Business magnate Dhammika Perera has partially divested his holdings in Commercial Bank of Ceylon, selling shares worth Rs. 5.5 billion yesterday.
The market recorded the transfer of 26.55 million voting shares of Commercial Bank at Rs. 195 per share through 39 crossings. In total, 29 million shares changed hands for Rs. 5.68 billion, representing 43% of the day’s impressive Rs. 13.3 billion market turnover.
Commercial Bank’s voting share closed at Rs. 203.25, marking an increase of Rs. 6.25 or 3% for the day.
Perera clarified that his stake in Commercial Bank is not a strategic investment but rather part of his trading portfolio.
As of end-June 2025, he held 39.2 million voting shares, representing a 2.5% stake, making him the 11th largest shareholder. At the end of 2024, he ranked 8th, with 55.2 million shares, amounting to a 3.66% stake.
Perera’s strategic banking interests remain in Sampath Bank and Pan Asia Bank.
