ComBank advances ForwardTogether agenda with event on sustainable business transformation

Anchored in its long-term commitment to create a sustainable future for Sri Lanka and beyond, Commercial Bank of Ceylon has advanced its ‘ForwardTogether’ sustainability journey by hosting “ForwardTogether 2026: Partnering for a Sustainable Corporate Future,” a focused engagement designed to translate sustainability dialogue into practical action with customers.

Held at the Lotus Ballroom of the Shangri-La Colombo, the event brought together a curated audience of Corporate and Personal Banking customers, senior representatives of the Bank, and sustainability specialists from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Translating vision into action and building on the momentum of its landmark national Sustainability Summit, ForwardTogether 2026 was conceived as a sub-initiative under the Bank’s wider ForwardTogether platform, with a sharper emphasis on customer partnership, capacity building and operationalising outcomes between Summit editions, the Bank said.

The session was designed as a high-level engagement to share global and local perspectives on how sustainability is reshaping business competitiveness, investment decisions and long-term resilience. It underscored the growing importance of partnerships between banks and customers as expectations from regulators, markets and investors evolve, and as climate considerations increasingly influence economic outcomes.

A key highlight of the programme was a technical presentation by Ms Quyen Thuc Nguyen, Senior Industry Specialist and Global Product Lead at IFC, titled Climate Change Risks and Green Investment Opportunities. Drawing on global experience, the session offered practical insights into how businesses can reduce risk exposure, improve operational efficiency and unlock sustainable investment opportunities while strengthening long-term value creation.

The event also featured a panel discussion that brought together Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank, Professor Ajith De Alwis of the University of Moratuwa, and Ms Quyen Thuc Nguyen of IFC. Moderated by Dr Gayashika Fernando of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, the discussion explored the role of partnerships, innovation and responsible finance in accelerating sustainable corporate transformation in Sri Lanka, highlighting the need to move from strategy and measurement to action and collaboration.

The ForwardTogether theme was introduced in 2025 by Commercial Bank as a collaborative national platform to convene policymakers, business leaders, development partners and civil society around Sri Lanka’s sustainability and climate agenda. Since then, the Bank has sought to carry that collective commitment forward through continued engagements that deepen impact. The Bank said ForwardTogether 2026 reflects this intent, reinforcing the Bank’s belief that meaningful progress on climate action and sustainable development depends on close collaboration between financial institutions and the real economy. 

ForwardTogether 2026 is closely aligned with the Bank’s ongoing work to embed sustainability into its core business strategy. As outlined in its Annual Report, sustainability at Commercial Bank is guided by a structured three-pillar approach, with climate action as a central strategic priority. In this context, the Bank is developing a comprehensive Climate Transition Plan aligned with national climate ambitions and global best practice, recognising that its climate impact extends beyond its own operations to include emissions associated with its financing activities. 

Through its strategic partnership with IFC as knowledge partner, Commercial Bank has adopted the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials methodology to assess financed emissions across its portfolios, enabling deeper insight into transition opportunities among selected customers. Platforms such as ForwardTogether are intended to bridge this analysis with customer-facing engagement, supporting clients to understand transition pathways, identify green opportunities and align investments with more sustainable business models.

Initiatives under the ForwardTogether umbrella are designed to make sustainability practical, relevant and value-creating for customers. By combining global expertise, local context and long-standing customer relationships, Commercial Bank continues to position itself not only as a provider of finance, but as a trusted partner and catalyst for sustainable economic transformation.

Through ForwardTogether, Commercial Bank is strengthening its leadership in sustainable banking by supporting customers, communities and the wider economy in progressing towards a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.

Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., and was also 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, is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector.  Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded Bank in Sri Lanka. 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.