News & market updates

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) will open a full-service branch in Port City Colombo offering digital banking, trade, foreign-currency, corporate and retail services to support cross-border transactions and international investors.

US dollar selling rates at commercial banks eased below Rs.340 today (22) after peaking at Rs.354 on 21st. Quoted afternoon selling rates included Commercial Bank Rs.342.50, HNB Rs.340.00, Sampath Rs.340.50 and Nations Trust Rs.336.49.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up with the ASPI rising 0.44% to 21,929.64 on turnover of Rs.2.17 billion, led by capital goods turnover of Rs.545.5 million. Lanka Hospitals announced a tax-free final dividend of Rs.1.00 per share (total Rs.223.73 million) payable without shareholder approval.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has signed an agreement to open a fully‑fledged branch in Port City Colombo to offer full banking services—including digital banking, trade services, foreign currency transactions, corporate and retail products—to clients in the Special Economic Zone.

Sri Lankan rupee weakened further, with commercial bank TT rates at Rs. 332.09/342.70 and spot trading around Rs. 329.25–330.25, extending depreciation amid strong dollar demand, higher fuel import costs and Middle East tensions.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose with ASPI up 0.75% (164.01 pts) to 21,953.06 and S&P SL20 up 0.71% to 6,076.69; market turnover was LKR 1.014 billion, led by banks (LKR 296.2m). Central Industries declared a final dividend of LKR 6.00/share and its shares were up 3.21% at LKR 224.75.

Sri Lanka shares fell, with the ASPI down 1.54% to 21,954.92 and the S&P SL20 down 1.28% to 6,069.81. Capital goods led turnover at 956.7 million rupees; banks including Sampath, Commercial Bank and DFCC weighed on the index while Union Chemicals, LOLC Finance and Aitken Spence gained.

The ASPI fell 2.59% (592.28 points) to 22,313.47 — its third-largest single-day points decline — as the CSE closed sharply lower with turnover nearly Rs.4.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.114.3m. Key negative contributors included John Keells, RIL Property, Hayleys, Commercial Bank and Colombo Dockyard while capital goods and banking sectors led turnover and losses.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed slightly lower—ASPI down 0.07% at 22,298 and S&P SL20 down 0.21% at 6,148, with turnover Rs.2.32bn. Top contributors included Dialog, Vallibel One, Colombo Dockyard and Browns; Singer reported Q4 profit up 77% to Rs.2.48bn and Union Chemicals declared a Rs.44/share dividend.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will host the Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2026 on 9 June 2026 at Taj Samudra, shifting focus to implementation, technical readiness and climate-linked finance. Platinum sponsors include Commercial Bank and Dilmah Tea; strategic sponsors include Nestlé Lanka, Cargills and Colombo Stock Exchange.

DFCC Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon received awards at Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Debt Awards 2026 for their GSS+ bond issuances. Sri Lanka’s GSS+ bonds have mobilised about LKR 82 billion and are supported by a 2025 GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework to boost investor confidence.

National Development Bank is facing allegations of a Rs. 13.2 billion fraud, prompting scrutiny of its audits, governance and supervisory oversight. A shareholder has filed derivative proceedings and commentators are calling for action from auditing and oversight bodies.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as ASPI fell 2.59% (592.28 pts) to 22,313.47. Brokers cited broad selling with John Keells, RIL Property, Hayleys, Commercial Bank and Colombo Dockyard weighing on the index while Ceylinco Insurance was a positive contributor; Lion Brewery and Ceylon Beverage reported higher quarterly profits.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon donated its 400th IT Lab at Mahamathya Vidyalaya, Athurugiriya and launched 'ComBank Akshara' to consolidate its education-focused CSR. The bank says the fully equipped labs have benefited over 500,000 students nationwide and are funded via its CSR Trust.

Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank are among the initial Sri Lankan banks to roll out PayPal, a move bankers say will ease cross-border payments for freelancers and strengthen formal foreign-exchange inflows.

The Colombo ASPI fell 0.69% (158.23 pts) for the week while net foreign selling totaled Rs. 579.98 million. Turnover was over Rs. 2.8 billion; capital goods led turnover (38%) and banks plus diversified financials contributed 28%, with COMB and HUNT among top positive contributors.

Commercial Bank Group’s assets reached Rs. 3.61 trillion as at 31 March 2026, surpassing Rs. 3.5t, with loans up Rs. 71.61b and deposits up Rs. 171.14b. The Group posted Q1 net profit of Rs. 17.94b (up 19.8%), with provision cover >75% and Tier-1 ratio 13.32%.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat on Friday, with the ASPI up 0.03% at 22,905; Amana Bank said KPMG will replace Ernst & Young as its auditors. Capital goods led turnover and the week ended with mixed movers including Hayleys, Commercial Bank and several financial stocks down.

PayPal will soon be available in Sri Lanka through initial banking partners Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) and Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000), improving cross-border payment access for freelancers, SMEs and digital service providers.

PayPal launched in Sri Lanka through integration with the domestic banking system, initially available via Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank. The service aims to ease cross-border payments for freelancers and SMEs and expand digital payment access as more banks join.

Dialog Axiata reported a net profit of Rs.9.19 billion for the quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 (up 122.3% y/y) and announced an interim cash dividend of 70 cents per share. The Colombo bourse was up (ASPI +0.28%) midday with Rs.1.81bn turnover, led by capital goods (Rs.870.3m).

Commercial Bank Group reported total assets of Rs. 3.61 trillion as at 31 March 2026, up Rs. 230 billion (6.81%) in Q1. The group posted net profit of Rs. 17.94 billion for the quarter (up 19.8% YoY), with provision cover over 75% and a CASA ratio of 40.18%.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB.N0000) reported 1Q FY2026 PAT of LKR 4.6Bn (up 12% YoY) and completed the transfer of HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail portfolio—about 230,000 accounts and 343 staff—on 1 May 2026. NIM was 5.66%, EPS rose to LKR 13.72, and Tier 1 and total capital ratios were 17.31% and 18.41% respectively.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, the ASPI dipped 0.09% to 22,899. Vallibel Finance listed 29,431,675 ordinary voting shares from its rights issue, raising 2,119,080,600 rupees.

DFCC Bank (DFCC.N0000) and Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) won awards at Environmental Finance’s 2026 Sustainable Debt Awards for their GSS+ bond issuances; Sri Lanka’s GSS+ market has mobilised about LKR 82 billion (~EUR 216m).

Commercial Bank of Ceylon announced the first draw of its 'Debit Card Challenge 2026', with 250 winners and a campaign that will award 1,000 customers prizes totaling Rs.45 million by end-June. Customers who spend Rs.20,000+ monthly on Commercial Bank debit cards qualify for monthly draws, with a grand draw for top spenders.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) announced 250 winners in the first monthly draw of its 'Debit Card Challenge 2026', part of a promotion awarding 1,000 prizes worth Rs.45 million by end-June. Cardholders spending Rs 20,000+ monthly qualify for monthly draws; those spending Rs 100,000+ over the campaign qualify for a grand draw of 25 high-value prizes.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.23% to 23,011.72 despite net foreign inflows of Rs. 597.5m; banking sector led turnover with large SEYB crossings and gains, while COMB, CINS, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard were among top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: ASPI -0.23% to 23,011.72 and S&P SL20 -0.30%, with turnover Rs.4.92bn and banks leading at Rs.3.04bn. Movers included Melstacorp, Hemas and CDB up while Ceylinco Insurance, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Colombo Dockyard fell; Laugfs Power commissioned a 2MW mini-hydro and ACME proposed a capital reduction (EGM Jun 11).

Colombo Stock Exchange was flat at midday: ASPI up 0.01% to 23,065 while banks led turnover at Rs.2.85 billion. Top movers included CDB (+4.65%), JKH (+0.49%), HHL (+1.21%) and NTB (+1.08%), while HAYL, COMB and DFCC fell.