donating a multi-chopping machine while promoting training and credit access to expand the programme.

Sri Lanka stocks closed 0.6% higher, with the ASPI up 0.57% to 16,550.63, led by capital goods. Banks, construction and food & beverage shares saw notable investor interest; turnover was Rs 5.18bn and there was a net foreign outflow of Rs 126m.

Colombo market lost Rs.188 billion as the ASPI plunged ~500 points (3%) and the S&P SL20 fell 3.3%, taking market cap below Rs.6 trillion with turnover of Rs.6.35bn. Banking stocks were the main drag (Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Sampath Bank, NDB); Ceylinco, Teejay, Browns and JKH featured in top turnover.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon's ComBank Digital is now integrated with the CSE's Central Depository System, allowing the bank's customers to settle IPO subscriptions directly from their accounts. The feature uses LankaPay's Government Payment Platform and supports the bank's 'Digital by Default' strategy.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 2.95% (500.39 pts) to 16,456.10 on Feb 5 as profit-taking triggered broad selling. Top losers included HNB, Commercial Bank, NDB, Sampath, Teejay Lanka and Singer, while Ceylinco Holdings and Lion Brewery gained; turnover was Rs 6.3bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs 343m.

Commercial Bank's ComBank Digital is now linked with the CSE Central Depository System, enabling the Bank's customers to settle IPO subscriptions directly via their online banking accounts. The integration is enabled through the CDS connection with the LankaPay Government Payment Platform.

Sri Lanka's central bank says it excludes excess reserves from the reported monetary base, citing the IMF manual. The clarification and the use of unremunerated excess reserves have caused large swings in reported reserve money and raised concerns about banking liquidity, credit expansion and rupee depreciation.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon launched the Visa Signature Elite Debit Card, migrating Gold debit card holders to the new top tier and offering 1,000+ airport lounge accesses, complimentary travel insurance and Max Rewards at 1 point per Rs.400.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon will raise up to Rs15 billion through green bonds, up from an earlier Rs5 billion plan. The Basel III-compliant debentures (5-, 7- and 10-year) include a non-viability conversion feature that can convert them to shares.

DFCC Bank sold its 50% stake in Acuity Partners for LKR6.5bn; Fitch estimates the disposal will boost DFCC’s bank-level CET1 by about 100bp but have negligible group-level impact and is unlikely to affect its national rating. APL had contributed ~7% of DFCC’s operating profit, so group profitability will be modestly lower.