Business
Cost efficiencies drive vibrant 9-month growth for ComBank
* Cost to Income Ratio (before VAT on Financial Services) improves to 30.73% from 33.95% at end 2020 and 38.51% at end 2019
*Pays Rs.10.981 billion in total as taxes
*CASA ratio continues to improve, sets industry benchmark at 47.05%
*Growth of impairment charges curtailed to 7.56%; totals Rs 17.997 billion
*Provision cover further strengthened to 63.03%; net NPL ratio improves to 1.83%
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon Group has achieved characteristically equitable growth for the nine months ending 30th September 2021, despite a slowing down in some key contributors in the third quarter of the year.
The Group, comprising the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC – Sri Lanka’s largest private sector bank – its subsidiaries and an associate, has reported a gross income of Rs 120.050 billion for the period, an improvement of 5.66% over the corresponding nine months of 2020, with the third quarter recording a growth of 4.34% in comparison with the 6.34% growth achieved for the first half of 2021.
Interest income, the biggest component of gross income, grew by 3.43% to Rs 96.227 billion, improving on the 3.20% growth achieved up to June 2021, and interest expenses continued to decline, albeit at a lower rate than in the first half of the year, the Group said. Consequently, interest expenses reduced by 13.42% to Rs 48.693 billion for the nine months, enabling the Group to post net interest income of Rs 47.533 billion, recording an increase of 29.18%.
Among the other principal contributors to gross income, fee and commission income grew by 32.21% to Rs 11.002 billion; net other operating income improved by 13.91% to Rs 7.808 billion assisted by higher exchange gains; net gains from de-recognition of financial assets contributed Rs 2.976 billion and net gains from trading amounted to Rs 2.037 billion, an increase of 171.95%. Net gains from de-recognition of financial assets witnessed a decline of 36.10% due to a reduction in profits from the sale of Treasury Bonds and Sovereign Bonds by Rs 1.417 billion, in comparison with the third quarter of last year, the Group said.
Total operating income at Rs 68.951 billion for the nine months, reflected a growth of 23.53% and the Group’s noteworthy achievement of restricting impairment charges to Rs 17.997 billion during the period under review, an increase of only 7.56% as compared with a 47.44% growth at the end of the first half of 2021, resulted in net operating income growing by 30.37% to Rs 50.954 billion. With the Group’s consistency in curtailing growth in operating expenses to 8.39% (8.42% for the first half of 2021), total operating expenses for the nine months increased by Rs 1.647 billion to Rs 21.280 billion.
Consequently, operating profit before VAT on financial services grew by a significant 52.55% to Rs 29.674 billion for the nine months, improving on the 41.09% growth recorded at the end of the first six months of the year.
Commercial Bank Chairman Justice K. Sripavan noted that these results demonstrate Commercial Bank’s strong ability to maintain healthy and balanced growth in core banking operations to mitigate the impacts of fluctuations in income from fee-based operations and other operating income. “Each quarter sees the Bank maintaining or improving on its key performance ratios to become even more financially stable and better-positioned to continue its mission as a systemically important bank,” he said.
The Bank’s Managing Director S. Renganathan elaborated that Commercial Bank continued to improve its CASA ratio, cost-income ratio, provisioning for impairment and provision cover in the period reviewed, disclosing that charges for impairment and other losses had in fact declined by a remarkable 41.87% in the third quarter. “These are excellent indicators of our unrelenting focus on banking fundamentals even as we continue to provide concessions to our customers in consideration of the difficult circumstances that prevail,” Renganathan said. “It is most noteworthy that in terms of profitability, the Group has also surpassed its 2020 full-year performance at the end of the third quarter of 2021 while improving its interest margins, return on assets and return on equity.”
The Group paid Rs 4.608 billion as value added tax on financial services for the nine months, which was up 50.55% in line with the growth in profits. As a result, profit before tax for the period amounted to Rs 25.067 billion, an improvement of 52.90%. Income tax increased by 15.92% to Rs 6.049 billion, the relatively lower rate attributable to the reduction in the income tax rate. Consequently, profit after tax for the nine months reviewed grew by 70.17% to Rs 19.017 billion. Notably, this is Rs 1.931 billion or 11.30% more than the Group’s net profit for the full year of 2020. Total taxes paid by the Group in respect of the nine months amounted to Rs 10.981 billion.
Business
SIA warns of 1,000 SME collapses, urges fair policies to protect Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The Solar Industries Association (SIA), representing over 1,000 companies and employing 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector, issued a stern warning recently regarding threats to the industry’s survival and the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. The association condemned recent regulatory instability and called for urgent policy reforms to avert economic and social crises.
The SIA categorically rejected the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) claim that rooftop solar installations caused the recent island-wide power outage, calling the accusation “baseless and misleading.”
“Public trust is eroded when accountability is misdirected,” the SIA stated. “We demand an independent, transparent investigation led by experts appointed by the Ministry or the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL). The CEB’s unilateral statements disregard the sector’s contributions and jeopardize Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition,” they said.
“While acknowledging the formation of a tariff determination committee, the SIA criticized its narrow focus on financial parameters, ignoring the sector’s socioeconomic value. Rooftop solar empowers businesses and households with energy independence, reduces grid strain, and supports climate goals. However, proposed volatile tariff structures risk destabilizing over 100,000 installations—primarily owned by middle-class families—and deter future investment,” they noted.
“A rigid, equation-based tariff system is unsustainable,” the association warned. “Sri Lanka needs a stable policy framework to attract long-term investments. For instance, retirees could invest EPF savings into solar projects, securing income while advancing national energy targets. Without urgent action, 1,000 SMEs and 40,000 jobs face collapse, with dire consequences for employment, energy security, and economic stability,” they pointed out.
SIA urged policymakers to establish an independent committee to investigate the power outage fairly, expand the tariff committee’s mandate to include socioeconomic and environmental benefits and implement predictable policies to safeguard SMEs, households, and investor confidence.
“Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads,” the SIA emphasized. “Protecting rooftop solar isn’t just about energy—it’s about livelihoods, economic resilience, and a sustainable future. We urge stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize both people and progress,: they emphasized.
Starting its promotional work for 2025, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) added another feather into its cap of endorsements, by being recognized as the most innovative Tourism Board promotion in Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) . In parallel to that, several other sub events were held. The OTM was held in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—India, from 30th January to 01st February 2025.Before OTM, the Global Village – Global Exchange & Trade Exhibition was held at the Surat International Exhibition & Convention Centre , Sarsana, Surat (Gujarat – India , from 25th to 27th January 2025. This travel fair was organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
Sri Lanka participated in both OTM and South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), held from 19th – 21st Feb 2025, in New Delhi, India . This was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to promote it’s potential as a unique travel destination, especially for the Indian counterparts, as SLTPB has identified India as the number one source market for Sri Lanka, tourism bringing the largest number of tourist arrivals to the destination.
SLT-MOBITEL has entered into a strategic partnership with Rush Lanka Group to provide exclusive SLT-MOBITEL Fibre connectivity solutions to their portfolio of luxury apartment developments in Colombo and the suburbs, enhancing the digital experience of all residents.
The agreement was signed between Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer of Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Group headquarters. Representatives from both companies also attended the ceremony.
Under the partnership, SLT-MOBITEL will serve as the exclusive digital service provider for five prestigious Rush Lanka developments including Street Rush Residencies and Rush Court 4 in Mt. Lavinia, Rush Tower 2, Rush Metropolis in Dehiwala, and Rush Court 5 in Colombo 14. The collaboration ensures residents will enjoy superior fibre connectivity speeds, enabling seamless digital experiences in modern smart homes. The partnership with the Rush Lanka Group aligns with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to offer ultra-fast, reliable connectivity solutions to residential developments. Delivering exclusive fibre connectivity to luxury apartments, SLT-MOBITEL ensures residents have access to world-class digital services that complement the living experience promised by Rush Lanka Group.
Powered by advanced fibre technology, SLT-MOBITEL network will provide the residences with seamless performance across digital activities. The SLT-MOBITEL Fibre backbone ensures lag-free experiences whether tenants are gaming online, attending virtual classes, working remotely, or streaming high-definition entertainment. SLT-MOBITEL Fibre will transform the lifestyles of all apartment users bringing greater convenience and superior quality of life.
Rush Lanka Group, established in 1992, is a property developer specializing in luxury and semi-luxury apartments.
Pakistan face patchwork New Zealand in first test of their new T20 era
Royal defeat S.Thomas’ by 4 wickets in 48th Mustangs Trophy encounter
‘Inch by inch’: Myanmar rebels close in on key military base in Chin State
-
Editorial7 days agoRanil roasted in London
-
Features7 days agoThe JVP insurrection of 1971 as I saw it as GA Ampara
-
Opinion6 days agoInsulting SL armed forces
-
News4 days agoAlfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Features7 days agoMr. JR Jayewardene’s passport
-
Features7 days agoAs superpower America falls into chaos, being small is beautiful for Sri Lanka
-
Opinion7 days agoBeyond Victory: sportsmanship thrives at Moratuwa Big Match
-
Features7 days agoMemorable moments during my years in Parliament