BOC welcomes 2025 with religious ceremonies to invoke blessings

BOC General Manager/CEO Russel Fonseka presents Best SME Service Provider award to BOC Chairman Kavinda de Zoysa

Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Sri Lanka’s No. 1 Bank, commenced the new year 2025, jubilantly announcing its newest achievement being accorded recognition as Bank of the Year – Sri Lanka 2024 awarded by the prestigious The Banker magazine U.K.

The official January 1 event was held at the bank’s head office building with the patronage of Chairman Kavinda de Zoysa and General Manager/CEO Russel Fonseka. Customers, members of the bank’s board of directors, corporate and executive management, staff and well-wishers of the bank also gathered there for the occasion.
The proceedings began with a series of multi-religious sermons to invoke blessings on all stakeholders of the bank for the new year. This was followed by the ceremonious presenting of the plaque received in honour of being Bank of the Year Sri Lanka 2024 from The Banker magazine U.K. by General Manager Russel Fonseka and Chief Financial Officer M.P. Ruwan Kumara to Chairman Kavinda de Zoysa.

In addition to this accolade, de Zoysa was presented with a distinguished award received at People’s Excellency Awards 2024, organised by Iconic Awards. These included the title Best SME Service Provider, which highlight BOC’s unwavering dedication to providing exceptional banking services and supporting small and medium enterprises across the nation.

The event then continued with the launch of the bank’s newest initiative, the Ranliya loan scheme, designed to empower women entrepreneurs and the relaunch of BOC Youth loan scheme exclusively for young entrepreneurs. As a responsible corporate citizen and a trusted financial partner to all Sri Lankans, BOC continues to make steadfast strides toward fulfilling its commitment to society and the environment meaningfully through digitally-driven and inclusive banking.

For over 85 years, BOC has been a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s financial landscape, connecting individuals and businesses to global opportunities. BOC’s extensive network with over 2,300 touch points spread across the nation, ensures that the bank’s customers have convenient access to a wide range of financial services. Moreover, BOC was ranked as the only Sri Lankan bank among the Top 1000 World Banks 2024 and Bank of the Year 2021 and 2023 by The Banker Magazine UK, The Number 1 Banking Brand in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance Lanka. BOC also received the People’s Banking Services Brand of the Year at SLIM KANTAR Peoples Awards 2024. Internationally, BOC has established a strong presence in key locations such as a subsidiary in London, UK, branches in Male and Hulhumalé in the Maldives, Chennai, India and the Seychelles.