Bank of Ceylon (BOC) recorded a profit before tax of Rs. 94.1 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, reinforcing its position as one of Sri Lanka’s leading financial institutions amid improving business momentum and investor confidence.
The state-owned bank reported profit after tax of Rs. 58.7 billion and contributed Rs. 60.1 billion in direct taxes to the Government during the period. Total assets reached Rs. 5.9 trillion, while deposits increased to Rs. 4.8 trillion and gross loans and advances stood at Rs. 2.9 trillion.
Net interest income rose by 10 per cent year on year to Rs. 169.2 billion, supported by disciplined balance-sheet management. Net fee and commission income advanced by 13 per cent to Rs. 19 billion, driven by transactions across cards, retail banking, digital payments and remittances. Total operating income grew by 10 per cent to Rs. 198.9 billion.
BOC Chairman Kavinda de Zoysa attributed the performance to the bank’s established customer relationships, strategic execution and financial discipline. He emphasised continued support for small and medium-sized enterprises, business revival and broader financial inclusion, alongside improvements in customer service and technology.
General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Y. A. Jayathilaka highlighted operational efficiency, asset quality and digital transformation as strategic priorities, including the development of BOC Flex, Tap & Pay and SmartPay QR services.
The bank also reported a net Stage 3 loan ratio of 4.97 per cent and a total capital adequacy ratio of 16.73 per cent, reflecting its focus on resilience and regulatory strength.
Further bolstering market confidence, Fitch Ratings upgraded BOC’s national long-term rating to AA+(lka), with a Stable Outlook. Its Rs. 30 billion Basel III-compliant Tier II debenture issue was oversubscribed, marking a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s capital market.
BOC said it remains committed to supporting economic activity and expanding access to banking services nationwide.
