News & market updates

Colombo stocks extended a five-session rally as ASPI rose 0.67% (141.78 pts) to 21,226.87 with turnover Rs.8.1bn and foreigners net buyers of Rs.584.1m. Capital Goods and Banking led turnover, with JKH, CTHR, SFCL and COMB among top contributors while SIRA fell sharply.

The Colombo ASPI rose 0.67% to 21,226.87, led by gains in John Keells, C T Holdings, Senkadagala Finance and Commercial Bank.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) won three awards at the ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2025: Best Performance on Growth (Sri Lanka), Best Performance on Profitability (Sri Lanka) and Runner-up Best Bank in Sri Lanka. The awards were determined by a PwC assessment and a jury of banking professionals, highlighting the bank’s performance and digital leadership.

Proparco said it is ready to consider financing Sri Lankan firms now that the country has emerged from default and completed sovereign debt restructuring. The lender previously funded Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Hatton National Bank to on-lend to smaller firms, reopening a channel for development finance.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has joined GovPay, enabling tourism operators to pay the Tourism Development Levy and other SLTDA services online via banks' internet/mobile banking and connected FinTech apps. The initial rollout covers TDL payments with phased expansion planned.

SLTDA has joined GovPay, enabling Tourism Development Levy and other SLTDA payments to be made online via 14 banks and six FinTech apps (including major local banks and L B Finance's CIM). GovPay, launched Feb 2025, has processed 1,773 services totalling over Rs.110 Mn and will expand to more SLTDA payments.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the Gold Sponsor of the Indira Cancer Trust's TLC Triathlon 2025, a nationwide four-city series to raise breast cancer awareness. The events run Oct 5–26 in Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Matara and Colombo and expect ~4,000 athletes and 10,000+ spectators.

Colombo stocks rose for a second session as the ASPI gained 0.76% (156.05 pts) to 20,775.42 on turnover of Rs. 6.61bn, with foreigners net selling Rs. 580m. Commercial Bank, Hemas and Melstacorp were top positive contributors while Alumex posted a strong gain and Sierra Cables declined.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI +0.76% to 20,775 and S&P SL20 +0.59% to 5,903, with turnover Rs6.61bn driven by materials (Rs1.12bn) and capital goods (Rs1.68bn). Alumex was heavily traded and ACL Cables, which announced an interim dividend of Rs1.50, also rose.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank and Best Bank for SMEs at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 after reporting a near-200% rise in profit before tax to Rs.95.54 billion in 2024. Euromoney highlighted ComBank's digital leadership (1.5m+ digital users, 45% adoption, AI underwriting), improved asset quality (impaired loans 2.76%) and increased market share.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 264 points (1.3%) and the S&P SL20 gained 1.2% on turnover of Rs.6.2bn. Banks and hotel counters led gains (COMB, SAMP, HNB, SPEN, DFCC), capital goods and utilities drove turnover, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.270.8m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.30% to 20,619 with turnover of Rs 6.21bn, led by gains in banks and capital goods. Key risers included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB, Aitken Spence, DFCC and active trading in Sierra Cables.

Banking system net foreign assets fell from about $3.3bn in April 2025 to $2.90bn in July 2025, reversing after rate cuts and a pickup in private credit. Central bank net foreign assets also eased to around $1.41bn in June (≈$1.46bn in July), buying $142m from the interbank market in August.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI and S&P SL20 declined 1.25% amid profit-taking led by banks, with ASPI down 257 points — the largest intraday drop since 23 June. Turnover was Rs.4 billion and foreigners recorded a net outflow of Rs.80.5 million; several bank counters led losses.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.25% to 20,355.39 as investor uncertainty over the next IMF tranche and possible new budget taxes prompted selling; major banks (Commercial Bank, Sampath, DFCC, HNB) and Melstacorp led declines.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank and Best Bank for SMEs at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 after reporting near-200% profit before tax growth to Rs95.54bn in 2024. Euromoney also noted improved asset quality (impaired loans 2.76%), market-share gains, 1.5m+ digital users and AI-driven underwriting.

ASPI fell 379.58 points week-on-week to 20,612.40, and the S&P SL20 lost 131.48 points to 5,873.12. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, Browns Investments, Sampath Bank and Bukit Darah were top negative contributors; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.2.3 billion and weekly turnover averaged Rs.5.8 billion (Chevron Lubricants off-board trades Rs.2 billion).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, with the ASPI down 0.14% (29.43 pts) at 20,612 as budget concerns created volatility. Market turnover was 5.847 billion rupees; DFCC, Nations Trust and Watawala were among top gainers while Commercial Bank and Sampath weighed on the index.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is the first bank globally to offer LoungeKey airport lounge access for UnionPay Asia Prestige cardholders, providing access to over 1,500 lounges in 140+ countries; Diamond cards get unlimited visits while Platinum cards receive six complimentary visits annually.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon is offering 18-month, 0% interest personal loans covering 100% of the cost of Apple devices through a partnership with Gnext Store. The scheme includes doorstep delivery, complimentary AirPods for the first 100 iPhone buyers and a ‘Shield Pro’ protection plan for iPhone 16 series.

Daraz Sri Lanka launches its 9.9 Birthday Cart Sale (Sep 9–20) with discounts up to 85%, Rs.20m in vouchers and partner bank/card discounts up to 15% from Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank AmEx, Sampath Bank and LOLC Finance.

The EDB's National Organic Control Unit held its fourth island-wide organic awareness session in Anuradhapura on 29 Aug 2025 to promote organic certification and exports. Farmers, exporters and stakeholders attended; Commercial Bank presented digital marketing strategies while EDB covered certification, processing and market trends.

LAUGFS Gas and LAUGFS Power shares surged (LAUGFS Gas voting +65.42% to Rs.66.50; LAUGFS Power non-voting +63% to Rs.14.20) after reports of a 50:50 partnership with Vallibel Three (Dhammika Perera). Meanwhile the ASPI fell 0.4% to 20,906 with declines led by HNB, COMB, DFCC, CINS and JKH; turnover leaders included RIL, CTHR and EBCR.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower; ASPI fell 0.41% to 20,905.83 and S&P SL20 fell 0.82% to 5,955.36. Laugfs-related buying lifted several stocks (not in shortlist) while Windforce, C T Holdings, Hayleys and Carson Cumberbatch rose and most banks including HNB, Commercial Bank and DFCC lost ground.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first bank worldwide to offer LoungeKey airport-lounge access under the UnionPay Asia Prestige programme, giving Diamond cardholders unlimited annual visits (plus six companion visits) and Platinum cardholders six complimentary visits to 1,500+ lounges in 140+ countries. Cardholders also receive free travel insurance on booked return trips and integration with the bank's Q+ digital wallet.

ICCSSL hosted a July 30 Coffee Evening where CSE and SEC officials and practitioners discussed the Colombo Stock Exchange's new governance regulations for listed companies, focusing on compliance complexities and implementation challenges.

Colombo market fell for a second straight session as the ASPI slipped 0.07% to 20,975.73, with banks HNB, NDB and COMB among the main decliners and market turnover at Rs.6.47 billion.

Bhutan Development Bank, with ADB support, visited Commercial Bank of Ceylon's head office on 26 August as part of a Sri Lanka exposure program to share best practices and strengthen rural and women-focused banking operations.

Colombo ASPI slipped 0.07% to 20,975.73 with turnover of 6.4 billion rupees; Dankotuwa Porcelain contributed 1.19 billion and closed down at 21.40. Most hotels rose on strong August tourist numbers, while HNB, NDB, Commercial Bank and John Keells weighed on the index.