Sampath Bank crowned as Best Bank for ESG in SL at Euromoney Awards

From right: Euromoney Global Head of Accreditation Research Ben Naylor, Sampath Bank Head of Sustainability Nuwan Pathirana, Sampath Bank Managing Director Designate Sanjaya Gunawardana, Sampath Bank Chief Human Resource Transformation Officer Dr. Lalith Weragoda and Presenter and Magician Ben Hanlin at Euromoney Award Ceremony

Sampath Bank has been recognised as Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. 

The award was ceremonially presented in Singapore, positioning Sampath Bank among a distinguished group of global and regional banking and financial institutions recognised for embedding sustainability into their core strategies and creating long-term value for all stakeholders.

The bank’s submission to Euromoney highlighted key milestones achieved in 2024, including channelling Rs.1.44 billion (US $ 4.78 million) into renewable energy projects through its green financing programme, launching solar loan concessions to increase access to clean energy and equipping 1,418 employees and board members with ESG training. These internal initiatives contributed to an 8 percent reduction in the bank’s carbon footprint and a 36 percent increase in solar power generation through branch network. Sampath Bank also introduced recyclable metal credit cards to reduce plastic usage while strengthening its wider waste reduction programmes.

Sampath Bank Managing Director Designate Sanjaya Gunawardana stated, “Being recognised as Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for ESG by Euromoney is a defining moment for Sampath Bank. This honour reflects our deep commitment to sustainability as a core pillar of our business and our responsibility to the nation. Our efforts in corporate governance, green financing, product innovation and capacity building are not short-term projects but long-term commitments to shaping a more sustainable future for Sri Lanka. This recognition is a tribute to the dedication of our team, our valued customers and our stakeholders who continue to walk this journey with us.”

Sampath Bank’s recognition also stems from its flagship CSR initiatives, including ‘Wewata Jeewayak’ to restore traditional reservoirs for farming communities, ‘A Breath to the Ocean’ to restore coral reefs as well as turtle conservation and mangrove restoration projects. Alongside a tree-planting programme with 88 schools and a strong focus on green financing and renewable energy, these efforts demonstrate the bank’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and ESG integration.