News & market updates

Colombo market fell sharply, ASPI down 1.14% (250.79 pts) to 21,760.31 and the S&P SL20 down 1.08% to 6,031.73. Foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.92.25m and higher interest rates weighed on investor sentiment.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC opened a full-service branch in Port City Colombo (Building 04, Area 02) to serve corporates, investors, businesses and retail customers, offering corporate and retail banking, trade finance, treasury/FX, digital services and 24/7 ATM/CRM access.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC co‑organised an EDB awareness seminar on export procedures, costing/pricing and financial facilities in Kurunegala on 27 May 2026, attended by 59 SMEs and 16 Export Development Officers. The session covered export documentation, pricing strategies and bank financing options for exporters.

Colombo stocks fell as investors shifted to fixed income after a central bank rate hike; ASPI down 1.14% to 21,760 and S&P SL20 down 1.08% to 6,031. Top negative contributors included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Melstacorp and HNB, while United Motors announced a 40-cent dividend.

ASPI fell 0.75% (166.55 pts) to 22,011.10, extending losses to a third session with turnover over Rs.2bn and foreigners net sellers of Rs.410.26mn. Negative contributors included Dialog, Sampath, Ceylon Beverage, Ceylon Cold Stores and Colombo Dockyard; Teejay Lanka, John Keells and Commercial Bank led turnover.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lanka Air Force to offer SLAF personnel concessionary financial facilities — personal loans, leasing, housing loans and credit cards — at preferential interest rates and flexible repayment terms.

The Ceylon Chamber will host the Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2026 on 9 June in Colombo to focus on business climate readiness, investment readiness and unlocking climate finance. Participants include the Environment Minister, ADB, UN agencies, Commercial Bank CEO and Aitken Spence sustainability leadership.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid midday as the ASPI fell 0.91% (200.70 pts) to 21,810 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.96% to 6,039. Hemas and Colombo Dockyard were positive contributors while Dialog Axiata, HNB, Commercial Bank and John Keells were top decliners; United Motors Lanka announced a 40 cents/share dividend.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC co-hosted an EDB awareness seminar on export procedures, costing & pricing and financial facilities in Kurunegala on 27 May 2026, attended by 59 SMEs and 16 Export Development Officers. Sessions covered export documentation, pricing strategies and banking support for exporters.

Sampath Bank will open a branch in Colombo Port City offering services in rupees and 16 designated foreign currencies and a tailored digital/tax/treasury platform for CPC companies. It is the second commercial bank in CPC after Commercial Bank opened a branch last month.

Colombo Stock Exchange partnered with the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility to advance Sri Lanka’s GSS+ bond market through training and market-building programs; since 2024 the market has raised about Rs.82 billion (~EUR216m), ~40% of CSE’s 2025 debt capital. DFCC Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon received international recognition for GSS+ issuances.

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI down 0.13% at 22,280 with market turnover Rs.762 million and telecommunications leading turnover at Rs.107.3 million. Notable movers included Dialog +4.93%, RIL Property +8.02% and Digital Mobility +1.69%; Softlogic reported a Q3 loss of Rs.1.70bn (improved from Rs.4.59bn) and shares rose 3.03%.

Colombo Stock Exchange collaborated with the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility to advance Sri Lanka’s GSS+ bond market, which has raised about LKR 82 billion (~EUR 216m) since 2024. DFCC Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon received international awards for their GSS+ issuances.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon became the first bank in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region to introduce advanced 3-D Secure (3DS 2.x) authentication for UnionPay e-commerce transactions. The bank integrated UnionPay onto its ACS platform using risk-based OTP step-up authentication to strengthen online payment security.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on May 29, 2026, with the ASPI up 111.57 points to 22,310.80 and turnover at Rs.7.37 billion, driven by a ~400m-share block of HNB Finance (Rs.3.52bn) sold by Prime Lands. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Hemas were among the main positive contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.50% to 22,310.80, with diversified financials leading turnover at Rs.3.89bn and total turnover Rs.7.38bn. Aitken Spence reported Q1 profit of Rs.3.81bn and declared a tax-exempt Rs.4.00/share dividend; Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings declared a Rs.0.28/share tax-exempt dividend.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon implemented advanced 3-D Secure (3DS 2.x) authentication for UnionPay cardholders, becoming the first bank in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region to enable UnionPay 3DS e-commerce with risk-based authentication and OTP step-up flows.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) launched PayPal-linked withdrawals via ComBank Digital, letting eligible customers transfer PayPal balances directly into their Commercial Bank accounts. The self-service email-based linkage enables near-instant transfers for freelancers and exporters, supporting regulated foreign currency inflows.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) has upgraded its Self-Onboarding Platform to let new customers, including Sri Lankans abroad, open savings accounts instantly via web or mobile with real-time video identity verification and automated compliance screening.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has enabled PayPal-linked withdrawals via ComBank Digital, allowing eligible customers to transfer PayPal balances directly into their Commercial Bank accounts instantly. Linking uses email-and-DOB authentication and the digital process takes about two minutes without a branch visit.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon now lets Sri Lankan freelancers, digital entrepreneurs and exporters transfer PayPal balances directly into Commercial Bank accounts via ComBank Digital. Eligible customers link PayPal by matching registered email and date of birth for near-instant authenticated transfers, which the bank says will facilitate foreign currency inflows.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is the first bank onboarded to LankaPay's new eMudhra e-Sign Remote Signature with LankaSign, launching Sri Lanka's first remote digital signature facility in the banking sector. The emSigner integration enables secure, legally recognised remote signing to speed onboarding and digital workflows across banking and other sectors.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) became the Colombo Stock Exchange's largest listed company with a market cap of Rs. 367.09 billion after its share price rose 7% to Rs. 39.90 on May 25. John Keells stood at Rs. 359.36bn and Ceylon Tobacco at Rs. 341.91bn; Commercial Bank was the largest bank at Rs. 320.88bn.

Dialog Axiata regained the top spot on the Colombo Stock Exchange with a market cap of Rs. 367.1 billion (4.51% of total market cap), overtaking John Keells Holdings at Rs. 359.4 billion.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) was announced as the first bank onboarded to LankaPay and eMudhra's remote digital signature solution (eMudhra e-Sign with LankaSign) at a launch on 22 May 2026. The service enables secure, legally recognized remote e-signatures to speed onboarding and digital document workflows.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, with the ASPI up 1.98% to 22,364.77, as rupee stabilisation and lower interest rates boosted investor confidence. Ceylon Cold Stores and Hemas posted strong quarterly profits and John Keells declared a final dividend; Dialog, Commercial Bank and Sampath gained while hSenid and Dipped Products fell.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.96% (430.21 pts) to 22,359.85 on Monday, with the S&P SL20 up 1.93%. Top contributors included Dialog Axiata, John Keells, Commercial Bank and Hemas; Ceylon Cold Stores reported Q1 profit up 75% to Rs 3.76bn and LVL Energy Fund's rights issue was oversubscribed.

ASPI surged 435.13 points (1.98%) to 22,364.77 with turnover of Rs.2.42 billion, driven by broad domestic buying; top contributors included Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath Bank and Hemas Holdings, and market cap rose to Rs.8.11 trillion.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon upgraded its Self-Onboarding Platform to enable instant, fully digital paperless savings account opening with real-time video identity verification and automated compliance screening, allowing new and overseas customers to onboard without branch visits.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) signed an agreement to establish a fully-fledged branch at Port City Colombo offering full banking services including digital banking, trade, foreign currency and corporate solutions. The branch aims to support cross-border business and international investors in the Special Economic Zone.