Tharushi Karunarathna sprints ahead with ComBank

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge, Chief Operating Officer S. Prabagar, Chief Manager Marketing Aparna Jagoda and Tharushi’s Personal Manager Suranji Peiris with Tharushi Karunarathna at signing of Brand Ambassador agreement

• Gold medal-winning athlete becomes face of ComBank Digital 

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has appointed internationally acclaimed track athlete Tharushi Karunarathna as a Brand Ambassador.

Tharushi, a gold medal-winning star who has quickly become a celebrity in Sri Lanka, will represent the ComBank Digital app, the nation’s most popular and convenient digital banking solution. 

The bank said Tharushi personifies resilience, dedication and an unyielding commitment to growth that perfectly align with Commercial Bank’s identity as Sri Lanka’s most awarded financial institution. 

Tharushi said, “I am excited to join hands with Commercial Bank, a trusted leader in Sri Lanka’s financial industry. Just as I push my limits on the track, Commercial Bank is driven by a commitment to excellence and innovation. I am privileged to represent a brand that shares my passion for performance and continuous growth.”

This appointment builds on the bank’s successful onboarding last year of Matheesha Pathirana, the renowned Sri Lankan fast bowler, as a Brand Ambassador. That collaboration has helped strengthen customer loyalty and drive greater use of the ComBank debit card brand, the biggest debit card base in the country. 

By partnering with Tharushi, Commercial Bank aims to forge deeper emotional connections with customers while reinforcing its position as a forward-thinking institution that champions progress and celebrates Sri Lankan talent.

Tharushi Karunaratne is Sri Lanka’s most promising middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres event. She made history by winning a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the women’s 800m final at just 19 years of age, becoming the first Sri Lankan since Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Dharsha to claim an Asian Games gold medal. In 2023, she captured further glory at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, where she won the women’s 400m gold medal and broke a 25-year-old Asian record in the event.