HNB has marked the first anniversary of its Club Elite Metal Mastercard with an exclusive event for private banking clients.
The event took place on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at 1864, the fine dining restaurant at Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. It featured a special guest shift by Toronto’s award-winning Cry Baby Gallery.
Called The Connoisseur’s Collective, the evening formed part of HNB’s private banking offering. Through this proposition, the bank brings together wealth solutions, investment opportunities and lifestyle experiences for its clients.
HNB Managing Director and CEO Damith Pallewatte said,
“Our private banking clients expect us to bring them sound financial solutions and access to experiences they value, delivered with discretion. Our proposition combines curated wealth solutions and investment opportunities with lifestyle events such as The Connoisseur’s Collective, and the first year of Club Elite has shown how closely the two work together. We will continue to develop both to the standard our clients expect.”
What Club Elite offers HNB customers
The Club Elite Metal Mastercard sits at the top of HNB’s premium card range. However, the bank offers this card on an invitation-only basis.
HNB launched the card in February 2025 as Sri Lanka’s first Mastercard World Elite metal card. It comes with several benefits for private banking clients.
These include global concierge assistance and luxury travel upgrades. Cardholders also receive elite golf access and selected retail privileges.
In addition, Club Elite forms part of a wider private banking offering. This includes selected wealth solutions and investment opportunities.
The Connoisseur’s Collective is one example of the lifestyle experiences available through this proposition. It also gave HNB a chance to bring a special experience to its private banking clients.
Toronto bar brings a special experience to Colombo
For the anniversary event, HNB Private Banking partnered with Cry Baby Gallery and Galle Face Hotel.
Cry Baby Gallery is a speakeasy-style bar in Toronto’s Dundas West area. It operates behind a contemporary art gallery. The bar ranked sixth on Canada’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list. It also placed 69th on the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 extended list.
Senior mixologist Dalton Welsh led the special guest shift in Colombo. The event featured ingredients flown in from Toronto. These were paired with premium spirits and gourmet delicacies.
HNB Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne said,
“Behind each Club Elite experience is a dedicated service team and a group of partners selected for the standard they deliver. For this evening, we worked with Cry Baby Gallery and Galle Face Hotel to bring that standard to Colombo. Events like this also give us a direct way to hear from our clients in person about what they would like the proposition to include next.”
HNB Managing Director and CEO Mr. Damith Pallewatte. and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sanjay Wijemanne
He also highlighted the role of these events in gathering feedback from clients. This helps the bank understand what customers would like to see in future offerings.
Meanwhile, HNB said The Connoisseur’s Collective forms part of its ongoing programme of experiences for private banking clients.
Through Club Elite, the bank continues to combine financial solutions and investment opportunities with lifestyle experiences. The proposition brings these services together for customers who qualify for its invitation-only private banking offering.
Last modified: November 6, 2026
