This statement by the Board of Directors is made especially to distinguish the respective responsibilities of the Directors and Auditors in relation to financial reporting. The responsibility of Directors in relation to financial reporting of the Bank of Ceylon and the Group is set out in the following statement.
Financial statements
In terms of the provisions of Bank of Ceylon Ordinance No. 53 of 1938 and its amendments read with the Banking Act No. 30 of 1988 and its amendments and Directions, the Directors of the Bank are responsible for ensuring that the Bank maintains proper books of accounts, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Bank and prepares proper Financial Statements for each financial year, giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Bank.
The Directors affirm that in preparing the Financial Statements for the year 2022 presented in this Annual Report, the most appropriate accounting policies have been used and applied consistently supported by judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. Material departures, if any, have been disclosed and explained.
The Financial Statements for the year 2022 presented in this Annual Report, are in conformity with the requirements of the Bank of Ceylon Ordinance No. 53 of 1938 and its amendments, Banking Act No. 30 of 1988 and its amendments and Directions issued under it, the Sri Lanka Accounting Standards and other regulatory requirements. These Financial Statements reflect a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Bank of Ceylon and the Group as at 31 December 2022.
Going concern
The Directors are of the view that the Bank and the Group have adequate resources to continue in business in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they have continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Financial Statements.
Internal controls, risk management and compliance
The Directors are also responsible for the system of internal financial controls and risk management and place considerable importance on maintaining a strong control environment to protect and safeguard the Bank’s assets and prevent fraud and mismanagement.
Whilst inherent and residual risks cannot be completely eliminated, the Bank endeavors to minimise them by ensuring that appropriate infrastructure, controls, systems and ethical behavior are applied and practiced within predetermined procedures and limits/boundaries.
A report by the Directors on the Bank’s internal control mechanism, confirming that the financial reporting system has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting, is given in the section on Directors’ Statement on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting of this Annual Report.
The Directors and Management have put in place, risk management policies and guidelines. Management committees have been established to monitor and manage material risks. Arrangements are in place to ensure that monthly reports on risk are submitted to the Integrated Risk Management Committee for review and discussion. Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rules, directives and guidelines are monitored by the Independent Integrated Risk Management Division and reported to the Board.
The Audit Committee and Integrated Risk Management Committee, on an ongoing basis, have acted to strengthen the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management procedures. The reports of the Audit Committee and Integrated Risk Management Committee are included in the section on Board Subcommittee Reports of this Annual Report.
Audit report
Pursuant to provisions of Article 154 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Auditor General is the Auditor of the Bank and issues the final opinion on the Financial Statements of the Bank. The responsibilities of the Auditor in relation to the Financial Statements are set out in the Report of the Auditor General of this Annual Report. The Auditor General’s certification on the effectiveness of the Bank’s internal control mechanism is given in the section on Independent Assurance Report of this Annual Report.
Compliance
The Directors to the best of their knowledge and belief, are satisfied that all statutory payments, in relation to all relevant regulatory and statutory authorities, which were due and payable by the Bank and its subsidiaries as at the Statement of Financial Position date, have been paid or where relevant provided for.
The Directors are of the view that they have discharged their responsibilities as set out in this statement.
By order of the Board,
Janaki Senanayake Siriwardane
Secretary
Bank of Ceylon/Secretary to the Board
31 March 2023 Colombo