Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first bank in the world to receive Champion Status under the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business (CRJB), recognising its efforts to promote workplace inclusion, employee well-being, gender equality and women’s health.

The global recognition marks a significant milestone in the Bank’s efforts to integrate employee welfare and gender equality into its broader business and sustainability strategies, while setting a new benchmark for inclusive workplace practices in the banking sector.

UNFPA, the United Nations agency focused on reproductive health, reproductive rights and gender equality, works with governments, development partners and private sector organisations to advance social change. Through the CRJB, it encourages businesses to adopt policies and practices that promote reproductive health, gender equality and inclusive workplaces.

“This recognition is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank. “Becoming the first bank in the world to achieve UNFPA CRJB Champion Status reflects our deep commitment to building a workplace that genuinely empowers our people at every stage of life.”

He said employee well-being, gender equality and women’s health were central to sustainable business, adding that the Bank’s alignment with UNFPA standards would help strengthen its internal practices while setting a benchmark for the banking industry.

Commercial Bank’s recognition reflects a range of employee well-being initiatives, including annual health check-ups, specialised eye and dental camps, professional counselling, and mental health awareness programmes. The Bank has also introduced enhanced benefits for working mothers, including a monthly daycare allowance of Rs. 25,000 for up to one year, flexible working hours, adoptive maternity leave and options for extended unpaid leave.

According to the Bank, these measures have contributed to a return-to-work rate of more than 90% among female employees following maternity leave, supporting talent retention and institutional continuity.

The Bank has also extended its focus on women’s health and well-being through community initiatives, including medical camps for women micro-entrepreneurs, breast cancer awareness programmes and specialised awareness sessions for women customers. Its broader healthcare initiatives have included donations of medical equipment to hospitals, support for maternal and critical care facilities, and its ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ partnership with the 1990 Suwa Seriya emergency ambulance service.

As a UNFPA CRJB Champion, Commercial Bank said it would adopt globally recognised standards and performance metrics developed by UNFPA to further strengthen its initiatives relating to maternal health, family-friendly workplace policies, reproductive health awareness and menopause wellness

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The Bank will also expand employee awareness programmes and monitor and report its progress through its sustainability reporting framework. The initiative will be integrated into its broader sustainability and employee engagement strategies, with workplace policies continuing to evolve in line with international benchmarks.

Commercial Bank said the recognition reinforces its position as a pioneer in responsible banking and corporate sustainability, while demonstrating how financial institutions can integrate social responsibility into their core business strategies.

The initiative also complements the Bank’s ‘Anagi’ Women’s Banking proposition, extending its focus on women’s empowerment beyond financial inclusion to broader aspects of health, workplace equity and well-being.

Commercial Bank is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka and the first Sri Lankan bank to achieve a market capitalisation exceeding US$1 billion. It is also the highest-ranked Sri Lankan bank in the Top 1000 Banks of the World and has the country’s largest capital base among banks.

The Bank operates more than 270 branches and an extensive network of automated banking machines across Sri Lanka. Its international operations include 21 branches in Bangladesh, a majority-owned Tier I bank in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar and a representative office at the Dubai International Financial Centre. Its fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd, provide additional financial services through their respective branch networks.