News & market updates

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been ranked the No.1 Sri Lankan bank in The Banker magazine's 2026 Top 1000 World Banks; the bank reported a 12.1% growth in Tier I capital and its 14th appearance on the list.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices ticked up: ASPI rose 0.05% (11.60 pts) to 21,133.38 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.15% to 5,949.05, with market turnover at Rs 64.7m and banks leading turnover (Rs 32.4m). Notable movers included Commercial Bank, LOLC and ACL Plastics (declared interim dividend), while JKH, Central Finance and Browns Investments weighed down the index.

Colombo stocks closed flat with the ASPI up 0.01% at 21,132.12 and market turnover of Rs 1.41 billion; banks led turnover at Rs 411.6 million and Food, Beverage & Tobacco followed with Rs 308.7 million. Notable movers included Melstacorp, HNB, Pan Asia, Central Finance and Aitken Spence; Lanka Realty Investments disclosed an Rs 800m related-party loan settlement.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first bank globally to be awarded UNFPA's CRJB Champion Status, recognising its workplace policies on reproductive health, gender equality and employee well-being. The bank said it will adopt UNFPA standards, expand related programmes and report progress through its sustainability framework.

Sri Lanka's top 100 brands rose 17% to a combined Rs652bn, surpassing the 2019 peak of Rs630bn, says Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report. Banking accounted for 42% (Rs275bn) of the total; BOC remained most valuable while Commercial Bank, Sampath, Nations Trust, Dialog, Keells and PickMe all saw brand value gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading higher midday: ASPI up 0.13% (26.86 pts) at 21,175.57 and S&P SL20 up 0.23% at 5,959.94, with retailing leading turnover at LKR 1.029 billion. Seylan Bank reported Q2 profit attributable to equity holders of LKR 3.21 billion, up 16.31% y/y.

Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report shows the combined value of the nation's top 100 brands rose 17% to a record LKR652 billion, surpassing the 2019 peak; banking brands account for 42% (LKR275bn). Several listed firms including Commercial Bank, Dialog, Sampath, Nations Trust, PickMe and John Keells recorded brand-value gains.

Brand Finance's Sri Lanka 100 2026 report: the combined brand value of the top 100 Sri Lankan brands rose 17% to a record Rs. 652 billion, surpassing the 2019 peak. Banking brands account for 42% (Rs. 275bn) of the total; several banks and digital brands posted double-digit gains.

Colombo bourse ended lower: ASPI fell 0.38% to 21,148.71 and S&P SL20 dropped 0.26% to 5,946.03. Market turnover was nearly Rs.1.1bn, foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.710,860, with SPEN, CINS, COMB, ACL and RICH among the decliners.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the ASPI down 0.38% to 21,148.71 and market turnover of Rs.1.094 billion; capital goods led turnover at Rs.389 million. Bogala Graphite reported an indirect change of control (shares down 2.01%) and Lankem Ceylon disclosed a Rs.500m corporate guarantee for its subsidiary (shares up 5.23%).

Colombo bourse traded mixed midday with the ASPI down 0.12% to 21,203.70 and market turnover at Rs200.5mn, led by capital goods (Rs58.5mn). Commercial Bank said its Basel III subordinated debentures will be listed on July 30, 2026; JAT Holdings declared a final dividend of Rs0.72 (ex-div Aug 7, 2026).

The Colombo market extended its recovery into a second session as the ASPI rose 0.20% to 21,229.14, with turnover above Rs. 2 billion and foreign investors net sellers of over Rs. 1 billion. Top contributors to the rise were Colombo Dockyard, John Keells Holdings, Commercial Bank, ACL Cables and NDB Bank.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher, the ASPI rose 0.20% (41.92 pts) to 21,229.14 and turnover was Rs 2.02bn with retail leading at Rs 1.04bn. SANASA Life said escrow proceeds were released and invested in government securities, and Odel restarted construction on Zone 1 of its mall with completion expected in 1.5-2 years.

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI rose 0.56% to 21,306.64, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp, PGP Glass, Commercial Bank and Kelani Cables while Vidullanka fell. R I L Property disclosed public shareholding is 46.1071% after prior miscalculations.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, ASPI up 0.07% to 21,187.22 with turnover of 2.07 billion rupees; capital goods led turnover at 866 million rupees.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC won six awards at the 2026 Asian Banking and Finance Awards — the most by any Sri Lankan bank. The honours cover retail, wholesale and corporate banking and recognise its AI SME credit underwriting, green financing (including a Rs.15 billion green bond) and a loan book above Rs.2 trillion.

Hatton National Bank (HNB) says sustainability is a core strategic imperative, citing its successful Rs. 10 billion Sustainability Bond issuance and its decision to exclude coal financing. The bank urged board-level governance, better climate data and alignment with CBSL’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 and the SLSBI to integrate sustainability across Sri Lankan banks.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon won six awards — the most by any Sri Lankan bank — at the 2026 Asian Banking & Finance Awards in Singapore. The awards covered Retail, Wholesale and Corporate & Investment Banking, highlighting its AI-powered SME credit underwriting, green financing and its Rs.15bn 2025 Green Bond alongside loan book growth past Rs.2tn.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.40% (up 85.60 pts) to 21,235.16 as banks led turnover (LKR 76.8m) and the S&P SL20 gained 0.73%. Commercial Bank announced the final allotment for its Basel III Tier-2 debenture issue, which was oversubscribed with applications for 244.23m debentures (LKR 24.42bn) and 150m debentures allocated to identified investors.

ASPI fell 0.29% to 21,145.73 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 5,945.01; turnover exceeded Rs.3.2bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.79.8mn and a Rs.2.3bn crossing in Cargills driving volume. Negative contributors included CINS, COMB, RICH, CARS and HARI; Melstacorp, NTB and HNB were also active.

ASPI fell 0.92% (197.31 pts) to 21,208.10, its lowest in over three months, with 193 counters down and market turnover at around Rs.2.6bn. DIAL, COMB, RICH, JKH and CARS were the major contributors to the decline.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon MD/CEO Sanath Manatunge has been appointed Chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon at the organisation's 97th AGM. He succeeds Dinesh Weerakkody, will serve alongside Vice Chairman Dinal Peiris (Lanka Aluminium) and holds other sector leadership roles.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.80% as the All Share Price Index closed at 21,234.81 amid escalating West Asia tensions and rising oil prices. Top decliners included Dialog Axiata and Commercial Bank, with market flows shifting from equities to fixed income amid higher interest rates.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon MD/CEO Sanath Manatunge was appointed Chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) at its 97th AGM, succeeding Dinesh Weerakkody for the 2026/27 year.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 0.72% to 21,250.49 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.66% to 5,960.20; turnover was 325 million rupees. Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000 down 1.10 to 43.10) and Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000 down 1.75 to 202) weighed on the index.

CSE indices fell sharply — ASPI down 197.31 points to 21,208.10 and S&P SL20 down 56.46 to 5,943.22 — despite turnover rising to Rs.2.63bn. Turnover was driven by crossings in CT Holdings (Rs.561m), Cargills (Rs.544.95m) and Lanka Milk Foods (Rs.232m), while price losses in Dialog, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Carson Cumberbatch led the ASPI decline.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors will host the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo focused on governance, reputation and sustainable leadership. Keynote speaker Vivek Sharma will discuss reputation risk and panels include Nestlé Lanka's MD and Commercial Bank of Ceylon Chairman Sharhan Muhseen.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc's Rs.20 billion Basel III-compliant Tier 2 debenture offer was oversubscribed on opening day, receiving applications for more than 200 million debentures and prompting the bank to close the offer. The bank may issue up to a further 100 million debentures in additional tranches and is awaiting Central Bank approval to include the issue as Tier 2 capital; basis of allotment will be notified to the CSE.

Sri Lanka stocks closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.20% to 21,405.41 and market turnover hit a 52-week low of Rs 722.6m. Banks led turnover at Rs 184.3m; Commercial Bank, RIL Property, Melstacorp and People's Leasing were among gainers while John Keells and Digital Mobility were among laggards, and oil prices rose on Gulf tensions.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon's Basel III Tier-2 debenture issue was oversubscribed with applications for over 200 million debentures worth Rs 20 billion against an initial Rs 10 billion offer. CSE indices traded lower (ASPI down 0.11% at 21,424.48) with banks leading turnover at Rs 54.4 million.