ComBank leads SME lending for fifth consecutive year

Finance Ministry data shows bank accounted for more than 30% of total banking sector loans disbursed to SMEs

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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.