The first-ever Sri Lanka edition of Essentials of Modern Marketing by Prof. Philip Kotler, developed in cooperation with Kotler Impact Inc. and Deyo Consultancy and Advisory, was officially launched at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo recently. Sampath Bank is the only bank featured as a case study in this landmark publication, a distinction that celebrates the Bank’s commitment to harnessing innovation to address real human challenges while shaping the future of banking in Sri Lanka.
The case study spotlights Sampath Bank’s pioneering Touchless Cash Withdrawals, the first such service in Sri Lanka and among similar innovations in Asia, introduced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed to minimise physical contact at ATMs, the service enabled customers to withdraw cash using a QR code generated on the Bank’s WePay mobile app, eliminating the need to touch the machine. Initially offered to its own customers, the Bank later extended the service to users of other banks, reflecting its ethos of inclusivity and collective responsibility.
Commenting on this recognition, Tharaka Ranwala, Senior Deputy General Manager – Marketing and Life Lead Operations of Sampath Bank, said, “Marketing isn’t just about what you do but about what you do for people. At Sampath Bank, we believe that is where true marketing lives, in the space where we solve problems within our society, and in turn, those solutions drive our business to greater heights. Being featured in a publication that has shaped modern marketing thinking across the world affirms our unwavering commitment to innovation with purpose, and inspires us to keep creating experiences that transform lives.”
This innovation formed part of Sampath Bank’s long legacy of firsts that have redefined the banking landscape. From introducing extended banking hours and Sri Lanka’s first multi-point ATM network in the 1980s, to pioneering cardless cash withdrawals, virtual teller machines, and slip-less banking in recent years, the Bank has consistently placed customer convenience, safety, and sustainability at the heart of its progress.
Its inclusion in Kotler’s Essentials of Modern Marketing reflects how the initiative reshaped industry behaviour and consumer expectations well beyond the pandemic. Pioneering touchless withdrawals accelerated the adoption of contactless technologies in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, setting new benchmarks for safety, accessibility, and digital trust. The service’s rapid uptake demonstrated how empathetic innovation can deepen customer loyalty and drive market differentiation, turning a health-driven necessity into a sustained competitive advantage.
Sampath Bank’s inclusion in this globally respected publication reflects its unwavering dedication to driving progress through meaningful innovation, while continuing to serve as a trusted partner in the advancement of the nation.
Photo Caption: Image 1
At the launch of Essentials of Modern Marketing – Sri Lanka Edition, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary, Ministry of Education (fourth from left) presents the publication to Ms. Anjali Goonetilake, Senior Manager – Marketing, Sampath Bank PLC, while Mr. Denzil Perera, CEO of Deyo Consultancy and National Representative, Kotler Impact (Sri Lanka and Maldives) (second from right) presents a token to Mr. Tharaka Ranwala, Senior Deputy General Manager – Marketing and Life Lead Operations, Sampath Bank PLC, as Prof. Nalin Abeysekara of the Open University of Sri Lanka (second from left) and Mr. Janaka Sooriyaarachchi, Brand Manager, Sampath Bank PLC (first from left) look on.
