Commercial Bank of Ceylon has achieved a historic milestone by securing the largest-ever FinanceAsia Awards haul by a Sri Lankan bank, reaffirming its leadership and excellence across the country’s banking sector.
The Bank was named Best Bank in Sri Lanka for the 15th consecutive year at the FinanceAsia Awards 2026, while also winning six additional prestigious honours — the highest number of awards received by a Sri Lankan bank at the event.
Alongside the Best Bank title, Commercial Bank was recognised as Best Bank for SMEs, Best Bank for Use of Technology, Best Islamic Finance House, Best Sustainable Bank, Best Private Bank and Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka. The recognition highlights the Bank’s strong performance and leadership across multiple segments of financial services.
Considered one of Asia-Pacific’s most respected financial industry award programmes, the FinanceAsia Awards celebrate institutions demonstrating excellence in financial performance, innovation, customer service, strategic growth, sustainability and resilience. The 2026 edition marked the 30th anniversary of the awards, evaluating banks on their overall contribution to economic development and their ability to adapt to evolving market conditions.
“Recognition at globally respected award programmes such as the FinanceAsia Awards further strengthens our standing among leading regional and international peers, while affirming our performance in financial strength, innovation, customer service and sustainability,” said Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director and CEO of Commercial Bank.
He added that the achievement enhances stakeholder confidence and reinforces customer trust in the Bank’s ability to deliver consistent value across diverse areas of banking.
The awards were accepted on behalf of Commercial Bank by Mr Chinthaka Dharmasena, Assistant General Manager – Services, and Mr Krishan Gamage, Deputy General Manager – Information Technology (Operations), at the gala ceremony held in Hong Kong on 24 June 2026.
FinanceAsia highlighted that the 2026 awards recognised institutions that demonstrated strong commercial and technical capabilities while delivering positive outcomes during 2025 despite challenging and rapidly changing market conditions.
Commercial Bank remains the first Sri Lankan bank to surpass a market capitalisation of US$1 billion and the first bank in the country to be included among the Top 1000 Banks of the World. With the highest capital base among Sri Lankan banks, the institution is the country’s largest private sector lender and the leading provider of financing to the SME sector.
Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank continues to be recognised as Sri Lanka’s most awarded and respected banking institution, while maintaining its position as a leader in digital innovation and the country’s first fully carbon-neutral bank.
Sampath Bank Launches Google Pay, Expanding Access to Global Contactless Payments in Sri Lanka
Sampath Bank PLC has introduced Google Pay for all Mastercard and Visa Credit and Debit Cardholders, marking a significant step forward in Sri Lanka’s digital payment landscape. The initiative enables customers to access fast, secure and globally accepted tap-to-pay capabilities through Android devices, supporting the growing demand for convenient mobile-first financial solutions.
With mobile wallets transforming the way consumers manage and use their finances, particularly among digitally connected customers and frequent travellers, Sampath Bank’s Google Pay integration allows Cardholders to digitise their Visa and Mastercard Credit and Debit Cards and make seamless payments across in-store, in-app and online platforms.
The service eliminates the need to carry physical cards while providing access to millions of merchants worldwide. It also supports Sri Lanka’s transition towards a secure and efficient contactless payment ecosystem, aligning with global digital payment trends and evolving customer expectations.
Commenting on the launch, Darshin Pathinayake, Chief Business Intelligence Officer at Sampath Bank, said, “Digital adoption today is driven by how intuitively financial services integrate into daily routines. Customers expect experiences that are secure, responsive and globally relevant without added complexity. Google Pay enables Sampath Cardholders to transact with confidence while staying seamlessly connected to their finances, where banking becomes a natural extension of everyday life rather than a separate interaction.”
Every transaction made through Google Pay is protected by advanced tokenisation technology, which replaces sensitive card details with secure digital identifiers. This ensures customer information remains protected while delivering a fast and seamless payment experience.
Backed by Sampath Bank’s strong digital infrastructure and integrated with Google’s global payments ecosystem, the solution provides customers with a reliable and scalable payment experience across both local and international environments.
Chirath Samarasekara, Head of Card Centre at Sampath Bank, noted that card usage is increasingly moving beyond traditional physical formats towards flexible digital payment solutions.
“Google Pay enhances the everyday utility of SampathCards by enabling a consistent payment experience across multiple channels and geographies. Our Cardholders can now benefit from tap-to-pay convenience locally, secure online transactions and the freedom to transact globally without disruption,” he said.
The launch further strengthens Sampath Bank’s commitment to digital innovation, customer convenience and the continued development of Sri Lanka’s contactless payment ecosystem.
Commercial Bank Makes History with Record FinanceAsia Awards Haul by a Sri Lankan Bank
