ComBank advances agri-modernisation efforts to boost paddy yields in Polonnaruwa

Reinforcing its longstanding commitment to empowering SMEs and advancing sustainable agriculture, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has embarked on another milestone initiative aimed at boosting paddy productivity and uplifting farmer livelihoods in the Polonnaruwa District, one of the Sri Lanka’s most vital rice-producing regions.

The Bank’s Development Credit Department, together with its Kaduruwela Branch, recently hosted the inaugural awareness programme titled “Enhancing Paddy Productivity and Farmer Livelihoods through Adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and High-Tech Agriculture in the Polonnaruwa District.”

Held at the Agbo Hotel, Giritale, the event brought together more than 120 farmers from eight divisional areas, representing the district’s diverse agricultural communities. This initiative is part of Commercial Bank’s broader vision to drive national food security, empower the rural economy, and support farmers through knowledge-sharing and sustainable agricultural solutions that foster long-term economic resilience.

This initiative was designed to address the persistent productivity gap in local paddy cultivation. While Polonnaruwa’s average yield currently stands at around 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare, agricultural experts estimate the potential yield at approximately six metric tonnes. To help bridge this gap, the programme focused on creating awareness about modern cultivation methods, responsible use of agro-chemicals, mechanisation, financial management, and environmental sustainability.

Among those who addressed the gathering were representatives of the Bank, the Department of Agriculture, the Eastern University, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka – North Central Region, A. Baur & Co. and Browns Agriculture. The sessions covered key topics such as the adoption of GAP principles, high-tech agricultural techniques, sustainable use of agro-inputs, and new technologies in paddy machinery.

The Bank said the initiative aims to position Polonnaruwa as a model district for sustainable, GAP-based paddy cultivation. It also seeks to promote financial inclusion among rural communities by connecting farmers with formal banking channels and customised financial solutions to fund mechanisation, crop diversification, and value-added processing.

Speaking about the programme, Mrs Mithila Shamini, Assistant General Manager – Personal Banking/SME at Commercial Bank said: “Agriculture is the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, and its transformation is central to our nation’s food security and rural prosperity. At Commercial Bank, we believe that empowering farmers through knowledge, technology, and financial inclusion is key to unlocking this transformation. Our initiative in Polonnaruwa is about more than improving yields – it is about strengthening livelihoods, modernising rural enterprise, and ensuring the sustainability of farming for future generations.”

Commercial Bank’s collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture of the Eastern University, the Department of Agriculture, A. Baur & Co., and Browns Agriculture reflects a holistic approach that unites financial expertise with agronomic knowledge and technological innovation. The Bank’s long-term vision is to help create “Agri Modernisation Villages” in partnership with academic and government institutions as hubs that demonstrate how modern, climate-smart, and economically viable agriculture can thrive in Sri Lanka.

The programme also underlines the Bank’s continuing efforts to promote responsible and inclusive banking. By working closely with the farming community, Commercial Bank aims to stimulate demand for agri-loans, mechanisation finance, and SME credit for rice millers, while deepening engagement and trust in the region. 

Through initiatives such as this, Commercial Bank said it continues to position itself as the leading private-sector bank championing national food security, agricultural modernisation, and the empowerment of Sri Lanka’s rural economy.

The first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 billion, Commercial Bank was also the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, and has the highest Tier I capital base among all Sri Lankan banks. The Bank is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector. Commercial Bank is also a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.

Commercial Bank operates a network of strategically located branches and automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 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 Ltd. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.

Photo caption:

The event in progress.