Business
Sampath Bank recognized with top honors for its innovative IT solutions

Continues to pioneer IT solutions in the Sri Lankan Banking and Finance industry
Sampath Bank was proud to be recognized at the NBQSA for the 9th consecutive year with several top honours for its innovative IT Solutions at the National Best Quality ICT Awards 2021 (NBQSA), which was held recently at the Sirimavo Bandaranayake Memorial Exhibition Centre, proving the bank is the pioneer in introducing State-of-Art IT solutions to the Banking and Finance industry in Sri Lanka.
NBQSA is a national level ICT competition organized by the Sri Lankan section of the British Computer Society (BCSSL), a leading professional society in the field of computers and information systems. Sampath Bank won the Gold Award for ‘Touchless Withdrawal’, the latest trend introduced by the bank as an innovative and preventive measure for the spread of Covid-19, under the Research and Development project category. The ‘Touchless Withdrawal’ solution was launched in August 2021 for the first time in Sri Lanka and possibly in the Asia Pacific region.
For this groundbreaking, innovative feature of ‘Touchless Withdrawal’, Sampath Bank PLC emerged ‘WINNER’ out of 17 countries at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards, hosted in Malaysia recently and currently stands as Sri Lanka’s only bank to have ever won an APICTA award. At the NBQSA 2021 ceremony, a special recognition was awarded for this victory in the presence of Hon. Minister Namal Rajapaksha.
Touchless Cash Withdrawal is a revolutionary digital solution to the Sri Lankan market. With this initiative, customers, and customers of all other banks in the country are now able to withdraw funds in their accounts and cards without even having to physically touch the machine, by visiting any of Sampath’s 450 ATMs located around the island. All they have to do is scan the QR code displayed on the ATM screen with the help of the Sampath WePay app.
Moreover, Sampath Bank was able to achieve the Merit Award for the ‘Blockchain Technology based Shared KYC Platform’ under the Research and Development project category and another Merit Award for the ‘Sampath Document Approval System’ under the In-house category.
Commenting on the bank’s achievements, Ajith Salgado – Group Chief Information Officer, Sampath Bank PLC, said, “As a banking and finance entity operating in these modern times, we at Sampath Bank always strive to stay ahead of IT and enhance the digital experience of our customers. That is why we’ve consciously dedicated our time and efforts to making steady progress in banking with technology. The recognition we’ve received is a testimony to that dedication and enthusiasm”
Sampath Bank is a 100% local bank that has deeply rooted itself in the hearts of the people of Sri Lanka. Established in 1987, the bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. It has introduced many firsts to the Sri Lankan banking sector including the introduction of ATMs to Sri Lanka, extended banking hours and slip-less banking to name a few. The Bank continues to steadily transform itself into a technology-driven financial services provider whilst keeping true to its traditions and values.
Business
The Kingsbury, Colombo Appoints Nandana Wirasinha as GM

The Kingsbury announced on Friday the appointment of Nandana Wirasinha as its new General Manager. This pivotal appointment heralds an exciting chapter in the hotel’s journey as it continues to redefine excellence and innovation in Sri Lanka’s luxury hospitality landscape.
Wirasinha brings with him nearly three decades of international hospitality experience, having held senior leadership roles with some of the world’s most esteemed hotel brands. His distinguished career spans all facets of hotel management, including operations, revenue strategy, guest engagement, culinary excellence and operational efficiency. Of particular note are his accomplishments at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where he played a key role in delivering benchmark-setting service and guest satisfaction.
Renowned for his ability to build high-performing teams and drive sustained revenue growth, Wirasinha has a proven track record of elevating service standards across the board. During his tenure in the UAE, he led multiple award-winning restaurants in Abu Dhabi, four of which received the coveted Triple Black Hat status in the prestigious ‘What’s On Abu Dhabi Black Hat Guide’—widely considered the region’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide. His leadership has consistently translated into enhanced guest satisfaction, operational excellence, and outstanding business performance.
A committed lifelong learner, Wirasinha is an alumnus of Cornell University with a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management. He also holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Tourism and Hospitality from The Emirates Academy, has completed the Cornell CXO Leadership Programme, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Management at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, Sri Lanka.
Business
ComBank launches timely vehicle leasing promotion

As new vehicles begin arriving in the country after a lapse of several years, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced it will support the aspirations of vehicle buyers with an attractive leasing package for a limited duration.
The Bank said it would offer special interest rates, customized payment plans, discounts on first-year insurance premiums, a waiver of 50% on commission fees with a minimum charge of Rs 10,000 on Letters of Credit opened, and a free credit card with joining fee and the first year’s annual fee waived off, for leasing facilities obtained before 31st May 2025.
Quick and hassle-free approval of leasing facilities and special discounts on vehicle spare parts would also be part of the package for these customers, the Bank said. These special benefits would apply to leases of unregistered vehicles.
Commercial Bank offers one of the lowest rentals on vehicle leases, Rs 1,598 for every Rs 100,000 for a seven-year lease.
Commercial Bank leasing customers have the option of tailor-made leasing options that suit individual income patterns, via the Bank’s Super Leasing and Hybrid Leasing facilities.
Business
Sri Lankan F&B Exporters Participate in Toronto trade show

More than 15 Sri Lankan food and beverage export companies participated in the SIAL Canada 2025 trade show held at Enercare Exhibition Centre, Toronto, from April 29 to May 1, the SL consulate in Toropnto said.
SIAL Canada is one of the major annual trade shows in the food and beverage sector in Canada, attracting over 1,000 exhibitors and brands from 44 countries, with more than 21,000 professionals from 77 countries in attendance, and representation from all Canadian provinces.
The Consul General visited the trade show and met with the representatives of Sri Lankan companies supporting their efforts to expand their business network with key supply chains and leading retail business entities in the Canadian market.
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