The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has once again underscored its standing as one of Sri Lanka’s most formidable financial institutions, winning six awards – the highest number won by a Sri Lankan bank at the 2026 Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Awards in Singapore – across three key segments.
Presented at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, the six-award haul spanned Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Corporate & Investment Banking, reflecting the Bank’s strength across customer segments, technology-led innovation, sustainability, and complex financial solutions.
In the Retail Banking category, Commercial Bank was named ‘Private Bank of the Year’ and ‘SME Bank of the Year,’ recognising both its sector-leading financial performance and its sustained leadership in supporting Sri Lanka’s SME sector. The Bank achieved a significant milestone in 2025, becoming the first private sector bank in the country to grow its loan book beyond Rs. 2 trillion, recording growth of Rs. 541 billion over 12 months while doubling its annual asset growth over the preceding year and leading peers across multiple key performance indicators. Its SME banking credentials are equally compelling, having been ranked the largest lender to the sector in Sri Lanka for five consecutive years by the Ministry of Finance.
The Bank’s commitment to innovation and sustainability was recognised in the Wholesale Banking segment, where it received the titles of ‘Sri Lanka Domestic AI Initiative of the Year’ and ‘Green Financing Bank of the Year’. The AI award acknowledges the Bank’s pioneering AI-powered SME credit underwriting solution, which has transformed credit evaluation processes, while the green financing accolade reflects its leadership in advancing sustainable lending and environmentally responsible banking practices.
In Corporate & Investment Banking, Commercial Bank won the awards for ‘Corporate Client Initiative of the Year’ and ‘Debt Deal of the Year,’ highlighting its advisory-led approach and execution capabilities. The Corporate Client Initiative award was presented for the impact of the Bank’s TradeLink platform, which has redefined trade finance for businesses, while the Debt Deal recognition was awarded for the Bank’s landmark Rs. 15 billion green bond issued in 2025 to fund sustainability-linked projects.
Commenting on these achievements, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank, said: “These awards are a powerful affirmation of the strength and balance of our strategy, one that is anchored in financial performance, deep customer relationships, technology-driven innovation and an unwavering commitment to sustainable growth.”
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is its breadth, spanning private banking, SME banking, AI-led transformation, green finance and sophisticated corporate transactions. It reflects the collective effort of our teams and the trust placed in us by our customers, and reinforces our role as a bank that not only leads in performance but also in shaping the future of banking in Sri Lanka and beyond.”
The Asian Banking & Finance Awards are among the region’s most respected platforms recognising excellence, innovation, and leadership in financial services. Commercial Bank’s performance this year is particularly significant, signalling a well-rounded and resilient franchise that demonstrates excellence in multiple domains.
The recognition provides independent regional validation of the Bank’s strategy and execution, strengthening its standing as Sri Lanka’s most awarded bank at the 2026 ABF Awards and as a leading Sri Lankan bank with robust capabilities across customer segments and financial services. For customers, the awards reinforce confidence in partnering with an institution acknowledged for service quality, innovation, and the ability to deliver sophisticated financial solutions, whether in private banking, SME development, corporate advisory, or sustainable finance.
The first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., and the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks and is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, the Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded bank in Sri Lanka, is a leader in digital innovation and is the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.
Commercial Bank operates more than 270 strategically-located branches and an extensive network of automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 21 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The bank’s fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.
Photo caption:
Commercial Bank representatives Mr Upul Perera – Head of Central System Support, Ms Ruvini Samarasinghe – Head of Corporate Branch, Ms Sonali Goonasekara – Chief Manager – Centre for Excellence and Mr Geehan Jayawickrama – Chief Manager – Corporate Banking Unit, with some of the awards won by the Bank at the Asian Banking and Finance Awards in Singapore.
