Business
ComBank stays on growth trajectory in 2023 with notable Q4 performance
Accelerated lending sees loan book grow by Rs 56.8 billion in three months
Deposits surge by Rs 109.4 billion in final quarter
12-month gross income up 21.82% to Rs 341.6 billion
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon Group lent Rs 56.816 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023 at a monthly average of Rs 18.939 billion to end the year with a loan book of Rs 1.296 trillion, continuing its trend of strong lending growth in support of economic revival.
Robust deposit growth of Rs 109.408 billion was also witnessed in the three months ending December 31, 2023 at a monthly average of Rs 36.469 billion, demonstrating the Group’s strong deposit franchise and focus on financial intermediation in volatile macroeconomic conditions. Deposits grew by 8.60% YoY to Rs 2.148 trillion at the end of the review period.
The Group, comprising of Sri Lanka’s biggest private sector bank, its subsidiaries and an associate, reported in a filing with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) that total assets increased by Rs 156 billion or 6.24% YoY and by Rs 130 billion or 5.15% in the three months reviewed to reach Rs 2.656 trillion as at December 31, 2023.
Gross income improved by 21.82% YoY and by 33.44% in the final quarter to total Rs 341.566 billion for 2023, and interest income grew by 33.84% to Rs 297.646 billion, the Group said. With interest expenses increasing at a higher rate of 53.37% over the year to Rs 211.231 billion, net interest income grew by a marginal 2.07% to Rs 86.415 billion. This was however, a welcome reversal of the negative growth recorded at the end of the preceding quarter, and was made possible by net interest income of Rs 25.534 billion in the fourth quarter, an improvement of 16.85%.
“We have consistently reinforced our balance sheet strength throughout the year and reaffirmed our position as the leading private sector bank,” Commercial Bank Chairman Prof. Ananda Jayawardane commented. “Our solid performance stands as a testament to our resilience and enduring dedication to serving our customers and stakeholders with distinction. We look forward to building upon this foundation of success and charting new heights of prosperity in the future.”
Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Mr Sanath Manatunge noted that the Bank continued to demonstrate its unwavering strength and adaptability amidst a landscape of economic revival and reform. “As the country navigated through the aftermath of challenges flowing from the immediately preceding years, our focused strategy and commitment to stakeholder equity remained steadfast,” he said. “Embracing pivotal reforms and leveraging innovative approaches, we propelled forward, ensuring stability and sustainable value creation for all stakeholders. Our resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity is a testament to the dedication and resolve of the entire Commercial Bank team, whose unwavering commitment remains the cornerstone of our success.”
The Group posted an operating profit before taxes on financial services of Rs 38.885 billion for the full year, and Rs 10.193 billion for the fourth quarter, achieving improvements of 36.77% and 253.81% respectively, the latter due to the higher impairment provisions of the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The Group’s profit before income tax of Rs 33.927 billion for the 12 months recorded an improvement of 38.45%, in contrast to 13.56% at the end of the third quarter. With income tax for the 12 months increasing to Rs 12.027 billion, the Group reported a net profit of Rs 21.900 billion, a decline of 10.25% YoY.
Taken separately, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC reported a profit before tax of Rs 31.880 billion for the 12 months, an improvement of 41.07% while profit after tax for the year reduced by 10.92% to Rs 20.461 billion.
The largest private sector bank in Sri Lanka and the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank operates a strategically-located network of branches and over 950 automated machines island-wide, and is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector. Commercial Bank has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan Banks, with 20 outlets in Bangladesh, a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, and a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) launched the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 on 05 May 2025 at the Atrium of CBSL, marking a key milestone in its continued efforts to foster a climate-resilient and socially inclusive financial system.
Recognising the growing implications of climate-related risks on price stability and financial system stability, CBSL introduced the first Sustainable Finance Roadmap in 2019, which provided foundational guidance to financial institutions on managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks while encouraging financing for green and inclusive economic activities.
In light of evolving global developments, increasing access to climate-focused financing, and broader recognition of the social dimension of sustainability, CBSL developed the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 for the period 2025–2029, with technical and financial support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in partnership with the European Union, under the Accelerating Climate-Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (EU-ACSIIS) programme.
The Roadmap 2.0 was crafted in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA), The Finance Houses Association of Sri Lanka (FHA), financial institutions and government bodies.
Focusing on Sri Lanka’s financial sector, the Roadmap 2.0 outlines a comprehensive set of prioritised actions for banking, non-banking, capital market, and insurance sectors. These actions are geared toward financing sustainable development, strengthening the management of environmental and social risks, enhancing reporting and disclosures, and improving governance and coordination across institutions.
The launch event was attended by distinguished guests including Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka; officials of IFC and EU; Ministerial secretaries and senior officials of government institutions; national and international experts on sustainability; representatives of financial institutions and partner agencies.
Communications Department 05.05.2025 2 Delivering the keynote address, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, emphasised that the launch of Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 marks a vital step in strengthening the resilience and inclusiveness of Sri Lanka’s financial sector amid growing climate and social challenges. He highlighted the need for urgent, coordinated action to integrate climate risk into financial decision-making and called for strong stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective implementation of the Roadmap 2.0.
Speaking at the event, Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka, noted that as Sri Lanka strives for resilient and inclusive growth, sustainable finance will be crucial in creating jobs and driving economic expansion, while also positioning the country to be investment ready. He further highlighted that building a truly sustainable financial ecosystem in Sri Lanka is a collective endeavor – one that IFC has been a part of from inception, and remains committed in working together with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and industry stakeholders to bring the shared vision of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 to fruition.
The keynote was followed by a session providing an overview of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0, led by Ms. W. A. Dilrukshini, Assistant Governor of CBSL, and Ms. Wei Yuan, ESG Officer of IFC. A panel discussion on “Rolling Out the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0” featured Dr. Thusitha Sugathapala, National Technical Expert on Sustainability; Ms. S. Ketawala, Additional Director of the Bank Supervision Department of CBSL; Thimal Perera, Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank; and Ms. Nilupa Perera, Chief Regulatory Officer -Designate of CSE.
The Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 can be accessed using the following link:
https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/sustainable_finance_roadmap_2.0.pdf
Browns Investments PLC (BIL), the investment arm of the LOLC Group, has announced a significant expansion of its plantation portfolio with the acquisition of FLMC Plantations (Pvt) Ltd (FLMC). The acquisition was completed on May 5, 2025, through a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Damro Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd and Piyestra Furniture (Pvt) Ltd, for a total consideration of LKR 4.8 billion.
FLMC Plantations serves as the holding company and managing agent for Pussellawa Plantations Ltd (PPL) and Melfort Green Teas (Pvt) Ltd. PPL operates over 11,500 hectares of land across 24 estates, managing 5,400 hectares of tea, 5,900 hectares of rubber, and 200 hectares of minor crops. The estates collectively produce 4.3 million kilograms of made tea and 2.3 million kilograms of rubber annually. Strategically located in Sri Lanka’s renowned tea-growing regions, including Pussellawa, Udupussellawa, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa, these estates will further enhance BIL’s presence in the country’s agricultural landscape.
Commenting on the acquisition, the Group Managing Director/ CEO of LOLC Holdings PLC, Kapila Jayawardena stated, “Over the past two decades, LOLC Group has been guided by a bold vision of expansion and diversification, positioning ourselves as a global powerhouse across multiple sectors. Our acquisition of FLMC Plantations through Browns Investments PLC is another key milestone in strengthening our leadership in agriculture and plantations. With the addition of Pussellawa Plantations and Melfort Green Teas, we are not only expanding our footprint in Sri Lanka’s premier tea-growing regions but also enhancing our ability to supply premium-quality tea to global markets.’’
Business
VFS Global acquires majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience to create a centre of excellence
Supercharged Growth: VFS Global’s partnership will accelerate CiX’s expansion across Brazil, Latin America, and beyond.
Global Powerhouse: With VFS Global’s capital, technology, talent and scale, CiX Citizen Experience will bring new products and technology to the global marketplace.
Quality of Life Commitment: Both companies are dedicated to innovative solutions, including the use of AI, that improve citizens’ quality of life
Local Impact with Wider Reach: Collaboration to modernise services for citizens of Brazil by creating a centre of excellence that stands as a global example.
VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure global mobility for governments and citizens, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a leading provider of digital and physical citizen services based in Brazil. This strategic acquisition marks a pivotal step in VFS Global’s expansion journey—particularly across Latin America (LATAM)—as it continues to broaden its capabilities and deepen its impact in the public service delivery space.
With nearly two decades of pioneering innovation in citizen services, CiX has established a strong presence in Brazil. This success will be further scaled across LATAM and other global markets, leveraging VFS Global’s international reach and operational excellence.
This acquisition is centred on driving transformation through advanced digital technologies, including AI and data-driven platforms. By uniting CiX’s cutting-edge digital capabilities with VFS Global’s extensive global infrastructure and expertise in managing complex service ecosystems, we are positioned to deliver next-generation, integrated solutions to public and private sector clients around the world.
For both companies’ client governments and partners, this will lead to enhanced, tailored solutions that improve citizen engagement, access, and satisfaction.
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