Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday, 16 December 2025 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has emerged as the country’s largest lender to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), retaining its position for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Finance Ministry’s Final Budget Position Report for 2024. The report shows that Commercial Bank disbursed Rs. 330.9 billion in SME loans in 2024, representing 30.3% of the Rs. 1.09 trillion provided by 16 State and private sector banks. This places the bank significantly ahead of all other institutions, leading the industry with SME lending that is 91% higher than that of the nearest competitor.
The bank’s support extended across agriculture, services, industries, and other sectors, with its most substantial contribution directed to industries.
Commercial Bank lent Rs. 266.8 billion to this sector alone, accounting for 47.8% of the Rs. 557.6 billion in total loans received by Sri Lanka’s industrial enterprises in 2024.
This performance underscores Commercial Bank’s sustained and strategic engagement to power the SME sector, a critical driver of employment, value creation, and economic stability.
Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said: “Our commitment to SMEs is rooted in the belief that their success is inseparable from the country’s economic future. In 2024, the bank’s SME-focused initiatives positively impacted over 8,700 businesses, driving job creation, community developmentb and economic inclusion. And as the country responds to the impact of the cyclone, Commercial Bank will continue to stand with SMEs, supporting their recovery and helping Sri Lanka rebuild.”
“The Finance Ministry confirmation that we remain the largest lender to SMEs for the fifth consecutive year is a direct result of this purpose-driven approach. We will continue to expand access to finance, deploy technology that accelerates SME growth, and provide the guidance and support needed for businesses to withstand challenges and scale sustainably,” he added.
In a statement, the bank said that it has maintained a robust approach to SME development through targeted lending, capacity building, advisory support, and digital enablement. This approach creates additional value for enterprises by strengthening business capabilities and supporting long-term sustainability, complemented by early engagement mechanisms through the bank’s dedicated Business Revival and Rehabilitation Unit, established to support enterprises showing signs of distress.
In addition, ComBank LEAP/GlobalLinker further strengthens SME growth by connecting businesses to new markets, partnerships, practical knowledge resources, and a wider ecosystem that supports scale and competitiveness.
Commercial Bank’s ongoing investment in SME transformation has been further strengthened by the rollout of Sri Lanka’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered SME Credit Underwriting Solution. This new system uses advanced machine learning and predictive analytics to assess SME credit requirements and identify opportunities based on behavioural and financial data.
With this scalable AI infrastructure in place, the bank is positioned to respond faster and more accurately to emerging SME needs, widening access to finance and reinforcing the sustainability of the sector.
Commercial Bank said its SME lending aligns with a long-term institutional strategy focused on promoting enterprise resilience, supporting domestic production, encouraging innovation, and empowering women-led and export-oriented businesses.
The bank continues to strengthen value chains, create market access opportunities, promote digital adoption, and deliver development interventions through initiatives such as Viyapara Diriya capacity-building programs.
Through consistent policy alignment, proactive innovation and a strong field presence, Commercial Bank said it has once again demonstrated its role as the country’s foremost catalyst for SME growth, reinforcing its contribution to national economic progress.
