News & market updates

Hatton National Bank hosted the inaugural Sri Lanka FinTech Summit 2025 at BMICH, where Visa launched 'Visa Accept' in Sri Lanka to enable merchants to accept card payments via smartphones without extra hardware. The two-day forum gathered regulators, banks, startups and policymakers to discuss digital payments, blockchain, AI and financial inclusion.

NDB Bank hosted an Exporter Forum in Kandy to support exporters, highlighting Sri Lanka's 15.37% YoY merchandise export growth in July 2025 and that SMEs contribute just 5% of national exports. The event promoted NDB's SME-focused financial solutions, advisory services and digital banking support to help expand exporters' global reach.

National Development Bank PLC launched a Tourism Sector Auto Loan Scheme offering up to LKR 25 million at 7% p.a. with repayment up to seven years to finance new or reconditioned coaches for tour operators and other tourism transport providers.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has joined GovPay, enabling tourism operators to pay the Tourism Development Levy and other SLTDA services online via banks' internet/mobile banking and connected FinTech apps. The initial rollout covers TDL payments with phased expansion planned.

SLTDA has joined GovPay, enabling Tourism Development Levy and other SLTDA payments to be made online via 14 banks and six FinTech apps (including major local banks and L B Finance's CIM). GovPay, launched Feb 2025, has processed 1,773 services totalling over Rs.110 Mn and will expand to more SLTDA payments.

NDB Investment Bank (part of the National Development Bank group) was named Euromoney's Best Investment Bank in Sri Lanka for a 14th consecutive year. NDBIB said it led multiple 2024 transactions including M&A/divestitures, rights issues, debentures and groundwork for Vidullanka's Sukuk and Alliance Finance's green bond.

National Development Bank (NDB) has launched the E-Friends II Solar Refinance Loan Scheme with the Industries Ministry, offering businesses loans up to Rs.10 million at 6.5% p.a. for up to 10 years to install up to 50 kW of solar capacity.

Alliance Finance Company PLC (ALLI.N0000) issued and listed Sri Lanka’s first Social Bond on the Colombo Stock Exchange on 28 Aug; proceeds will fund projects delivering measurable social benefits such as finance for marginalised communities, women-led enterprises, job creation and skills development.

NDB Bank launched the E-Friends II Solar Refinance Loan Scheme offering businesses loans up to Rs.10 million at 6.5% p.a. with up to 10-year repayment to finance installations up to 50 kW. The program, run with the Ministry of Industries, aims to boost solar adoption and reduce operating costs for entrepreneurs.

Banking system net foreign assets fell from about $3.3bn in April 2025 to $2.90bn in July 2025, reversing after rate cuts and a pickup in private credit. Central bank net foreign assets also eased to around $1.41bn in June (≈$1.46bn in July), buying $142m from the interbank market in August.

NDB Wealth (National Development Bank) upgraded its Xapp Corporate platform to give corporate clients real-time account balances, live transaction monitoring and instant generation/download of customized reports for faster financial oversight.

NDB Privilege Banking (National Development Bank PLC) powered the 10th Bradby Golf Encounter, which concluded in a historic 5.0–5.0 tie between Old Trinitians and Old Royalists at Victoria Golf Resort; NDB served as the main strategic partner for the milestone event.

NDB Bank opened its relocated Akkaraipattu branch on 10 September at No. 71, Ampara Road, moving to a more central, accessible site to offer enhanced facilities and customer experience and adding a dedicated Islamic Banking Unit under NDB Shareek.

Colombo market rebounded as ASPI rose 0.4% (S&P SL20 +0.6%) on turnover of Rs.11.87bn led by CT Holdings (Rs.3.6bn), Cargills (Rs.1bn), CDB, PickMe and Sierra Cables. Selected banks (HNB, NDB, NHL, BIL, DFCC) were top positive contributors while foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.2.6bn), with CT Holdings seeing net foreign selling.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI gained 0.46% to 20,769, with a C T Holdings crossing contributing Rs 3.6bn to turnover; C T Holdings closed down Rs 29.75 at Rs 689. Banks led gains with HNB, NDB and DFCC up, while Sampath and Nations Trust fell.

NDB Bank launched the SME Re-Energizer Loan offering MSMEs and start-ups up to Rs.25 million at 7% p.a. for investment funding. The scheme targets sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, exports, apparel and construction and funds machinery, solar, vehicles and tech upgrades.

ICCSSL hosted a July 30 Coffee Evening where CSE and SEC officials and practitioners discussed the Colombo Stock Exchange's new governance regulations for listed companies, focusing on compliance complexities and implementation challenges.

Colombo market fell for a second straight session as the ASPI slipped 0.07% to 20,975.73, with banks HNB, NDB and COMB among the main decliners and market turnover at Rs.6.47 billion.

Colombo ASPI slipped 0.07% to 20,975.73 with turnover of 6.4 billion rupees; Dankotuwa Porcelain contributed 1.19 billion and closed down at 21.40. Most hotels rose on strong August tourist numbers, while HNB, NDB, Commercial Bank and John Keells weighed on the index.

NDB Wealth Management (part of the NDB Group) opened its first-ever branch in Jaffna, marking the firm's expansion outside Colombo. The branch will offer investment funds, retirement planning, customised wealth management services and investor education workshops.

National Development Bank (NDB) launched the SME Re-Energizer Loan offering eligible MSMEs up to LKR 25 million at 7% p.a. with flexible repayments. The facility targets priority sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, exports, construction and supports investments like machinery and solar installations.

NDB Wealth Management (part of the NDB Group) has opened its first branch in Jaffna, offering investment funds, retirement planning, customised wealth management and investor education to expand the group's nationwide presence.

Colombo Bourse fell as investors took profits, with the ASPI down 72 pts to 20,991 and turnover of Rs. 7.5bn (foreign net inflow Rs. 97m). Declines were led by CTC, SAMP, NDB and COMB while Alumex, Sierra Cables and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings posted gains.

Colombo ASPI fell 0.34% (71.78 pts) to 20,990.67, weighed down by declines in Ceylon Tobacco, Commercial Bank, National Development Bank, John Keells and DFCC; turnover was LKR 7.53 billion.

NDB Bank, in partnership with NewsFirst, held the Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2025 Grand Finale on 20 August, awarding Anudi Gunasekara the Most Popular Woman title and adding Digital Entrepreneur and Foreign Employment categories. The event honoured multiple provincial and lifetime achievers and promoted a five-year sustainability model focused on financial literacy and enterprise growth.

People’s Bank reported an all-time-high 1H Profit Before Tax of Rs. 28.0 billion and PAT of Rs. 18.2 billion. The bank also reported Rs. 3.6t in assets, Rs. 3.1t deposits, improved net interest margins and a digital customer base of 3.7m.

NDB Bank (NDB.N0000) signed an MOU with ACCHE on 25 Aug 2025 to provide a Student File package covering tuition payments, living expenses, foreign remittances and financial advisory for Sri Lankan students studying in major overseas destinations.

NDB Bank is the Principal (Exclusive Banking) Partner for Oktoberfest at the Edge 2025 at Waters Edge, Colombo, scheduled for 24–26 October 2025. The tie-up is presented as part of NDB's lifestyle and customer engagement initiatives to offer experiential benefits to clients.

Hatton National Bank MD Damith Pallewatte is leading the Sri Lanka FinTech Summit 2025 (Sept 24–25) to coordinate a national fintech ecosystem, targeting measures like 95% financial inclusion by 2030 and $100m in near-term fintech investment; workstreams will focus on SME lending, KYC interoperability, blockchain pilots and cross-border payments.