Sampath Bank will open a branch at Colombo Port City offering services in rupees as well as 16 designated foreign currencies, becoming the second commercial bank to enter the Special Economic Zone after Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s branch announcement on May 22.
The new branch will combine traditional banking with a purpose-built platform for companies operating inside the zone, the bank said. The platform will offer “transactional convenience, digital accessibility, treasury management capabilities, and streamlined financial operations” tailored to the foreign-currency-dominated environment within the SEZ.
Sampath Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sanjaya Gunawardana said the bank’s presence inside the SEZ reflected confidence in Sri Lanka’s economic potential and a commitment to enabling international trade, investment and enterprise through trusted financial expertise.
CHEC Port City Colombo Managing Director Xiong Hongfeng said the bank’s entry reinforced the zone’s operational maturity. “A key part of our role as master developer is ensuring that Port City Colombo continues to evolve into a business environment that is practical, well-supported and ready for day-to-day operations,” he said. “Sampath Bank’s presence further strengthens the network and enhances the convenience and accessibility needed as more businesses and investors begin operating within Port City Colombo.”
The new branch is Sampath Bank’s second deployment inside Port City after the launch of a Cash Recycler Machine in 2025.
Sixteen currencies are designated for banking and transactional purposes within Colombo Port City — a regulatory feature that distinguishes the zone from the rest of the domestic banking system, where most retail business is conducted in rupees. The SEZ has been steadily building corporate occupancy since the first six firms received Strategic Business Status and $900 million in FDI commitments were reported across five months.
