ComBank first to enable 3DS authentication for LankaPay JCB cards

From left: JCB Card International (South Asia) MD/Regional Head Yuichiro Kadowaki, Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge and LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva 

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first bank in Sri Lanka to enable 3D Secure (3DS) authentication for e-commerce transactions on the LankaPay JCB National Card Scheme, significantly strengthening the security and global usability of the card. 

This milestone makes the LankaPay JCB card a fully empowered e-commerce instrument, allowing cardholders to shop securely at millions of merchants.  The latest addition to the bank’s robust 3DS-enabled card portfolio ensures that national scheme users benefit from the same high-level authentication and fraud protection extended across Commercial Bank’s international card offerings. Commercial Bank was the first bank in Sri Lanka to introduce 3DS authentication for global card brands. 

The development is particularly impactful for Sri Lankan consumers who favour the LankaPay JCB card for overseas transactions due to its highly competitive cross-border charges. The new capability combines cost efficiency with global reach and internationally accepted security standards, elevating the national card scheme to a new level of relevance in digital commerce.

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said the initiative reflected the bank’s responsibility as a national financial institution to actively advance Sri Lanka’s digital payment ecosystem. 

“At Commercial Bank, we see technological leadership not as an option, but as integral part of our core business. While we continue to introduce global standards across our international card portfolio, we are equally committed to strengthening Sri Lanka’s national payment schemes. Enabling 3D Secure authentication for the LankaPay JCB card is a significant step in empowering local cardholders with payment solutions that are secure, globally accepted and on par with the best in the world,” he said.

LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva described the launch as a defining moment in the evolution of Sri Lanka’s National Card Scheme. 

“This capability significantly strengthens the value proposition of the national card by combining enhanced security with global usability. Working closely with Commercial Bank, we have ensured that LankaPay cardholders can now transact online with confidence, anywhere in the world, marking a proud milestone for Sri Lanka’s national payment infrastructure,” he said.

JCB Card International (South Asia) Managing Director and Regional Head Yuichiro Kadowaki said: “JCB is proud to partner Commercial Bank and LankaPay in bringing globally trusted, Japanese-backed payment security to the Sri Lankan market. This integration not only enables Sri Lankan cardholders to shop seamlessly across international e-commerce platforms, but also opens access to exclusive JCB offers and promotions worldwide.”

The integration of 3DS technology, provided through a strategic partnership with CardinalCommerce, a world-renowned authentication leader, allows LankaPay JCB cardholders to shop at millions of online merchants worldwide. By utilising the “J/Secure” protocol (JCB’s 3DS standard), Commercial Bank has introduced an essential layer of protection. During checkout, customers are verified through multi-factor authentication, such as a one-time password (OTP), ensuring that only the legitimate cardholder can authorise a purchase. This drastically reduces the risk of unauthorised use and gives Sri Lankan consumers the confidence to participate in the global digital economy, the bank said.