News & market updates

Senaka Kakiriwaragodage, CEO of NDB Capital Holdings, was appointed to the Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange effective 03/10/2025. He is a 22-year veteran in investment banking, private equity and IT services and holds CFA and other professional qualifications.

National Development Bank (NDB.N0000) won two awards at NBQSA 2025 — Secure360 2.0 earned the Silver in the In-house Non-ICT category and TradeLinc 2.0 was recognised in the Consumer (Banking, Insurance & Finance) category. Both solutions were selected to represent Sri Lanka at the APICTA Awards 2025.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.66% to 22,783.62 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.47% to 6,292.27, led by heavy buying in banks and finance; top contributors included Central Finance, Co-operative Insurance, Harischandra Mills, DFCC, WindForce and Seylan Bank.

The EPF recorded an unrealized profit of Rs.73.97 billion on its Colombo Stock Exchange holdings as of June 30, 2025, with its Rs.85.88 billion invested across 64 listed companies rising to a market value of Rs.159.85 billion.

National Development Bank (NDB) was Main Banking Partner for National Pension Day 2025 and promoted its NDB Aachara Senior Citizens Account and Aachara Loan Scheme, offering loans up to Rs. 4.5 million with up to 15-year repayment and life insurance coverage.

NDB Bank launched a limited-time 100- and 200-day fixed deposit offering paying 8.00% and 8.25% interest respectively, available until December 2025.

SLEIS 2025 will feature a 'Capital Markets: Catalyst for Growth' session on Dec 2-3 to explore how equity and debt markets can finance Sri Lanka's growth; keynote by Ruchir Desai and a panel including NDB Capital, Commercial Bank, Colombo Stock Exchange and First Capital, with sponsors such as Dialog, Hayleys and Sunshine.

ADB urged Sri Lanka to make cybersecurity and data protection core to its digital transformation. Government advisers said recent laws and institutions (PDPA, Data Protection Authority, National Cyber Security Centre) and a forthcoming Cyber Security Bill will underpin plans to grow the digital economy to $15bn by 2029 and boost digital exports.

Commercial Bank, DFCC, HNB, NDB, Sampath Bank and Seylan partnered with Home Lands at its Home Lands EXPO 2025 to offer up to 100% financing, including the Wealth Builder plan with no down payment, to support purchases of Home Lands projects.

NDB Bank will run the NDB Shilpa Children’s Savings Account Santa Campaign from 1 Oct–15 Dec 2025; parents who deposit over LKR 50,000 into eligible Shilpa accounts will receive a gift delivered by Santa from 1 Dec. The Shilpa account also offers interest, insurance cover and academic bonuses.

IMF and G20 participants urged greater transparency and faster restructuring of non-bonded commercial loans to ease sovereign debt stress, highlighting risks for banks with exposures in vulnerable countries such as Sri Lanka.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher with market capitalisation surpassing Rs. 8 trillion for the first time as the ASPI rose 0.23% to 22,372.57. Turnover was Rs. 5.7 billion, diversified financials led activity, and key positive contributors included WIND, DIAL, HNB and NDB; foreigners were net sellers (Rs.59m outflow).

AIA Sri Lanka held its Partnership Distribution Diamond Club 2025 in Osaka (11–14 June), recognising top bancassurance performers for FY2024, including representatives from NDB and Commercial Bank.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.23% (ASPI 22,372.57) as WindForce and diversified financials led trading. WindForce leased land for a 100MW solar project and had turnover of 308.9 million rupees; Dialog, HNB and NDB were also top contributors.

NDB Wealth Growth Fund returned 37.11% YTD to 30 Sep 2025, delivering cumulative returns of over 170% since the start of 2023 and outperforming the ASPI (156.53%). NDB Wealth said disciplined stock selection and easing macro headwinds, including single-digit interest rates, are driving investor demand for equities.

The Reserve Bank of India has allowed Indian banks and their Sri Lanka branches to lend to Sri Lankan customers denominated in Indian rupees, widening credit access and reducing exchange-rate risk for Sri Lankan businesses.

NDB Bank signed an MoU with United Motors Lanka PLC to provide flexible leasing and financing for UML’s Mitsubishi passenger and commercial vehicles, including Fuso trucks and Rosa buses. The deals offer fast approvals, minimal documentation, no guarantor requirements and leverage UML’s 2,500+ dealer network.

NDB Wealth Growth Fund posted a 37.11% YTD return as of 30 Sep 2025 and has delivered over 170% cumulative return since the start of 2023, outpacing the ASPI's 156.53%.

The Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia celebrated its 10th edition and presented awards to 20 institutions across 30 categories; NDB won Deal of the Year (Gold) and, with Vidullanka, received a First Listed Sukuk award (Silver), Seylan Bank won Deal of the Year Silver for a 10MW solar project, and L B Finance won ESG and digital product awards.

Sri Lanka's banks cut foreign borrowings and boosted FX deposits and investments, lifting net foreign‑currency assets 42.5% y/y to USD 1.5bn at end‑Q2 2025. D‑SIBs (84.8% of these investments) and banks including Sampath Bank and HNB financed foreign governments and firms via sovereign securities and syndicated loans.

NDB Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with DIMO to offer affordable leasing for DIMO passenger brands (including Mercedes‑Benz and Tata) and Tata commercial vehicles, featuring quick approvals, minimal documentation and tailored repayment plans to support individuals, SMEs and corporates.

National Development Bank PLC's NDB Privilege Banking hosted the Global Education Expo 2025, bringing over 30 international universities to its Havelock Centre and attracting around 50 Privilege clients. The event promoted NDB's Student File proposition for overseas fee payments, remittances and tailored banking services.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon CIO Sumudu Gunawardhana urged banks to join the Fintech Forum to strengthen bank–fintech partnerships and grow wallet share. He said fintechs provide agility while banks offer trust, scale and compliance support to expand digital financial services and improve cybersecurity.

NDB Bank has been Great Place To Work Certified for July 2025–July 2026, its third time and the first local bank in Sri Lanka to receive the recognition three times. The certification followed employee survey feedback and a Culture Audit of people management, inclusion and development initiatives.

Gamer.LK won the Gold Award at SLIM DIGIS 2.5 for the "NDB Avurudu Dupatha" campaign produced for National Development Bank PLC, highlighting effective gamified marketing to digital audiences. Gamer.LK also earned a Merit Award for a CLEAR (Unilever) campaign.

Colombo Stock Exchange extended its rally to a 13th session as the ASPI rose 0.46% (100.49 pts) to 21,951.79 with turnover of Rs.6.5bn and foreign net inflows of Rs.46.4m. Banking, capital goods and food/beverage counters led activity, with Melstacorp, Access Engineering, Union Bank, RCL and NDB among top contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose after Fitch confirmed Sri Lanka's CCC+ sovereign rating; the ASPI closed up 0.46% at 21,951.79. Market turnover was Rs6.51bn, with bank stocks (Rs1.54bn) and capital goods (Rs1.35bn) driving gains and top contributors including Melstacorp, Access Engineering, Royal Ceramics and NDB.

National Development Bank PLC (NDB.N0000) was certified as a Great Place to Work for July 2025–July 2026 and is the only local bank in Sri Lanka to receive the recognition. The certification follows independent evaluations by Great Place to Work Sri Lanka assessing employee experience, culture and HR practices.

Colombo Stock Exchange will host the 7th CSE Masterminds Quiz on 17 October 2025, offering prizes worth over Rs. 3.5 million (champion Rs.1,000,000; 2nd Rs.500,000; 3rd Rs.375,000). Sponsors from the shortlist include Ex-Pack, Sarvodaya Development Finance, Alliance Finance, Teejay Lanka, NDB (via NDB Capital) and HNB Investment Bank.

Colombo Stock Exchange will hold the 7th CSE Masterminds Quiz on 17 October 2025 offering over Rs. 3.5 million in prizes; sponsors include listed firms such as Teejay Lanka (TJL.N0000), Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000), Alliance Finance (ALLI.N0000), Sarvodaya DF (SDF.N0000), Ex-Pack (PACK.N0000) and NDB (NDB.N0000).