Short answer: there’s no single “best” bank for every young person — it depends on your age, needs and priorities. Below are the best options in Sri Lanka by common young‑customer profiles, with the key reasons and official sources so you can check details.

For teenagers (10–17) — best for safe, supervised digital accounts

• Commercial Bank — Flash FAM or Dotcom teen accounts: fully digital teen app, parental controls, teen debit card and saving/ budgeting features. (combank.lk)
• HNB — Singithi / Teen accounts: gift/reward schemes, standing‑order protection and education scholarships. (hnb.net)
• Seylan / Cargills — dedicated teen accounts (Seylan Seylfie / Seylan Teens, Cargills Smart Teens) with branded debit cards, digital access and youth promotions. (seylan.lk, cargillsbank.com)

For students & young adults (18–25) — best for higher youth benefits & transition to full banking

• Bank of Ceylon — “18+ Youth Savings” (18–25): higher interest than standard savings plus medical insurance and youth benefits up to age 35. Good branch coverage (state bank) for students away from home. (boc.lk)
• Seylan — Seylfie youth account: digital perks, cash grants on milestones and student loan/education payment support (also has a Student File service for overseas tuition). (seylan.lk)

For tech‑first, digital banking & contactless payments

• Commercial Bank (Flash) and Sampath (WePay, PayBand) stand out for modern apps and contactless/wallet features — good if you want excellent mobile UX and new payment tech. (combank.lk, sampath.lk)

For higher returns / longer‑term youth investments

• Nations Trust’s “Nations Kidz” and Kidz Investment Plan (guaranteed single‑period rates for investment terms) are useful if parents want a savings+investment product for a child. (Check current rates/terms before committing.) (nationstrust.com)

How to pick the best bank for you (quick checklist)

• Age & account type: minors usually need parent/guardian co‑sign; 18+ gives full access. (Bank pages above list eligibility.)
• Mobile app & digital features: try the bank’s app reviews and app store listing.
• Fees & minimum balance: check each bank’s minimum opening balance, monthly/ATM fees and debit card charges.
• Branch/ATM network: important if you need cash or branch services outside Colombo.
• Student/education services: look for student loan options, “student file” for overseas fees, or scholarships/offers.
• International access: if studying abroad, confirm foreign transfers, international debit/credit cards and remittance fees.

Notes and next steps

• Product terms (interest rates, insurance, gift schemes, minimums, digital limits) change often — please check the bank pages linked above or contact the bank branch for the latest specific T&Cs before opening an account. If you want, I can prepare a short 1‑page comparison of 3 banks you care about (fees, min balance, card limits, digital features) — tell me which 3 and I’ll pull up the current details.