News & market updates

Rienzie T. Wijetilleke, a veteran banker, has died aged 85; he served 24 years at Hatton National Bank (including as Managing Director and Non-Executive Chairman) and also held leadership/director roles at Sunshine Holdings, Nawaloka Hospitals and DFCC Bank.

DFCC Bank partnered with the Department of Pensions to launch a biometric-enabled life certificate verification service, installing biometric machines in 30 branches to allow pensioners to verify via fingerprint. The service is available to pensioners who retired after 2016 and plans are underway to expand to more branches.

DFCC Bank held multi-faith observances to mark its 70th anniversary, with a central ceremony at its Colombo Head Office, simultaneous events at key religious sites and staff participation across its 138-branch network via Branch TV.

Government launches a Rs.6.5 billion concessionary loan scheme (1–15 Nov 2025) offering up to Rs.50 million per borrower at 7% interest to SME paddy millers and cooperatives to stabilise paddy prices; 15 state and private banks, including HNB, COMB, SAMP, DFCC, NDB, NTB, ABL, SEYB, CBNK and PABC, will disburse the funds.

DFCC Bank's women-focused DFCC Aloka has surpassed 100,000 female clients. The programme offers preferential savings and loan rates, digital banking tools, mentorship and partnerships to support women entrepreneurs and financial inclusion.

DFCC Bank PLC (DFCC.N0000) held multi-faith ceremonies nationwide to mark its 70th anniversary, starting with a central ceremony at its Colombo Head Office and simultaneous observances across its 138-branch network.

Nagarro hosted 'Navigate 2025', convening over 50 Sri Lankan BFSI leaders to discuss adopting technologies such as Agentic/Generative AI, small language models, intelligent process automation and quantum computing. Softlogic Life reported 75% of hospitalisation claims are settled within two minutes and 35% processed without human intervention.

Colombo market lost Rs. 117 billion as the ASPI fell 1.9% (S&P SL20 -2.1%) amid Middle East tensions, with turnover Rs. 2.5 billion led by HNB, SAMP and EAST. Broad-based declines hit banking and capital goods counters, while foreign net inflows were small.

DFCC Bank held its Ride for Life Mini Bikeathon on 22 June 2025 with more than 200 participants as part of its 70th‑anniversary CSR drive to promote wellbeing and suicide prevention and to raise awareness of the 1333 crisis hotline. The event is part of a wider wellness programme planned through August and September.

DFCC Bank was declared Overall Winner of the Presidents’ Challenge Trophy at the SLFA Financial Market Quiz 2025, outperforming 27 teams from leading financial institutions. The win underscores DFCC Bank’s focus on talent development and financial expertise.

Colombo market turned more bearish as the ASPI fell 1.22% (S&P SL20 down 1.11%) on turnover of Rs. 3.9bn, with HAYL, CTHR, SAMP, DFCC and HNB exerting selling pressure; JKH, L B Finance and CTC also recorded price declines.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid 1.22% as Israel‑Iran tensions intensified, with the ASPI down 210.51 pts to 17,071.44; Hayleys, C T Holdings, Sampath Bank, DFCC Bank and HNB posted notable declines. Turnover fell to 3.8 billion rupees from 6.8 billion rupees.

DFCC Bank PLC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12 June 2025 to integrate quarterly macroeconomic outlooks and sector-specific intelligence into its services, aimed at strengthening internal expertise and client advisory.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI closed down 0.45% (78 pts) at 17,281 while turnover rose to Rs.6.8bn led by crossings in Hayleys, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, L B Finance and John Keells. Foreign investors were net sellers with a Rs.115.7m outflow.

Sri Lanka stocks fell as the ASPI dropped 0.45% to 17,281.95 on Tuesday as escalating Middle East war uncertainty spooked investors. Turnover was 6.8 million rupees (above the monthly average) and the ASPI was weighed down by NDB, LOLC, DFCC Bank, Browns Investments and NTB.

DFCC Bank (DFCC.N0000), via its DFCC Junior platform, partnered with Magic Bit to run a hands-on robotics workshop for children to promote digital literacy and STEM skills; the initiative targeted DFCC Junior account holders, children of employees and other young participants.

DFCC Bank PLC has launched a 100% funded student loan programme offering up to LKR 10 million to cover tuition, accommodation, travel and other costs. The scheme, in partnership with ACH Education, includes up to a four-year grace period and application/visa support.

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 1.3% (234 pts) to 17,427 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.6%, with turnover around Rs.4 billion. Diversified financials led turnover while HNB, MELS, DFCC, SAMP and JKH pressured the index; Capital Alliance and Central Finance saw notable moves.

Colombo Stock Exchange tumbled as the ASPI fell 234.37 points (1.33%) to 17,427.08 following Israel's strike on Iran and resulting geopolitical tensions. Losses were led by heavyweight banks HNB, DFCC and Sampath, with John Keells and Melstacorp also down; turnover was Rs. 3.98bn.

Sri Lanka's stock market fell after Israel bombed Iran, with the ASPI down 1.33% to 17,427.08 and the S&P SL20 down 1.58% to 5,191.86. Heavyweights HNB, DFCC, Sampath, John Keells and Melstacorp declined and helped drive the sell-off as oil prices rose on geopolitical tensions.

ASPI rose 0.9% to lift its YTD return to 10.74% as turnover reached Rs.5.68 billion led by LVEF (Rs.500m), RCL (Rs.304m) and TILE (Rs.269m), with banking and capital‑goods/construction counters among the session’s key drivers.

DFCC Bank relaunched its corporate digital platform DFCC iConnect 2.0, adding TradeConnect to integrate cash management and trade finance (LCs, import/export loans, guarantees) into a single digital workflow. The upgrade emphasises real-time dashboards, multi-tier approvals and paperless processing to speed SME and corporate transactions.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.90% to 17,657.60, led by John Keells (JKH) and gains in major banks HNB, NDB, DFCC and Sampath, with turnover of LKR5.6bn. Export‑exposed names were mixed — Dipped Products and Haycarb fell while Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fabric gained.

DFCC Bank PLC became the first foreign corporate issuer to list a Rs. 2.5 billion green bond on India's NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City. Proceeds will fund ground and rooftop solar PV projects under Sri Lanka's Green Finance Taxonomy.

DFCC Bank PLC became the first foreign corporate to list a bond on India's NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City, completing a secondary listing of LKR 2.5 billion green bonds. The proceeds will fund ground and rooftop solar PV projects aligned with Sri Lanka's green finance taxonomy and SDGs.

DFCC Bank secured a $12 million funding facility from Symbiotics to expand renewable energy financing in Sri Lanka, targeting solar projects and SMEs. The funding is split between a $6.25m tranche and an LKR-equivalent of $5.75m, with bonds listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

DFCC Bank secured USD 12 million from Symbiotics to expand green financing for solar energy and SMEs in Sri Lanka. The funding is split into a USD 6.25m tranche and an LKR-equivalent of USD 5.75m, with part drawn in rupees to support renewables and local-currency lending.

DFCC Bank has partnered with Nawaloka Medicare to provide Garusaru senior citizen account holders exclusive discounts on selected medical services at Nawaloka branches in Colombo 07, Negombo, Gampaha and Kurunegala.

DFCC Bank says Sri Lanka banks are using excess US dollar balances to finance Indian firms via syndicated loans and GIFT City, with Hatton National, NDB, Seylan, Pan Asia, Commercial Bank and Sampath participating (e.g., Satin Creditcare's $100m GIFT City loan).