Here are the banks in Sri Lanka that (as of recent public promotions and product pages) are known for strong credit‑card offers, plus what they’re best for and quick pointers to choose the right card. I pulled the details from each bank’s product pages and recent news/promotions.

Top banks and what they offer

• Sampath Bank — frequent seasonal partner discounts and merchant campaigns (big Avurudu / seasonal discounts, merchant instalment/0% plans). Good if you want broad retail discounts and merchant instalment plans. (ceylontoday.lk)

• Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) — premium credit card programs with merchant discounts, 0% instalment promotions and duty‑free / travel related offers on premium cards. Good for travellers and shoppers who prefer premium card perks and instalment plans. (combank.lk)

• Bank of Ceylon (BOC) — wide range of credit cards (including profession‑specific cards), rewards/loyalty programmes, travel insurance and multi‑month instalment options; BOC also actively issues travel/multi‑currency cards. Good for travellers and customers seeking no/low fee specialty cards. (boc.lk)

• Nations Trust Bank — active card promotions (including American Express co‑branded offers) and merchant savings across many regions; Nations Trust is also acquiring HSBC’s Sri Lanka retail business (so watch for product changes if you hold HSBC cards). Good for AmEx users and customers who value co‑branded merchant offers. (americanexpress.lk)

• HSBC (until its retail business transfer completes) — historically offered cashback and rewards (HSBC Live+, Rewards, Premier cards); because HSBC announced sale of its Sri Lanka retail business, card products and benefits may migrate to Nations Trust — check current status before applying. (HSBC.lk)

Other banks to consider

• NDB, People’s Bank, Seylan Bank and Sampath’s peers all run competitive card promotions at times (cashback, instalments, seasonal discounts). If you want more niche offers (co‑branded cards, airline benefits, or strong local merchant discounts) compare those issuers’ current promotions. (See bank sites / local promo listings for details.) (mypromo.lk)

How to pick the best card for you

• Rewards you’ll actually use: choose cashback vs. points vs. merchant discounts based on where you spend (groceries, travel, dining, online).
• Fees vs benefits: compare joining/annual fees, welcome bonuses, and the spending needed to earn fee waivers.
• Instalment/EMI and 0% finance offers: if you plan big purchases, cards that offer 0% instalment plans or easy settlement options can be very valuable. Sampath and Commercial Bank frequently run these. (ceylontoday.lk)
• Travel perks: travel insurance, airport lounge access, multi‑currency travel cards (BOC has recent multi‑currency product activity). (ceylontoday.lk)
• Card network & merchant acceptance: VISA/Mastercard have broad acceptance; Nations Trust’s AmEx programmes offer distinct AmEx merchant deals but AmEx acceptance is narrower. (americanexpress.lk)

Quick next steps (practical)

1. Make a short list of 2–3 banks above (Sampath, Commercial Bank, BOC are frequently strongest for retail/travel perks).
2. Visit each bank’s credit‑card page or the current “offers/promotions” section to compare (welcome offers, cashback rates, instalment promos). I used those pages and recent news/promos to compile the list above. (ceylontoday.lk)
3. If you already hold an HSBC card, check the HSBC → Nations Trust sale details (timing and card migration) before making product changes. (reuters.com)

If you want, I can:

• Compare 3 specific Sri Lankan credit cards side‑by‑side (fees, earn rates, key perks) if you name 3 cards or banks.
• Look up the current offers for a single bank (e.g., Sampath or ComBank) and list the exact cashback/discount rates and promo expiry dates.

Which would you like next?