Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager Human Resource Management Isuru Tillakawardana and Chief Manager Human Resources Pushpa Chandrasiri (extreme left and second from left) with International Finance Corporation Programme Manager Women in Work Sri Lanka Sarah Twigg (centre) at the award ceremony

Commercial Bank of Ceylon was among the top 10 winners at the inaugural Women Friendly Workplace (WFWP) Awards jointly pioneered by Satyn, Sri Lanka’s first online magazine for women and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka. 

Positioned as Sri Lanka’s first-ever gender equality awards, the WFWP Awards were launched to recognise organisations that encourage and empower women at the workplace, add value to the role of women in the workplace and reiterate Sri Lanka’s commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 5, which covers gender equality and opportunity.

Commercial Bank’s commitment to the principles of equal opportunity irrespective of gender and other variables in its human resources management processes, including recruitment policy, benefits and pay, training and development opportunities and policies on abuse and harassment, contributed towards winning this award. 

The WFWP Top 10 Award was accepted by Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager Human Resource Management Isuru Tillakawardana and Chief Manager HR Pushpa Chandrasiri on behalf of the bank at a ceremony held at Cinnamon Grand, where International Finance Corporation (IFC) Programme Manager Women in Work Sri Lanka Sarah Twigg was the chief guest.
In 2019, Commercial Bank entered into a partnership with the IFC to strive for gender parity: establishing women in leadership programmes, performing gender awareness training, establishing women networks and obtaining women employer certification (EDGE) are among the medium-term objectives of this effort.

The bank’s commitment to women’s empowerment is also evident in its products that support women’s health and well-being, career advancement, education, access to finance and financial independence.