COLOMBO, Oct 2 (ePRESS) – The sustainability leadership of Commercial Bank of Ceylon came into the global spotlight when Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking, Hasrath Munasinghe, spoke at the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) sessions held alongside the UN General Assembly in New York.
The forum drew over 500 delegates from 69 countries. Mr. Munasinghe, who is also a trustee of the Bank’s CSR Trust and a board director of the UNGC Network in Sri Lanka, represented the country at the Asia & Oceania Leadership Round Table, where officials from 14 nations shared insights.
In his remarks, he described the Asia-Pacific region as a biodiversity hotspot with rich human and natural resources. He said this creates opportunities for investment in areas such as social enterprise, sustainability bonds, climate transition, biodiversity, AI-driven technology, and gender-focused projects.
He noted that Commercial Bank has integrated sustainability into its core operations, setting benchmarks for responsible banking. He also highlighted initiatives in climate financing, energy transition, and gender-smart finance.
UNGC praises Sri Lanka’s voice
In a statement after the event, the UNGC Sri Lanka Network said it was “delighted” to see Mr. Munasinghe bring Sri Lanka’s perspective to a high-level regional dialogue. The UNGC added that the conversations showed a shift from compliance to co-creation, proving that Asia and Oceania are shaping the global sustainability agenda.
Mr. Munasinghe also took part in the UN’s SDG Moment Forum, presided over by Secretary General António Guterres and attended by Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, and several world leaders.
During the week-long UN meetings, he also held discussions with senior UN officials including Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary General and CEO of UNGC, and David Atkin, CEO of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Commercial Bank’s sustainability record
Commercial Bank is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon neutral bank and the first corporate to host a Sustainability Summit. It has introduced IFRS S1 and S2 reporting, received IFC recognition for CAFI reporting, and partnered with the IFC on a Climate Transition Plan.
The Bank has also invested heavily in renewable energy financing, SME development, and women’s entrepreneurship. Its strong ESG reporting practices and multiple international awards underline its leadership in sustainable banking.
Governance of sustainability is built into the Bank’s structure, with oversight from the CEO, Board, and Executive Sustainability Committee. Sustainability-linked metrics now extend across all operations including credit, risk, finance, IT, HR, procurement, logistics, and digital banking.
