People and Planet First: the strategy behind ComBank’s success

At Commercial Bank of Ceylon, success has always been powered by people, and guided by purpose.

- In conversation with Mr. Kanishka Ranaweera, Deputy General Manager - Human Resources Management.

Mr. Kanishka Ranaweera, Deputy General Manager - Human Resources Management

As Sri Lanka's largest private sector bank pursues its 2025 goals of expanding volume, elevating value, and embracing versatility, human capital remains the most decisive enabler of growth. The Bank's people strategy is both inclusive and forward-looking, linking performance with wellbeing, and business achievement with environmental and social responsibility.At the helm of this transformative agenda is Mr. Kanishka Ranaweera, the Bank's new Deputy General Manager - Human Resources Management, whose cross-sector experience spans a wide range of industries. In this interview, he discusses how Commercial Bank's HR philosophy translates into measurable impact across its 5,400-strong workforce, creating one of the country’s most progressive and resilient workplace cultures.

Excerpts:

Q: What is your immediate priority as DGM Human Resources Management, and how does HR at Commercial Bank distinguish itself from peers?

Our foremost priority within Human Resources Management is to ensure that the Bank's people strategy remains fully aligned with corporate ambitions, positioning HR as a strategic driver of business outcomes rather than a purely administrative function. Commercial Bank's distinct advantage lies in its philosophy of nurturing long-term careers instead of filling short-term roles. The scale and depth of the Bank's investment in human capital consistently exceed traditional industry practices.