The Financial Statements of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC (the Bank) and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Bank and its Subsidiaries and the Associate (the Group) as at December 31, 2023 are prepared and presented in conformity with the requirements of the following:

• Sri Lanka Accounting Standards;
• Companies Act;
• Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Act No. 15 of 1995;
• Banking Act No. 30 of 1988 and amendments thereto and the Directions, Determinations and Guidelines issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL);
• Listing Rules of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE); and
• Code of Best Practice on Corporate Governance 2023 issued by the CA Sri Lanka

The formats used in the preparation of the Financial Statements and disclosures made in this Annual Report and the Interim Financial Statements comply with the specified formats prescribed by the CBSL.

The Group presents the financial results to its shareholders on a quarterly basis.

The Material Accounting Policies have been consistently applied by the Group. Application of Material Accounting Policies and estimates that involve a high degree of judgement and complexity were discussed with the members of the BAC and Bank’s External Auditors. Comparative information has been amended to comply with the current presentation, where applicable.

There were no changes to the Accounting Policies and methods of computation since the publication of the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022. Accordingly, there was no necessity to amend the comparative information to comply with the current presentation.

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge, the Financial Statements, Material Accounting Policies and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial position, results of the operations and the Cash Flows of the Group during the year under review. We also confirm that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operation and has applied the Going Concern basis in preparing these Financial Statements.

We are responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining Internal Controls and Procedures within the Bank and all its Subsidiaries and the Associate. We ensure that effective Internal Controls and Procedures are in place, ensuring material information relating to the Group is made known to us for safeguarding assets, preventing, and detecting fraud and/or error as well as other irregularities, which is reviewed, evaluated and updated on an ongoing basis. We have evaluated the Internal Controls and Risk Management Procedures of the Group for the financial period under review and are satisfied that there were no significant deficiencies and weaknesses in the design or operation of the Internal Controls and Risk Management Procedures, to the best of our knowledge. We confirm, based on our evaluations, that there were no significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls and the detection of fraud that involves management or other employees. The Bank’s Internal Audit Department also conducts periodic reviews to ensure that the Internal Controls and Risk Management Procedures are consistently followed.

The Financial Statements of the Group were audited by Messrs Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants and their Report is given on page 262 The BAC pre-approves the audit and non-audit services provided by Messrs Ernst & Young, to ensure that the provision of such services does not contravene with the guidelines issued by the CBSL on permitted non-audit services or impair Messrs Ernst & Young’s independence and objectivity.

The BAC, inter alia, reviewed all the Internal and External Audit and Inspection Programmes, the efficiency of Internal Control Systems and Risk Management Procedures and also reviewed the quality of Material Accounting Policies and their adherence to Statutory and Regulatory requirements, the details of which are given in the ”Report of the Board Audit Committee” appearing on pages 195 to 198. The Bank engaged the services of four firms of Chartered Accountants approved by the CBSL to strengthen the audit and inspection functions. The continuous inspection and audit functions, engagement of firms of Chartered Accountants and effective functioning of the BAC ensure that the Internal Controls and Procedures are followed consistently. To ensure complete independence, the External Auditors and the Internal Auditors have full and free access to the members of the BAC to discuss any matters of substance. However, there are inherent limitations that should be recognised in weighing the assurances provided by any system of internal control and accounting.

It is also declared and confirmed that the Group and the Bank have complied with and ensured compliance with the guidelines for the audit of listed companies where mandatory compliance is required.

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

• The Group and the Bank have complied with all applicable laws and regulations and guidelines and there is no material litigation against the Group and the Bank other than those disclosed in Note 59 on Litigation Against the Bank on page 379 of the Financial Statements.
• All taxes, duties, levies and all statutory payments payable by the Group and the Bank and all contributions, levies and taxes payable on behalf of and in respect of the employees of the Group and the Bank as at December 31, 2023 have been paid, or where relevant provided for.

S C U Manatunge
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer

K D N Buddhipala
Chief Financial Officer

February 21, 2024
Colombo