The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has further strengthened its digital payments leadership by becoming the first bank in Sri Lanka to enable 3D Secure (3DS) authentication for e-commerce transactions on the LankaPay/JCB National Card Scheme, significantly strengthening the security and global usability of the card.
This milestone makes the LankaPay/JCB card a fully empowered e-commerce instrument, allowing cardholders to shop securely at millions of merchants. The latest addition to the Bank’s robust 3DS-enabled card portfolio ensures that national scheme users benefit from the same high-level authentication and fraud protection extended across Commercial Bank’s international card offerings. Commercial Bank was first bank in Sri Lanka to introduce 3DS authentication for global card brands.
The development is particularly impactful for Sri Lankan consumers who favour the LankaPay/JCB card for overseas transactions due to its highly competitive cross-border charges. The new capability combines cost efficiency with global reach and internationally accepted security standards, elevating the national card scheme to a new level of relevance in digital commerce.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said the initiative reflected the Bank’s responsibility as a national financial institution to actively advance Sri Lanka’s digital payment ecosystem. “At Commercial Bank, we see technological leadership not as an option, but as integral part of our core business. While we continue to introduce global standards across our international card portfolio, we are equally committed to strengthening Sri Lanka’s national payment schemes. Enabling 3D Secure authentication for the LankaPay/JCB card is a significant step in empowering local cardholders with payment solutions that are secure, globally accepted and on par with the best in the world,” he said.
Mr Channa de Silva, CEO of LankaPay described the launch as a defining moment in the evolution of Sri Lanka’s National Card Scheme. “This capability significantly strengthens the value proposition of the national card by combining enhanced security with global usability. Working closely with Commercial Bank, we have ensured that LankaPay cardholders can now transact online with confidence, anywhere in the world, marking a proud milestone for Sri Lanka’s national payment infrastructure,” he said.
Reflecting an international perspective, Mr Yuichiro (Yuchi) Kadowaki, Managing Director and Regional Head of JCB Card International (South Asia), reaffirmed JCB’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s national payment initiatives. “JCB is proud to partner Commercial Bank and LankaPay in bringing globally trusted, Japanese-backed payment security to the Sri Lankan market. This integration not only enables Sri Lankan cardholders to shop seamlessly across international e-commerce platforms, but also opens access to exclusive JCB offers and promotions worldwide,” he said.
The integration of 3D Secure technology, provided through a strategic partnership with CardinalCommerce, a world-renowned authentication leader, allows LankaPay/JCB cardholders to shop at millions of online merchants worldwide. By utilising the “J/Secure” protocol (JCB’s 3DS standard), Commercial Bank has introduced an essential layer of protection. During checkout, customers are verified through multi-factor authentication, such as a one-time password (OTP), ensuring that only the legitimate cardholder can authorise a purchase. This drastically reduces the risk of unauthorised use and gives Sri Lankan consumers the confidence to participate in the global digital economy, the Bank said.
Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., and was also the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World. Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded Bank in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank is also a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.
Commercial Bank operates a network of strategically located branches and automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance Ltd. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.