Banks & Finance · Major Banks
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is Sri Lanka's largest private sector bank, and the only private sector bank the Central Bank of Sri Lanka designates a Higher Tier Domestic Systemically Important Bank.
COMB shares are up 5.8% over the past year and last closed at Rs 202.50 on Sep 30, 2026.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +13.4 | -2.3 | -7.4 | +3.1 | -1.3 | +0.8 | -3.7 | +1.2 | -0.5 | +0.0 | +0.0 | +0.0 |
| 2025 | +2.9 | +0.3 | -1.3 | -6.4 | +8.6 | +7.3 | +6.8 | +14.9 | -1.0 | +6.5 | +1.2 | -3.7 |
| 2024 | -8.8 | +3.4 | +9.3 | +18.9 | -8.3 | +0.0 | -9.7 | -5.9 | +17.1 | +16.0 | +4.2 | +17.7 |
| 2023 | +12.3 | +14.4 | +2.6 | -10.2 | +0.2 | +19.0 | +38.5 | -7.5 | +4.3 | -9.0 | +6.0 | +9.8 |
| 2022 | +4.7 | -1.1 | -25.3 | -12.7 | +2.9 | -4.3 | +2.8 | +3.5 | +2.0 | -8.2 | +0.0 | +0.2 |
| 2021 | +24.2 | -12.4 | -0.2 | -6.1 | +8.1 | +1.4 | -3.2 | +1.9 | -2.3 | +4.7 | -9.0 | -2.2 |
| 2020 | -3.2 | -6.5 | -28.5 | +0.0 | +0.0 | +28.2 | -4.8 | +7.6 | -1.1 | -6.4 | +5.6 | +2.4 |
| 2019 | -0.6 | -7.5 | -4.6 | -7.4 | -0.7 | +1.0 | +18.5 | -1.2 | -8.1 | -2.0 | +2.8 | -4.7 |
| 2018 | +2.4 | -0.1 | -1.5 | -1.0 | -3.3 | -6.1 | +2.4 | -0.8 | -9.6 | +6.2 | -1.7 | -2.8 |
| 2017 | -0.1 | -1.0 | -8.0 | +9.6 | -6.7 | +3.3 | -1.3 | -0.5 | +1.5 | +7.9 | -10.0 | +0.7 |
| 2016 | -9.6 | -1.7 | +0.6 | +3.9 | -1.9 | -5.1 | +7.4 | +6.5 | +3.6 | -0.1 | -2.7 | +3.6 |
| 2015 | -1.8 | +6.3 | -7.0 | +3.6 | -4.7 | -1.9 | +6.3 | +1.5 | -8.4 | -1.9 | -10.3 | +0.4 |
| 2014 | +5.5 | -9.4 | +7.0 | +3.6 | +2.0 | +8.2 | +3.1 | +2.1 | +5.3 | +6.4 | -4.3 | +7.8 |
| 2013 | +2.4 | +3.3 | +3.7 | +1.6 | +7.4 | -6.5 | +1.6 | -1.5 | +1.9 | +0.3 | -1.7 | +3.8 |
| 2012 | +0.0 | +0.0 | +0.0 | +5.0 | -1.0 | -5.0 | -0.9 | +6.2 | +11.5 | -9.6 | -4.7 | +3.0 |
| Average | +3.1 | -1.0 | -4.3 | +0.4 | +0.1 | +2.7 | +4.2 | +1.9 | +1.1 | +0.8 | -1.8 | +2.6 |
| ASPI average | +3.1 | -2.7 | -4.7 | +2.0 | +0.2 | +0.8 | +3.1 | +2.2 | +3.2 | -0.1 | +1.0 | +3.0 |
| Median | +2.4 | -1.0 | -1.4 | +2.4 | -0.8 | +0.8 | +2.4 | +1.5 | +1.5 | +0.1 | -1.7 | +1.6 |
| % up | 57% | 36% | 36% | 57% | 43% | 53% | 60% | 60% | 53% | 50% | 36% | 71% |
| Line | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 | FY2019 | FY2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total income | Rs 191.2B +78.6% | Rs 107.1B -12.3% | Rs 122.1B -10.7% | Rs 136.6B +46.0% | Rs 93.6B +22.0% | Rs 76.7B +13.4% | Rs 67.7B +4.4% | Rs 64.9B +27.8% |
| Operating profit | Rs 110.5B -5.9% | Rs 117.5B +202.2% | Rs 38.9B +58.7% | Rs 24.5B -25.6% | Rs 33.0B +13.5% | Rs 29.0B -3.9% | Rs 30.2B -6.0% | Rs 32.1B +38.1% |
| Net profit | Rs 60.9B +9.4% | Rs 55.7B +154.3% | Rs 21.9B -10.3% | Rs 24.4B +0.5% | Rs 24.3B +42.2% | Rs 17.1B -1.9% | Rs 17.4B -2.5% | Rs 17.9B +7.4% |
| EPS | 36.86 -4.1% | 38.44 +139.2% | 16.07 -16.4% | 19.21 -4.7% | 20.15 +28.3% | 15.70 -6.6% | 16.80 -4.3% | 17.55 +1.6% |
Compared with the same period a year earlier.
Per-share figures are as reported, not adjusted for splits.
| # | Company | Price | Mkt cap | P/E | P/B | EPS | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COMB.N0000 · this company | 202.50 | Rs 333.3B | 5.5 | 0.94 | 36.86 | 18.10% | 5.17% |
| 2 | HNB.N0000 | 384.00 | Rs 215.0B | 4.6 | 0.71 | 83.23 | 15.72% | 5.20% |
| 3 | SAMP.N0000 | 140.00 | Rs 164.2B | 5.0 | 0.84 | 27.77 | 16.81% | 7.36% |
| 4 | NTB.N0000 | 303.75 | Rs 104.9B | 5.3 | 0.96 | 57.76 | 19.87% | 3.44% |
| 5 | DFCC.N0000 | 123.50 | Rs 55.7B | 4.8 | 0.51 | 26.00 | 8.64% | 5.96% |
| 6 | SEYB.N0000 | 94.60 | Rs 50.8B | 4.9 | 0.69 | 19.14 | 14.47% | 4.23% |
| 7 | NDB.N0000 | 109.50 | Rs 47.3B | 3.9 | 0.55 | 27.83 | 12.90% | 7.74% |
| Peer median · 6 companies | - | - | 4.8 | 0.70 | - | - | 5.58% |
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is Sri Lanka's largest private sector bank, and the only private sector bank the Central Bank of Sri Lanka designates a Higher Tier Domestic Systemically Important Bank. It reports serving more than four million customers through a nationwide network of 272 branches alongside its digital channels. The bank works through four core business segments: Personal Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury and International Operations. Sri Lanka is its primary market, and it also operates a network of 20 branches in Bangladesh, with subsidiaries in the Maldives and Myanmar and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre. The bank was established in 1969 and its registered office is Commercial House, No. 21, Sir Razik Fareed Mawatha, Colombo 01. Its financial year ends on 31 December, which is unusual on this exchange, where most companies close on 31 March.
Evidence points bullish because June revenue grew 26.2% and the shares score 92 for value across the CSE. The catch is a sharp year-on-year operating-margin contraction.
Read the full report (Sep 29, 2026) →Higher than 4% of its last 24 months · 21 of 26 in its sector
11 articles in 30 days: 3 positive, 6 negative, 2 neutral.
The Colombo ASPI fell 0.6% to 20,817.82, sliding to a six-month low as losers (163) outpaced winners (31) and turnover barely topped Rs.1bn. Top decliners and contributors to the drop included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Overseas Realty, Singer, Tokyo Cement and Ceylinco, while John Keells closed flat.
The Colombo bourse fell to a six-month low as the ASPI closed down 0.44% at 20,943.79 and turnover hit a year low of Rs. 596 million; foreign investors were net buyers of Rs. 7.9 million. Top negative contributors included CARS, DIAL, COMB, CINS and SEMB.
Colombo Stock Exchange opened higher as the ASPI rose 30.69 points to 21,068.04 (up 0.15%); market turnover was 57.56 million rupees. Vidullanka said project companies it holds equity in won bids to install 18.7 MW/93 MWh of BESS, with its estimated equity share about 600 million rupees.
The Association of Professional Bankers ran a CPD event preparing Sri Lanka's banking sector for its APG mutual evaluation (on-site 26 Oct-6 Nov 2026) that will assess AML/CFT/PF technical compliance and effectiveness. Speakers urged a shift from documentation-led checks to outcome-focused, risk-based controls.
The ASPI fell 0.52% (109.98 pts) to 21,023.43, hitting a 23-week low as selling driven by concerns over rising interest rates and sustained crude above $100 pressured the market. Top drags included Melstacorp, Dialog, Hayleys, Ceylon Beverage and RIL while foreigners were net sellers of ~Rs.213m; turnover ~Rs.1.3bn.
Colombo market slipped 0.61% to a six-week low as the ASPI closed at 21,133.41 amid rising oil prices and fears of an interest-rate hike; 172 counters fell, turnover was over Rs.1.6bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.8m.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the ASPI down 0.24% (51.79 pts) at 21,262.13 on Rs2.23 billion turnover. SMB Finance, Watawala, Sampath Bank and Lion Brewery were top positive contributors while Dialog, Melstacorp and Commercial Bank led declines; a mandatory offer for Industrial Asphalts fell through after the SEC refused a share transfer due to the company being on the CSE watchlist.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher with the ASPI up 0.12% (25.00 pts) at 21,382.74 and the S&P SL20 up 0.19% at 6,015.08, on turnover of 333 million rupees. Galle Face Capital Partners received in-principle CSE approval to list up to 4,060,218 new ordinary shares via a scrip dividend; its shares closed down 2.45% at 19.90 rupees.
Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.17% to 21,657.17 in early trading while the S&P SL20 gained 0.54% to 6,091.65 on turnover of Rs 446 million. Several firms were placed or moved to the watchlist for non-submission of FY2026 annual reports (SHL, HELA, MEL, LGL, EXT, BFN, TESS, EMER); top gainers included DIAL, HNB, COMB, AEL, ACL and top losers HAYC, DOCK, BIL, CCS.
With policy held at 8.75% amid 8.0% inflation, and Treasury and secondary bond yields rising during the window, banks face continued pressure to reprice deposits and loans while government-securities portfolios remain sensitive to yield moves. The rupee weakened and foreign investors sold rupee bonds for a second week. From 1 November, TIN verification will be required for bank accounts and credit cards, adding onboarding compliance.
Auto-generated from 45 sector news articles over 14 days. Not investment advice.