Corporate Social Responsibility

Empowering Sri Lanka - Our Commitment Beyond Banking

At Commercial Bank, banking is our business, but enriching lives is our purpose. By blending advanced technology, progressive financial management, and a deeply people-oriented philosophy, we have proudly stood as Sri Lanka’s leading bank year after year.

True leadership, however, extends beyond financial statements. Through the Commercial Bank Social Responsibility Trust, we step outside our traditional business boundaries to identify critical national needs. We are dedicated to uplifting Sri Lankan communities creatively, socially, culturally, and ethically, ensuring our success translates into progress for the entire nation.

Governance

The Commercial Bank Social Responsibility Trust is governed by a dedicated board of trustees ensuring maximum transparency, strategic alignment, and impactful execution of our funds.

How We Allocate Our Funds

We pledge up to 1% of our annual profit after tax to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives every single year. To date, this sustained funding model has enabled us to invest over LKR 1.5 billion in various community development projects across Sri Lanka.

To ensure sustainable development and long-term national growth, our CSR funds are strategically divided, with a primary focus on empowering the next generation through education.

Reflecting our deep belief in empowering the next generation, more than 70% of our total fund, amounting to over LKR 1 billion has been dedicated entirely to education

Main Objectives of the Trust

Guided by our official Trust Deed, our initiatives focus on five core pillars of sustainable development:

• To support and advance further education across Sri Lanka.
• To assist in upgrading and improving national health services.
• To actively conserve and enhance the natural environment.
• To serve and uplift local communities in times of need.
• To preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.

Our Key Impact Projects

We have structured our national footprints into distinct areas of impact, ensuring that every project creates lasting, measurable change.

Education

We believe education is the greatest equalizer and that the country’s future depends on providing equal access to opportunities. Driven by this vision, we launched “ComBank Akshara”, a unified identity that brings all our wide-ranging educational CSR projects under a single framework representing knowledge, learning, and opportunity. Through “ComBank Akshara”, we aim to bridge the digital divide, and equip the next generation for the demands of a modern, tech-driven global economy.

• Digital Infrastructure in Schools: Provided over 400 fully equipped IT labs to underserved schools, fostering digital literacy across rural communities.
• STEM Classrooms: Established 198 STEM classrooms to align local education with global tech trends and future workforce needs.
• Math Labs: Established 129 Math Labs to improve logical thinking and quantitative abilities through practical, interactive resources.
• 'Ganitha Saviya' Math Support National Program: Partnered with the Sasnaka Sansada Foundation to sponsor intensive mathematics support programs in underserved areas with high failure rates, providing students with targeted coaching to improve academic outcomes and complement our Math Labs initiative. 
• Coding & Tech Leadership: Launched 100 school coding clubs educating over 20,000 students to prepare them for competitive digital careers.
• 'Coolest Projects Sri Lanka' Initiative: Powered in partnership with the STEMUP Educational Foundation and the Raspberry Pi Foundation (UK), this initiative provides a premier national platform for young innovators to design technology-driven solutions (AI, robotics, sustainability) for real-world problems, giving local students global exposure.
• Empowering Future Tech Leaders: Supported over 3,000 youth in enhancing their IT careers via free, certified CISCO Networking Academy courses.
• AWS Cloud Technician Training: Created a free, 3-month full-time online training initiative, equipping 62 individuals with the professional and technical skills needed for entry-level cloud careers.
• Online Learning Platform: Modernized teaching spaces via the ‘Sipnena’ smart school project for distance learning and trained over 1,000 teachers in digital learning delivery.
• Higher Education Scholarships: Awarded university scholarships to over 350 deserving undergraduates entering local universities

Healthcare 

• From emergency response to preventative care, we actively support the state healthcare system and vulnerable communities.
• Hospital Infrastructure: Donated essential life-saving equipment and upgraded facilities in more than 100 government hospitals island-wide.
• Kidney Disease Prevention: Distributed 5,000-liter water storage tanks to 75 families in Ginnoruwa, drastically improving clean water accessibility in chronic kidney disease (CKD) high-risk zones.
• 'Adopt an Ambulance' Initiative: Sponsored two fully equipped ambulances in partnership with the 1990 Suwasariya Foundation to bolster national emergency medical services.
  
  

Environment

• We are committed to preserving Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems through scientifically backed, long-term conservation projects. 
• 'Life to Our Beaches' Initiative: Partnered with Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) and the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to "adopt" and maintain a 500-meter stretch of the Kalutara beach. The bank funds the ongoing clean-up and upkeep while providing a sustainable livelihood to a local caretaker selected from a low-income family.
• Coral Reef Initiative: Embarked on a 5-year partnership with Biodiversity Sri Lanka for the “Life to Our Coral Reefs” project, restoring threatened marine ecosystems in the Kayankerni Marine Sanctuary following strict IUCN guidelines
• Koggala Lagoon Restoration: Implemented an innovative mangrove planting strategy using mud-filled barrels to combat shoreline erosion while supporting local eco-tourism.
• Sea Turtle Conservation: Partnered with Wildlife and Ocean Resource Conservation (WORC) to protect nests and raise community awareness, successfully releasing over 85,000 sea turtles since 2019.
• Urban Air Quality: Completed a dedicated gardening project growing carbon dioxide-absorbent trees at the National Hospital to mitigate urban air pollution.
• Herpetology Research: Supported critical research with the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, leading to the groundbreaking discovery of a new endemic snake species named in honor of our support: Indotyphlops ComBank.
• Vocational & Income-Generating Skills: Partnered with the Vocational Training Authority to secure over 200 construction sector jobs for early school leavers, and sponsored a full-time mobile repair program for 78 underprivileged students.
  
  

Community and Social Well-being

• From emergency response to preventative care, we actively support the state healthcare system and vulnerable communities.
• Cyclone “Ditwah” Recovery ('Rebuild Together' Initiative): In a historic commitment to standing with the nation when it matters most, the Bank pledged over Rs. 125 million toward national recovery and resilience. This major effort included:
  -A Rs. 110 million direct donations to the government’s Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund to accelerate countrywide rebuilding.
  -Partnering with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) to fully fund and sponsor the revamp of the Risk Info Spatial Data Portal, moving the country toward proactive, data-driven disaster risk management.
  -Facilitating the cleanup of affected schools and distributing essential learning stationery to help children safely return to classrooms.
  -Deploying immediate relief via the Sri Lanka Air Force to distribute essential food and dry rations to over 5,000 flood-affected families.
•  UNICEF Early Childhood Partnership: Partnered with UNICEF Sri Lanka on the high-impact national initiative, “Reaching the most marginalized with quality preschool education.” Under this project, the Bank fully refurbished the physical infrastructure, upgraded classrooms, and provided quality furniture and age-appropriate learning materials for the Muthukumarana Preschool at Madagama in the Monaragala District, ensuring a safe, equitable, and play-based early learning environment.
• Agricultural & Rural Support: Contributed Rs. 5 million in agricultural machinery for the “Thuru Mithuru Nawa Ratak” project and provided specialized milk containers to dairy farmers in the Northern Province.
• Kilinochchi Railway Station Reconstruction: Executed as one of the Bank's single largest infrastructure CSR commitments, completely rebuilding the Kilinochchi Railway Station along the Northern railway line. This landmark initiative restored vital transportation links to post-conflict northern communities and supported long-term regional socio-economic growth
• Access to Safe Drinking Water: Facilitated the successful implementation of over 50 drinking water projects, providing sustainable access to clean and safe water for schools, universities, religious institutions, hospitals, and government establishments nationwide.
  
  

Cultural Heritage Preservation

We take pride in honoring Sri Lanka's rich history, ensuring historical landmarks are preserved for generations to come.

• Sri Pada Stairway Restoration: Upgraded and restored the historic pedestrian pathways leading to the sacred peak.
• Kiriwehera Museum: Sponsored and built a dedicated museum facility at the Kiriwehera historical site in Katharagama to preserve invaluable religious and cultural artifacts.