Short answer — it depends on whether you want globally‑accepted luxury perks (lounge networks, Priority Pass/DragonPass, travel credits) or the best locally available cards in Sri Lanka. Below I give (A) the top global issuers/cards known for lounge access and travel perks, (B) the Sri Lanka banks/cards that currently advertise strong lounge/travel benefits, and (C) a checklist of what to compare so you pick the right card.

A — Global issuers/cards widely regarded for travel perks and lounge access

• American Express (Platinum / Centurion family) — market-leading lounge access (Centurion Lounges, broad Priority Pass/partner access), strong travel credits and concierge services; high annual fees but very generous premium perks. (livemint.com)
• JPMorgan Chase (Chase Sapphire Reserve and premium co‑branded cards) — Priority Pass access, travel credits, robust travel protections and high rewards on travel/dining. (Commonly recommended among frequent travellers.) (livemint.com)
• Citibank (premium travel cards) — offers cards with lounge access and travel benefits; note Citi has launched premium cards recently and some product changes / customer issues have been reported, so check current terms before applying. (the-sun.com)
• HSBC / Standard Chartered / major global banks — many HSBC Premier and premium Standard Chartered cards include Priority Pass/DragonPass or comparable lounge access, travel insurance, concierge and elevated earn rates on international spend. Product detail and number of complimentary visits vary by country and card. (HSBC.com.ph)

B — Banks and credit cards in Sri Lanka with notable lounge/travel perks

• Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) — announced enhancements to premium credit card lounge access: Visa Infinite cardholders get up to four complimentary lounge visits per year; Visa Signature and World Mastercard holders are eligible for two complimentary visits per year. ComBank also supports UnionPay AP Diamond cards with DragonPass-style access in some products. If you’re in Sri Lanka and want local options, ComBank is a leading contender. (combank.lk)
• HNB (Hatton National Bank) — promotes Visa Signature / Visa Infinite cards with Visa Concierge and premium privileges; these tiers typically include airport lounge access and concierge services (confirm exact lounge visit allowance per card). (hnb.net)
• HSBC (Sri Lanka) — HSBC Premier cards traditionally include lounge access (Araliya Lounge in Colombo and other international lounge access via Priority Pass / DragonPass on some regional HSBC Premier cards). Note: HSBC announced the sale of its Sri Lanka retail business to Nations Trust Bank (deal announced Sep 25, 2025) — that may change product ownership/terms when completed. Verify final terms with the bank before applying. (HSBC.lk)
• Other local issuers to watch: Sampath Bank, Nations Trust Bank, NTB/AmEx co‑branded cards and NDB/HNB premium cards often have travel and hotel partner benefits — check each card’s product page because lounge entitlements vary by tier (Signature/Infinite/World). (Examples and product details change frequently; see vendors’ pages.) (ambsocial.top)

C — What matters most (how to compare card offers)

• Which lounge network and how many free visits per year: Priority Pass vs DragonPass vs bank’s own partner — look for number of complimentary entries and guest policy (some cards include guest visits; others charge per guest). (milelion.com)
• Whether lounge access is automatic or requires registration through an app (Mastercard Travel Pass / DragonPass / bank registration). (HSBC.com.ph)
• Guest policy and supplementary card access (can you give a supp card to family so they get lounge access?) — this can be more valuable than guest passes. (milelion.com)
• Annual fee vs credits/benefits — compare annual fee against travel credits, insurance, concierge value and reward rates on travel/overseas spend.
• Foreign transaction fees & reward conversion to airline miles — important for overseas travel value.
• Current product stability and customer service — especially for recently launched premium cards (some issuers have had rollout problems). (the-sun.com)

Quick recommendation for Sri Lanka residents

• If you want the best local combination of lounge access + service: check Commercial Bank’s Visa Infinite/Signature offers first (they publicly announced enhanced lounge access) and HNB’s Visa Signature/Infinite products next. Confirm the exact number of complimentary visits, guest policy and whether the lounge access covers international lounges or only Colombo. (combank.lk)
• If you’re tied to a global program (e.g., you value Priority Pass or Centurion Lounges), compare global issuers (AmEx, HSBC regional Premier, major international banks) and confirm whether those global products are still issued locally in Sri Lanka or will be migrated (HSBC retail sale to Nations Trust may change availability). (reuters.com)

If you want, I can:

• Pull up the current lounge/visit allowances, annual fee and guest rules for 3–5 specific cards (ComBank Visa Infinite, HNB Visa Infinite/Signature, HSBC Premier, Nations Trust/NTB AmEx, and an international AmEx/Chase/Citi card) and compare them side‑by‑side (I’ll check the live product pages so terms are current).

Which would you prefer — a local Sri Lanka comparison (top 3–5 local cards) or a global comparison (best worldwide premium cards)?