Commercial Bank crowned Sri Lanka’s Best Bank and Best ESG Bank by Euromoney

Dual recognition underscores how ESG principles drive leadership in financial performance, sustainability and inclusive growth

Reaffirming its undisputed leadership in Sri Lanka’s banking landscape, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has secured two of the most coveted accolades at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, winning the titles of ‘Best Bank in Sri Lanka’ and ‘Best ESG Bank in Sri Lanka’ in a dual triumph directly rooted in its deeply embedded Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. 

In conferring the title of Best Bank in Sri Lanka, Euromoney highlighted Commercial Bank’s ability to combine scale, profitability and system-wide impact in a year of economic recovery, proving that purpose-driven ESG commitments actively power financial excellence. Euromoney noted the Bank’s industry-leading financial performance in 2025 with profit before tax exceeding Rs. 89.38 billion and total assets reaching Rs. 3.26 trillion. The Bank also maintained strong capital and funding positions, alongside a robust return on equity of 19.5% and one of the lowest cost-to-income ratios in the market. 

Justifying this recognition, the Bank demonstrated exceptional growth and market leadership, with loans surpassing Rs. 2.028 trillion and total assets expanding by 16.8%. It also became the first Sri Lankan bank to exceed US$ 1 billion in market capitalisation as ESG-focused operations continued to reinforce investor confidence. Digital innovation remained a key driver, with the introduction of Sri Lanka’s first Google Pay service and AI-powered SME credit underwriting, alongside international expansion through a representative office in Dubai’s DIFC. The Bank’s leadership in SME financing, asset quality and operational efficiency further solidified the success of its ESG-first strategy. 

The award for Best ESG Bank in Sri Lanka complements this top honor by recognising Commercial Bank’s comprehensive and deeply embedded approach to sustainable and responsible banking. Euromoney acknowledged the Bank’s leadership in green finance, including the issuance of a Rs. 15 billion Green Bond, the largest in Sri Lanka, to fund renewable energy, green buildings and sustainable transport projects. 

The Bank’s ESG credentials and overall institutional strength are further reinforced by its strong focus on financial inclusion, SME development and rural outreach. It accounts for 20% of market share in SME lending and has disbursed over Rs. 335 billion to the sector in 2025. Initiatives such as agency banking, ‘Bank on Wheels’ mobile services and targeted microfinance and agriculture lending initiatives like the ‘Dirishakthi Value Chain’ programme have expanded access to formal financial services across underserved communities. 

The Bank has also placed strong emphasis on women’s empowerment and inclusive banking, offering specialised products under its ‘Anagi’ brand and supporting thousands of women through financial literacy, skills development and health programmes. These efforts are complemented by significant investments in CSR, environmental conservation and community development, with initiatives spanning education, healthcare, climate action and disaster relief. Notably, the Bank’s “Trees for Tomorrow” reforestation project planted over 12,500 trees in 2025.

Established over three decades ago, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely regarded as the definitive benchmark of achievement in the global banking industry, recognising institutions that demonstrate leadership in innovation, performance and strategic vision.

Commercial Bank was the first Sri Lankan bank to achieve a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 billion. The Bank emerged as the No. 1 ranked Sri Lankan bank in the 2026 edition of the prestigious Top 1000 World Banks ranking published by The Banker magazine, UK. The Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, and is one of the largest private sector lenders in Sri Lanka. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial 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 majority stake in a fully-fledged Tier I Bank 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.