Corporate Social Responsibility

Our commitment towards Sri Lanka

Banking is our business. Making it the most people oriented, technologically advanced organization, providing up to the minute products and services, with superlative financial management have enabled Commercial Bank, to be Sri Lanka’s leading bank year after year. And beyond financial responsibilities, Commercial Bank has chartered new territories by identifying needs and providing just the right kind of service when required. The Commercial Bank Social Responsibility Trust, founded for this purpose, has reached out to the core to uplift creatively, socially, culturally and ethically in an outstanding manner.

Our commitment for the planet

Extending beyond the borders of its financial domain, Commercial Bank is involved as a participating financial institution in the E Friends loan scheme. Partnered with the Japan bank for international corporation who supplied the funds, loans were granted at concessionary rates to motivate companies to be more environment conscious. Projects such as reducing emission, improving worker safety etc.... were financially assisted with easy pay loan schemes. The technical transfer assistance scheme also contributed in controlling emission in plants, water treatment, waste minimization etc....

CSR trustees

• Chairman
• Managing Director / Group Chief Executive Officer
• Director
• Group Chief Financial Officer
• Group Chief Marketing Officer

Allocation of CSR funds – Sector Wise

• Education - 70% (Approximately)
• Healthcare - 05% (Approximately)
• Community - 20% (Approximately)
• Other Projects - 05% (Approximately)

Main objectives as stated in the trust deed

• To support further education in Sri Lanka
• To assist in improving health services in Sri Lanka
• To preserve and improve the environment
• To support community and provide community services
• To assist in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka
• To undertake other charitable activities decided by the Trust

Main projects

1. Donated over 200 IT labs to deserving schools
2. Launched ‘Smart Schools’ initiative facilitating the smart teaching process and aligning with global trends at selected schools.
3. Launched ‘Sipnena’ online platform for distance learning
4. Launched “Math Labs” to stimulate the mathematical and analytical skills of school children
5. Provided Scholarships to over 350 undergraduates.
6. Provided critical care equipment and infrastructure facilities to over 65 government hospitals
7. Pioneered funding a successful research, on preventing and mitigating Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown origin (CKDu), by providing 5000 litre domestic rainwater harvesting tanks to 109 families in Ginnoruwa, Mahiyangana area.
8. Launched STEM education in government schools by establishing 100 coding clubs and trained more than 100 students as qualified hardware technicians by awarding Cisco IT Essentials certificates to them.
9. Introduced Vocational Training to government schools in collaboration with Vocational Training Authority and provided more than 100 jobs to early school leavers in the construction industry of Sri lanka.
10. A mangrove planting project was launched around Koggala lagoon to prevent the erosion of the land belonging to 21 islands located there in collaboration with the students and teachers in schools of Koggala.
11. Conservation of sea turtles ( an endangered species ) at Panama beach, was commenced partnering with Environmentalist Dhanushka Mahanama and more than 5000 creatures were released to deep sea by utilizing the natural methodology.
12. Launched a gardening project in the National Hospital by growing CO2 absorbent trees to mitigate the air pollution prevalent in the Townhall area.
13. Pioneered a research on blind snakes, enabling the renowned herpetologist Mendis Wickramasinghe to find 39 new Typhlops, a genus of burrowing snakes endemic to Srilanka.
14. When the country was hit by disastrous floods, the CSR Unit distributed essential items ( kitchen utensils, mattresses, mosquito nets etc) to more than 6000 families thereby enabling them to start their life afresh.
15. Launched several projects like restoration of the stairway of Sri pada and construction of a museum in Kiriwehera, Katharagama with a view to preserving our cultural heritage.