ComBank MD/CEO Sanath Manatunge honoured as ‘Diversity Champion’

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Mr Sanath Manatunge receives the WIM Top 10 Diversity Champions award.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Managing Director/CEO Mr Sanath Manatunge has been recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 Diversity Champions’ in Sri Lanka in 2024 for his leadership in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within Sri Lanka’s banking sector.

This prestigious recognition is part of the Top 10 Diversity Champion Awards Programme organised by Women in Management (WIM) in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, under the ‘Respectful Workplaces’ initiative.

The selection of the country’s Top 10 Diversity Champions was based on a rigorous process of evaluation by a panel of judges which included Mr Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for the World Bank and IFC.

Mr Manatunge’s unwavering commitment to an inclusive workplace has driven a profound cultural transformation at Commercial Bank, where every employee, regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, or orientation feels valued and empowered, the Bank said. His dedication to diversity and inclusion has positioned Commercial Bank as a beacon of equitable leadership, reshaping industry standards and setting a new benchmark for what it means to be a true champion of diversity.

Notably, Commercial Bank was recently ranked No 1 among Sri Lankan banks in the inaugural Corporate Happiness Index (CHI) of LMD magazine. The Bank was the highest-ranked bank in 14 of the 16 attributes used to compile the index, including the attributes of ‘Gender balance’ and ‘Workplace diversity.’

Under the guidance of Mr Manatunge, Commercial Bank has launched a series of innovative products and initiatives that emphasise customer experience and a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Mr Manatunge’s vision has driven the Bank to create inclusive financial solutions that cater to various customer needs and promote sustainability.

These initiatives include embracing a trilingual approach across all digital banking products; the launch of products for different customer segments including teenagers; the ‘Empower Her’ series of initiatives to support women’s financial independence and develop their financial literacy and entrepreneurial potential;  the launch Sri Lanka’s first Green Home Loans scheme; and the launch of ‘Commercial Bank  LEAP Global Linker’ – the platform that connects Sri Lankan SMEs to global markets, to name a few.

Commercial Bank’s efforts to promote gender balance has resulted in higher female representation in both corporate and senior management roles, which reflects the Bank’s dedication to providing equal opportunities for career advancement and fostering leadership pathways for women. Additionally, the Bank upholds equal pay standards, ensuring that there are no gender-based pay disparities and that female employees are remunerated fairly for their contributions across all roles.

Under Mr Manatunge’s leadership, Commercial Bank has also taken strategic steps to operate as a social enterprise, balancing financial success with a genuine contribution to society. This focus on marginalised communities and livelihood development ensures the Bank’s services create lasting, positive change. Through collaborations with like-minded organisations, the Bank reinforces its role in supporting community development with sustainable, impactful programmes.

Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World and has the highest market capitalization in the Banking Sector in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The Bank is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector, is a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon neutral bank. Commercial Bank operates a strategically located network of branches and automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 outlets in Bangladesh, a Microfinance company in Myanmar, and a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives. The Bank’s fully-owned subsidiary CBC Finance Ltd. also delivers a wide range of financial services via its own branch network.