Here’s a concise, practical guide to the best home‑loan options in Sri Lanka (what to look for, which lenders stand out, and quick application tips). Interest rates and promos change frequently — I’ve cited each key claim so you can verify the current terms before applying.

Top lenders / standout products

• Commercial Bank of Ceylon — strong all‑rounder: competitive (often promotional) low rates, fast approvals (often claimed within days), first‑time buyer schemes, Green Home Loans and foreign‑currency home loans. Good if you want fixed‑rate options and extra benefits (discounts on building materials, flexible repayment). (combank.lk)
• Bank of Ceylon (BOC) — large state bank with wide reach and quick processing (BOC advertises a 14‑day housing‑loan turnaround); offers housing loans with fixed/variable rates and high maximum loan amounts. Good for wide product choice and accessibility. (boc.lk)
• People’s Bank — multiple housing schemes (Jayaniwasa, Dream Home etc.) targeted at salaried and special groups; typical retail ranges reported around mid‑teens % but specific rates depend on product and tenure. Good for government/salaried customers and large branch network. (peoplesbank.lk, gig21.opendata.lk)
• National Development Bank (NDB), Sampath Bank, HNB, Seylan, NSB, DFCC and smaller banks — all offer home loans with varying tenures, LTVs and occasional promotional rates; NDB and Sampath advertise quick disbursement options and flexible packages. Use these if you want tailored features (longer tenure, specific repayment patterns). (anybanq.lk, anybanq.lk)
• Special / niche lenders: Regional Development Bank (Ran Piyasa) and HDFC schemes for lower‑income or specific borrower groups; Commercial Bank’s Green Home Loan for solar/green builds. (anybanq.lk, combank.lk)

How to pick the “best” loan for you

• Compare all-in cost, not just headline rate: look at processing fees, legal fees, insurance, and any margin/benchmarks used for variable rates.
• Fixed vs variable: fixed gives payment certainty (some banks offer fixed up to 20 years); variable may start lower but can rise. Ask for examples of repayment schedules under both. (combank.lk)
• Tenure and EMI: longer tenures lower monthly payments but increase total interest. Check pre‑payment / part‑payment penalties.
• Loan‑to‑Value (LTV): banks typically finance 60–90% depending on purpose (purchase, build, renovation) and borrower profile — verify for your case. (boc.lk, anybanq.lk)
• Special concessions: look for salary‑account discounts, professional discounts, government‑employee schemes and temporary bank promos (these can be decisive). (combank.lk)

Best options by borrower profile (quick recommendations)

• Fast approval / straightforward process: Commercial Bank (3 days for some products) and BOC (14‑day promise for completed applications). Good if you need speed. (combank.lk, boc.lk)
• Lowest promotional headline rates (when available): keep an eye on Commercial Bank promos and central‑bank / government schemes that sometimes give subsidised rates for certain groups (e.g., government/public employees). These promos are time‑limited. (combank.lk)
• NRIs / Sri Lankans abroad: Commercial Bank and some banks provide foreign‑currency home loans or allow repayment from NRFC accounts — check currency, FX risk and documentation. (combank.lk)
• Low‑income / rural borrowers: Ran Piyasa (Regional Development Bank) and special NSB / HDFC schemes aim at lower ticket amounts and concessional terms. (anybanq.lk, anybanq.lk)

Practical steps to apply (speed up approval)

1. Get pre‑approved / pre‑qualified: ask banks for indicative approval to know maximum loan and rate.
2. Prepare documents: ID, proof of income (salary slips / tax returns), bank statements, title deed / sale agreement, BOQ (for construction) and any NRFC documentation if applicable. Each bank’s webpage lists exact documents. (combank.lk, boc.lk)
3. Compare offer details in writing: interest type, amortization schedule, all fees, insurance requirements, LTV and pre‑payment terms.
4. Negotiate: ask for salary‑account discounts, waiver of processing fee or lower insurance charges. Banks often have concessions for existing customers or professionals. (combank.lk)

Important cautions

• Rates/promos change quickly — the best current rate today may not be available next week. Always confirm the effective interest rate (EIR) and get a written loan schedule.
• If you’re considering a foreign‑currency loan, factor FX risk: repayment in foreign currency can be cheaper but exposed to rupee swings. (combank.lk)

Where to check live rates and compare

• Bank websites (Commercial Bank, BOC, People’s Bank, NDB, Sampath, HNB, Seylan, NSB etc.) — banks publish product pages and rate/tariff documents. (combank.lk, boc.lk, peoplesbank.lk, anybanq.lk)
• Aggregators/local finance portals (Anybanq, IdeaBeam) for side‑by‑side indicative comparisons — use these as starting points, then confirm with the bank. (ideabeam.com, anybanq.lk)

If you want, I can:

• Fetch and compare current posted home‑loan rates and fees for 3–5 specific banks right now (I’ll pull live bank pages and summarise differences), or
• Build a short checklist you can use to compare 3 offers side‑by‑side.

Which would you prefer?