National Credit Guarantee Institution Limited issues milestone 2,000th Credit Guarantee to Commercial Bank
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reinforced its market leadership under the National Credit Guarantee Scheme, having disbursed the highest total loan amount among all participating financial institutions.
The milestone was celebrated with the National Credit Guarantee Institution Limited (NCGIL) issuing its 2,000th guarantee to Commercial Bank, in recognition of the Bank’s dominant contribution to the scheme.
Commercial Bank’s participation in the national framework encompasses broad support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the island, including dedicated focus on women-led businesses through the ‘Liya Shakthi’ scheme launched by NCGIL. With approximately 600 guarantees, nearly a third of all facilities extended under National Credit Guarantee Scheme, Commercial Bank has disbursed loans totalling Rs. 2.97 billion, underscoring its leadership in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr S. Ganeshan, Deputy General Manager – Personal Banking at Commercial Bank said: “Reaching this milestone within such a short period, highlights both the strength of the national framework and the resilience and potential of entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka. As a Bank, we are deeply committed to expanding access to finance through innovative partnerships and tailored solutions that go beyond traditional lending. Our focus is not only on providing capital, but also on enabling sustainable growth for SMEs through advisory support, capacity building and financial inclusion initiatives that create lasting economic impact.”
The National Credit Guarantee Scheme was introduced by NCGIL to expand access to finance for entrepreneurs who demonstrate viable business models and sound repayment capacity but lack the collateral typically required for conventional bank lending. Backed by partial credit guarantees, the scheme enables participating financial institutions to extend uncollateralised loans, including specialised sub-schemes like ‘Liya Shakthi’ for women entrepreneurs, thereby addressing one of the most persistent barriers to enterprise growth.
NCGIL, in which the Sri Lankan Government is the principal shareholder, works with 13 Shareholder Financial Institutions (SFIs), including Commercial Bank, to promote cash flow-based lending and catalyse credit flows to underserved segments of the economy.
The Bank’s partnership with NCGIL is part of a broader strategy to strengthen development banking in Sri Lanka through innovative lending structures and strategic collaborations that mitigate risk while widening access to finance.
