News & market updates

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with Carmart to offer structured leasing for Peugeot and Leapmotor vehicles until 30 June 2027, including attractive interest rates, documentation concessions and a complimentary first-year-fee credit card. Carmart will add perks such as a complimentary full tank and free vehicle registration.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher with the ASPI up 0.89% to 22,407.04 and the S&P SL20 up 0.99% to 6,242.75 on Rs.2.72bn turnover; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.50.3m.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.89% as the ASPI gained 198.46 points to 22,407 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.99% to 6,242, with turnover of 2.7 billion rupees. Top positive contributors were Dialog Axiata, John Keells and Hayleys, while Bukit Darah and Colombo Fort Land & Building were top decliners.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) rewarded two Visa credit cardholders with trips to the FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July 2026, each receiving two final tickets, return business-class flights and a four-night tour package. Winners were selected from card spending between 15 March and 10 May 2026 in a spend-drive for Platinum, Signature and Infinite cardholders.

Colombo's ASPI fell 0.48% to 22,253.52 as investor sentiment soured over renewed Middle East peace concerns. Only 51 stocks rose vs 164 declines; turnover was ~Rs1.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs154.6m; main negative contributors were JKH, SPEN, DFCC, COMB and ACL.

The CSE added ACL Cables, CIC Holdings and the voting shares of Commercial Bank to the S&P SL20 and removed LB Finance, with the changes effective 22 June.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.48% to 22,253.52 and S&P SL20 fell 0.25% to 6,199.97, with market turnover of 1.18 billion rupees. Top gainers included Vallibel Power Erathna and Hatton National Bank, while John Keells, Aitken Spence, DFCC and Commercial Bank were among the main decliners.

Emerging Women Summit in Kilinochchi drew over 200 participants, including 150+ women entrepreneurs, to strengthen access to finance, markets and business support. Organised by LIIN under the GRIT Project (funded by Global Affairs Canada), the event featured financing and market-access sessions, 40+ stalls and participation from institutions including DFCC Bank and Commercial Bank.

ASPI jumped 3.43% (743.22 pts) to 22,380.65 as markets rallied on signs of a possible end to the Middle East war, with index-weighted counters SAMP, COMB, JKH, MELS and DIAL among top contributors; turnover exceeded Rs.4bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.21.1m).

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.02% to 22,377 and the S&P SL20 up 0.05% to 6,222; top gainers included Sunshine and Commercial Bank, while Singer and Sampath Bank were among the laggards.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) now lets Premium/Platinum credit and Elite debit cardholders convert Max Loyalty Rewards points into airline miles with SriLankan Airlines and other carriers at a promotional rate of 6 points = 1 FlySmiLes mile through 31 Dec 2026, via its existing digital platform.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.34% to 22,456.18 (up 75.53 pts) as turnover reached 2.42 billion rupees, with materials leading turnover at 1.4 billion. Top positive contributors were Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, HNB and DFCC, while LOLC and Prime Lands were top decliners.

Banking leaders, including HNB and Commercial Bank executives, called for stronger governance, internal controls, cyber resilience and responsible AI use to future-proof Sri Lanka's banking sector at a Daily FT-ACCA-ICCSL webinar.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 3.43% as the ASPI gained 743.22 points to close at 22,380 on positive sentiment after a US-Iran deal. Top contributors included Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Melstacorp, and Senkadagala Finance announced a 2.8 rupee dividend.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 3.17% midday Monday after news of a US‑Iran framework deal; banks led gains with Sampath at 146.25, Commercial Bank at 209.50 and Hatton National Bank at 405, driving the ASPI higher.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon launched 'ComBank GIG+', a specialised account for freelancers and digital earners to receive foreign currency earnings (including PayPal-linked withdrawals) in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD or LKR. The product includes first-year fee waivers and preferential FX rates to support access to credit and other services.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 1.73% (367.41 pts) to 21,637.43 and the S&P SL20 gained 1.55% to 6,027.05. Turnover was below Rs.2bn with foreign investors net buyers of Rs.24.4m; HNB, COMB, JKH, DFCC and RIL were key positive contributors and banks led turnover (25%).

National Development Bank PLC suffered an internal Rs. 13.2 billion fraud that went undetected, prompting a parliamentary probe that blamed Central Bank oversight failures and drew IMF demands for regulatory and AML/CFT reforms. The Central Bank has retained Deloitte India for a forensic audit with an interim report due in two weeks and a final report by July 18.

Sri Lanka's CSE closed up with the ASPI rising 1.75% to 21,642.95 after US President Trump said he cancelled planned strikes on Iran. Banks led turnover and several banks and blue-chips rose, while Dialog Axiata passed AGM resolutions including a final dividend and its shares closed up.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.68% (up 357.08 pts) to 21,627.10, with the S&P SL20 up 1.55% as banks supported gains. Market turnover was Rs.666m led by real estate; Colombo Fort Investments and Colombo Investment Trust listed scrip-dividend shares effective June 12, 2026.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) launched 'ComBank GIG+' — a specialised account for freelancers and digital earners to receive foreign currency payments (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD). It supports PayPal-linked withdrawals, offers first-year fee waivers and preferential FX rates, and aims to formalise foreign income for access to savings, credit and investment services.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the ASPI fell 0.89% (191.45 points) to 21,270.02. Bank stocks led declines with DFCC, Commercial Bank and National Development Bank among top negatives, while Ambeon, Melstacorp and Asiri gained; Asia Asset Finance filed a rights issue to raise Rs1.5bn.

ASPI fell 0.4% (85.70 pts) to 21,461.47 as selling pressure reversed early gains; turnover was below Rs.1.7bn and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.55.9m. Major negative contributors were C T Holdings, Melstacorp, Ambeon, Access Engineering and Central Finance, while John Keells, Chevron Lubricants and Commercial Bank were top turnover names.

Colombo Stock Exchange trended up intraday, with the ASPI +0.26% (55.89 pts) to 21,603.06 and the S&P SL20 +0.16% (9.59 pts) to 6,010.27; market turnover was LKR 511.7m, led by capital goods (LKR 32.3m). Top positive contributors included Melstacorp, Hayleys, John Keells and Lanka IOC; Commercial Bank, Malwatte Valley Plantations and Ceylon Cold Stores were top negatives.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with the Sri Lanka Air Force to offer SLAF personnel concessionary personal loans, leasing, housing loans and credit cards. The package includes concessionary interest rates, reduced documentation charges and flexible repayment alignment to incomes.

ASPI fell 1.57% (340.85 pts) to 21,403.28 as the CSE opened in the red amid rising interest rates and Middle East tensions. Turnover was over Rs.2.6bn with foreign net outflows of Rs.54.1m; Melstacorp, Bukit Darah, Sampath and LOLC were key negatives while John Keells and ACL led turnover and HNB rose.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.83% to 21,581.80 midday, led by gains in Dialog, Hayleys, Colombo Fort Land & Building and Browns Investments; Commercial Bank slipped and Hela Apparel faces a trading suspension effective June 18 unless compliance is rectified by June 16.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid, ASPI down 1.68% (366.31 points) to 21,377.82 at midday. Vallibel One released its annual report showing profit of 13,164,778 rupees (prev. 11,760,829) and its shares were trading down 0.41% at Rs.96.00.

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. The branch provides corporate and retail banking, trade finance, FX, digital banking and 24/7 self-service (CRM/ATM).

The Colombo ASPI fell 2.54% for the week (S&P SL20 down 2.2%), wiping about Rs. 206 billion off market capitalisation. Major negative contributors were COMB, HAYL, JKH, WIND and SPEN, with turnover near Rs. 2.98 billion.