The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has solidified its position as a leader in digital payments and financial technology by winning six prestigious awards at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026, including four Gold awards, one Silver, and one Merit award.
A notable highlight from this year’s event was the bank’s receipt of the overall Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Digital Payments (Banks)’, marking its second consecutive year of achieving this significant honor. This award, presented by LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd., symbolizes the highest accolade given to a financial institution demonstrating excellence in digital payment processing within Sri Lanka.
In addition to the overall Gold, the Commercial Bank earned Gold awards for ‘Financial Institution of the Year for Best Digital Payment Strategy’, ‘Most Innovative Financial Institution of the Year’—a title it has claimed for four consecutive years—and ‘Best Institution for Excellence in Customer Convenience (Banks) Category A.’
The bank also secured a Silver award for ‘Best LankaPay Card Enabler of the Year’ and a Merit award for ‘Best Institution for Financial Inclusivity (Banks) Category A.’
Mr. Sanath Manatunge, the Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank, remarked on the achievements, stating, “As we embark on our ambitious digital transformation journey, this is only the beginning. We take pride not only in the top award but also in the key Gold accolades in category A. This remarkable success is attributed to our dedicated team and loyal customers, whose support we greatly value.”
The Technnovation awards highlight the bank’s strong performance throughout 2025, particularly with regard to transaction volume increases across major national payment platforms, such as CEFTS and SLIPS, as well as through various digital channels. The bank’s ongoing commitment to expanding accessibility, enhancing convenience, and promoting secure electronic payment adoption is also recognized.
The accolades received at the 2026 awards reflect a year of notable innovations that have transformed the digital banking landscape in Sri Lanka. Key initiatives included the launch of the nation’s first Google Pay implementation, the introduction of an AI-driven credit underwriting model for SMEs, and the establishment of the ‘ComBank Shakthi’ agency banking model aimed at providing financial services to underserved communities.
The bank also unveiled the ‘TradeLink’ platform designed to facilitate trade finance processes for importers and exporters, achieving a global milestone by integrating LoungeKey access for UnionPay Asia Prestige cardholders.
In its efforts to support the SME sector, the Commercial Bank introduced the advanced PAX E700 Smart POS device, an all-in-one solution tailored for small and medium enterprises. Additionally, it launched Sri Lanka’s first Dynamic Currency Conversion service for e-commerce transactions and acted as the official IPG provider for the Pay Local app used for LankaQR transactions.
These efforts, combined with the bank’s ongoing leadership in interbank payment processing and the development of digital infrastructure, underscore its dedication to enhancing Sri Lanka’s national payment ecosystem in alignment with the goals of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
The Technnovation Awards, organized annually by LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd., honor financial institutions and service providers that excel in electronic payments, innovation, security, and customer-focused digital solutions, thereby contributing to the modernization and growth of the country’s payment network.
Commercial Bank stands as the first Sri Lankan bank to surpass a market capitalization of US$ 1 billion and was also the first to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks Globally. With the highest capital base among Sri Lankan banks, it remains the largest private sector lender and the foremost provider of financial services to the SME sector. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, it is recognized as the most respected and awarded bank in Sri Lanka, leading in digital innovation and being the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.
With a network of 272 strategically located branches and automated machines across the island, Commercial Bank boasts the widest international presence among Sri Lankan banks, operating 20 branches in Bangladesh, holding a majority stake in a fully-fledged Tier I Bank in the Maldives, managing a microfinance company in Myanmar, and maintaining a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Its subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also provide a range of financial services through their respective branch networks.
Photo caption: Senior representatives from Commercial Bank, led by Mr. Sharhan Muhseen, Chairman; Mr. Raja Senanayake, Deputy Chairman; and Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO, receiving the Overall Gold Award for Excellence in Digital Payments (Banks).
