Commercial Bank’s Hasrath Munasinghe, Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking, and Tamara Bernard, Deputy General Manager – International, share insights into leading their respective divisions in adapting to evolving markets and economic volatility by offering sector-specific insights, flexible financial solutions, and digital platforms. It highlights leadership strategies, innovative financing models, and cross-border banking initiatives designed to support business resilience, competitiveness, and global trade engagement.
How do you envision corporate banking evolving, and how is Commercial Bank adapting to these changes?
Hasrath: Amidst macroeconomic volatility, shifting trade dynamics, and cost pressures, corporate clients need more than traditional banking; they seek partners offering sector insights, timely advice, and flexible financial solutions that align with both immediate and long-term needs.
At Commercial Bank, we’ve responded by enhancing our value proposition. Digitally integrated platforms, such as Trade Link, Host-to-Host integration, and our upcoming Corporate Business Digital Platform, improve efficiency, transparency, and speed. We also provide bespoke cross-border solutions and customised FX support to manage operational and currency risks. Even during downturns, we remained committed, offering tailored lending, moratoriums where needed, and ongoing support through our relationship teams.
What leadership principles guide you as you endeavour to balance risk with growth?
Hasrath: Client-centricity is at the heart of our leadership approach, prioritising long-term client success over transactional gains. Strong corporate relationships are built on trust, strategic insight, and consistent delivery over time. We empower our relationship teams to serve as financial advisors, equipped with tools and training to proactively offer solutions beyond routine credit. Each engagement is informed by in-depth sector knowledge and market intelligence, providing a comprehensive view of the client’s business and risk landscape.
Our risk-growth balance is grounded in disciplined, data-driven decisions. Credit frameworks guide prudence, while structured lending, cash flow-based models, and collateral optimisation allow us to tailor support to each client’s strategy. We also support clients expanding regionally or globally by providing advisory and capital services for M&A, investments, and sustainability, while safeguarding portfolio quality through robust internal controls.
How is your team innovating to deliver solutions that enhance corporate resilience and drive long-term economic impact?
Hasrath: In today’s high-cost, low-return environment, businesses face immense pressure to optimise their capital structure and improve efficiency. At Commercial Bank, we view these challenges as opportunities to innovate and deliver financing solutions that not only address immediate liquidity needs but also foster long-term resilience and competitiveness.
Our Corporate Banking Division is actively deploying non-traditional financing models, including supply chain finance, distributor finance, warehouse financing, receivables-backed lending, and performance-based facilities, which better align with the cash flow realities of businesses. These solutions are designed to unlock working capital, reduce financing costs, and improve liquidity management. We also work closely with businesses in key economic sectors, such as exports, agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy, helping them secure capital for expansion and transformation projects.
Digital innovation remains a cornerstone of our strategy. Our platforms not only streamline operations but also provide centralized data and analytics that support financial decision-making. From seamless cross-border transactions to central cash management systems, we offer tools that enhance operational visibility and efficiency for CFOs and treasury heads.
How does your leadership approach shape the bank’s international banking strategy?
Tamara: My leadership approach focuses on maximizing our international trade expertise, market position, and global financial institution relationships. We prioritize leveraging our cross-border lending experience to capitalize on international market opportunities while rigorously managing risks and ensuring regulatory compliance. Key priorities include expanding our global footprint, securing profitable opportunities, strengthening international partnerships, enhancing capacity, increasing foreign exchange revenue and facilitating seamless cross-border financial flows.
What initiatives are you leading to support exporters, importers, and foreign investors?
Tamara: Commercial Bank descends from Eastern Bank, carrying a 105-year legacy in cross-border trade. The bank holds the largest market share among private banks in Sri Lanka’s imports, exports, and remittances. Our sub-regional presence, array of trade-related products and services, payment systems, trade advisory services and well over 700 overseas institutional arrangements provide support to our importers and exporters operating in Sri Lanka and overseas markets. Financial advisory services, financial guidance and product offerings are extended to foreign investors, including investors in the Colombo Port City.
Going beyond the conventional paradox, we engage in lucrative cross-border financing. Collaborating with international and regional financiers, we effectively navigate global markets, actively engaging and overcoming challenges of scale to establish a prominent cross-border footprint as a financier. We envisage that our global presence and reach will contribute to attracting investments to the country.
How is your division leveraging technology and collaborations to improve international banking services?
Tamara: Digitizing processes for improved efficiency and digitalizing to transform our business is among our highest priorities. We recently launched Combank TradeLink, an advanced trade solution crafted to provide customer convenience and future-ready trade services. This is the frontrunner of many diverse digital business offerings to follow.
We are moving beyond conventional trade instruments and payment methods to digitalize supply chain financing, dealer financing and warehouse financing. These initiatives will enhance convenience for trade customers, improve transaction speed, reduce costs, and boost competitiveness. We believe these digital advancements will significantly support Sri Lanka’s financial inclusion and cross-border engagement, unlocking our country’s full potential.