Commercial Bank of Ceylon has showcased what it describes as the fintech sector’s first successful deployment of TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA), in collaboration with Axonect, at the global DTW Ignite 2026 technology forum in Copenhagen.

The deployment, powered by Axonect’s Fabric and API Management platforms, demonstrates how an architecture originally developed for the telecommunications industry can be adapted to modernise banking systems while maintaining stringent requirements for security, data governance, resilience and regulatory compliance.

Commercial Bank Chief Information Officer Sumudu Gunawardhana and Axonect CEO Anthony Rodrigo presented the implementation at the forum, which brings together communications service providers, technology companies and digital ecosystem leaders from around the world.

According to Gunawardhana, the ODA-aligned platform has strengthened the bank’s core technology infrastructure by providing the scalability and agility associated with cloud-based systems while retaining control over data governance, security and regulatory compliance.

The implementation has also generated operational efficiencies and reduced technology costs, while enabling new digital services. These include the rollout of Google Pay, real-time PayPal cross-border remittance clearing and an API-driven digital ecosystem designed for high resilience and availability.

The architecture supports a broad network of microservices and active APIs, enabling the bank to integrate and deliver digital services across multiple markets while maintaining its security and compliance requirements.

Rodrigo said the Commercial Bank deployment demonstrates that the principles of ODA can extend beyond telecommunications and provide a framework for broader enterprise transformation.

He said the convergence of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, APIs and data governance could make open digital architecture a common blueprint for organisations seeking to build secure, scalable and future-ready technology platforms.

TM Forum Executive Vice President – Composable IT & Ecosystems Willie Stegmann said the initiative highlighted the growing relevance of open digital architectures beyond the telecommunications sector.

He said the collaboration demonstrated how a common framework could facilitate innovation, simplify system integration, support scalable AI adoption and enable new digital business models across industries.

The deployment comes as Commercial Bank prepares for what it describes as its next phase of digital transformation, moving towards an “agentic banking” model based on greater use of artificial intelligence and autonomous technology.

The bank said this transition will be supported by advanced software delivery systems, governed AI and data sovereignty frameworks, with the objective of expanding its participation in open finance ecosystems and deploying AI across a wider range of banking functions.

Commercial Bank is Sri Lanka’s largest private sector lender and operates more than 270 branches and an island-wide network of automated machines. Its international operations include 21 branches in Bangladesh, a majority stake in a Tier I bank in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar and a representative office at the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The bank was ranked Sri Lanka’s No. 1 bank in the 2026 edition of The Banker magazine’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking.