Business

HNB supports Lanka’s recovery with record advances growth and strengthened balance sheet in 2025

Published

1 week ago

2026/03/1

Group’s total tax contribution amounted to Rs 48.4 Bn in 2025

Group’s Gross Loans and Advances crosses Rs 1.5 Tn in 2025 and deposits crosses Rs 2.0 Tn

Net Fee and Commission Income grew by 28.9% year-on-year

Asset quality strengthened with the Net Stage 3 ratio improving to 1.09% and Stage 3 coverage at 75.97%

Declares a total dividend of Rs 20.00 per share

HNB Group delivered strong performance in 2025, with Group Profit After Tax (PAT) reaching Rs 49.8 Bn, reflecting the continued progress. The Bank’s PAT stood at Rs 45.4 Bn, supported by robust balance sheet expansion and sustained improvements in asset quality.

Commenting on the performance, Nihal Jayawardena, Chairman of HNB PLC, stated,

“The year 2025 marked a decisive shift in Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, supported by improving macroeconomic fundamentals, renewed private sector confidence, and continued progress in national reform efforts. HNB’s strong balance sheet expansion, disciplined risk management, and sustained investment in digital and operational capabilities position the Bank to play an essential role in supporting the country’s revival”.

“While the year concluded with the severe impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the resilience demonstrated by communities and institutions underscored the importance of a banking sector that remains agile, responsive, and deeply committed to national progress. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to mobilise capital, rebuild affected livelihoods, and strengthen long-term economic stability.”

Despite strong credit growth, net interest margins remained under pressure amid an accommodative monetary policy stance. Net Interest Income declined marginally by 0.6% year-on-year, reflecting the broad reduction in market interest rates, and the recognition of a portion of overdue interest from the restructuring of Sri Lanka Sovereign Bonds (SLSBs) in December 2024, which temporarily boosted interest income in the previous year. However, the decrease in net interest income was moderated by the increase in interest income from loans and advances, supported by the expansion in the loan book, and the growth in CASA deposits.

Non-fund-based income provided a strong counterbalance, with Net Fee and Commission Income increasing by 28.9% year-on-year on the back of higher card usage and a sharp increase in digital transactions. The significant increase in the demand for trade related services on the back of the reopening of vehicle imports and improving trade activity, saw trade finance emerge as one of the key contributors to non-fund income in the current year. Furthermore, Exchange income rose to Rs 6.3 Bn during the year, reversing the loss of Rs 2.9 Bn recorded in 2024.

Prudent risk management, disciplined underwriting and focused recovery efforts supported a significant improvement in asset quality during the year. The Stage 3 portfolio recorded a net reduction alongside an impairment reversal of Rs 9.2 Bn, following the recognition of Rs 2.2 Bn in post-model adjustments made prudently for loan exposures with potential vulnerability arising from Cyclone Ditwah. Accordingly, the Net Stage 3 ratio improved to 1.09% as at end December 2025, compared to 1.88% a year earlier, while the Stage 3 coverage ratio remained robust at 75.97%.

Damith Pallewatte, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of HNB PLC, commented, “HNB’s performance in 2025 reflects the strength of our strategic priorities and the unwavering commitment of our teams to support customers across all segments of the Economy. The year was characterised by deliberate efforts to optimise our balance sheet, deepen digital integration, and enhance operational agility, enabling us to respond effectively to improving market conditions and renewed private sector confidence. We continued to accelerate our digital journey with next-generation capabilities such as TradeX and HNB Accept, while further enhancing accessibility and convenience through the HNB Mobile Banking App, reinforcing our focus on delivering simple, seamless, and inclusive financial solutions.”

“Our commitment to sustainability remained central to our agenda during the year. We advanced key initiatives through the issuance of a Rs 10 Bn Sustainable Bond and our participation in a USD 1 Bn sustainability-linked funding facility to support eligible green and social projects. In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, we acted swiftly by recognising prudent impairments, contributing to the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund, and strengthening the integration of climate risk into our credit assessment frameworks. We also deepened our governance agenda through a strategic partnership with Transparency International Sri Lanka, reflecting our continued commitment to integrity and responsible banking.”

“Our subsidiaries contributed meaningfully to the Group’s overall progress, with the full consolidation of HNB Investment Bank further strengthening our integrated franchise across capital markets. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our employees for their dedication and professionalism, to our customers for their enduring trust, to our shareholders for their continued confidence, and to our regulators and the Board of Directors for their guidance and stewardship throughout the year.”

The Bank’s asset base expanded to Rs 2.39 Tn, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 15.0% driven by the strong expansion in the loan book and disciplined balance sheet optimisation. With a clear focus on enhancing the asset mix, the Bank redeployed funds from government securities into customer loans. Consequently, Total Gross Loans and Advances grew by Rs 354 Bn during the year to exceed Rs 1.5 Tn, marking the most significant annual increase in the Bank’s history. The Bank’s deposit base also recorded healthy growth of Rs 246 Bn, reaching Rs 1.96 Tn as at end-December 2025, supported by focused efforts to strengthen CASA mobilisation, and improve the overall funding mix.

Capital buffers remained strong, with the Bank’s Tier I and Total Capital Adequacy ratios at 16.85% and 19.95%, respectively, well above regulatory minimums, supported by healthy internal capital generation and prudent risk-weighted asset expansion. The Bank also maintained a robust liquidity position, with an all-currency liquidity coverage ratio of 227.75%, comfortably exceeding statutory requirements across all currencies, underscoring the strength of HNB’s balance sheet and risk management frameworks.

HNB’s share delivered strong performance during 2025, with the voting share trading between a high of Rs 433.00 and a low of Rs 267.00, while the non-voting share recorded a trading range between Rs 340.00 and Rs 230.00 during the year. The voting and non-voting shares closed the year at Rs 398.50 and Rs 318.75, respectively, reflecting improved investor sentiment in line with the Bank’s continued financial progress. The Group’s Net Book Value per share increased to Rs 529.5 as at end-December 2025, supported by strong profitability and internal capital generation. In view of the positive performance, the Board of Directors of HNB PLC has proposed a total dividend of Rs 20.00 per share for 2025, subject to shareholder approval.

HNB is rated AA-(lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. and was recognised as Sri Lanka’s Best Corporate Citizen for 2025 by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Reinforcing its reputation for excellence, HNB was honoured with The Bracken Award for the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by the Banker Magazine, UK. The Bank was also recognised by The Asian Banker as ‘Sri Lanka’s Strongest Bank’ and awarded ‘Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka’ for the 15th time, while receiving the title of ‘Best Bank for Large Corporates’ at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. HNB is further ranked among the ‘Top 1000 Banks in the World,’ as affirmed by The Banker Magazine, UK.

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Business

Oil prices jump above $100 for first time in four years

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Oil facilities in Tehran were hit by airstrikes at the weekend

Global oil prices have jumped above $100 (£75.11) a barrel for the first time since 2022 as the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran has fuelled fears of prolonged disruption to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran on Sunday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader, signalling that a week into the conflict hardliners remain in charge of the country.

The US and Israel launched fresh waves of airstrikes across Iran over the weekend, hitting multiple targets including oil depots.

Major disruption to energy supplies from the region threatens to push up prices for consumers and businesses around the world.

Early on Monday in Asia, Brent crude was around 15.5% higher at $107.16, while Nymex light sweet was up by more than 17% at $106.77.

Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region fell sharply in early trading on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 index down by more than 5% and the ASX 200 in Australia more than 3.5% lower.

Many in the markets predicted that oil would hit the $100 a barrel mark this week.

In the event it took about a minute to jump 10%, and then another 15 minutes to rise a further 10% in early Asian trading.

Last week the markets had been relatively relaxed about the seeming nightmare scenario for millions of barrels of crude and liquefied natural gas trapped in the Gulf, unable or unwilling to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

But the escalations over the weekend, alongside scenes of destruction of energy infrastructure both in Iran and across the Gulf, saw the markets take rapid fright.

The question now is where does this go? Some analysts argue that if the shutdown in the strait lasts until the end of March, we could see record oil prices above $150 a barrel.

The existing rise is likely to further increase petrol prices, and those of important derivative products such as jet fuel and vital precursors for fertilisers.

The physical supplies from the Gulf are mainly consumed in Asia.

Already however there are signs that Asian consumers are bidding up prices for US gas, with some tankers originally heading for Europe turning around in the mid-Atlantic.

US President Donald Trump responded to the jump in prices by saying that short term rises were a “small price to pay” for removing Iran’s nuclear threat.

His energy secretary told US broadcasters on Sunday that Israel, not the US, was targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, amid some concern about rising domestic pump prices caused by the war.

(BBC)

Business

CMTA warns buyers of long-term costs hidden in reconditioned vehicle imports

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/9

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) has issued a stark cautionary note to prospective vehicle buyers, warning that the initial price advantage of reconditioned imports often masks significant long-term financial risks.

By highlighting a “structural imbalance” in the current duty valuation system – which allows near-identical vehicles to be imported under a 15% automatic depreciation bracket – the CMTA argues that the lack of manufacturer-backed warranties and tropicalised specifications in the grey market could lead to a “reconditioned trap” for unsuspecting consumers. For the savvy buyer, the association suggests that the true cost of ownership is increasingly tilting the scales in favour of brand-new vehicles from authorised agents.

If two identical 2026 models are sitting on different lots, and one is significantly cheaper because it was technically “registered and de-registered” abroad, the frugal buyer’s instinct is to take the discount. But the CMTA argues that this 15% depreciation benefit – intended for genuine used cars – is being leveraged as a loophole for zero-mileage vehicles.

For the savvy buyer, this raises a fundamental question of transparency. If the entry price of a vehicle is built on a “procedural” technicality rather than actual wear and tear, where else is the transparency lacking? Does the lower price reflect a genuine saving passed to the consumer, or does it mask a lack of manufacturer-backed after-sales support?

When a buyer chooses an authorised agent, they are essentially purchasing an insurance policy against the unknown. With a five-year manufacturer warranty, the financial burden of a faulty transmission or a software glitch stays with the global giant that built the car, not the local owner. In an era where vehicles are increasingly “computers on wheels,” the technical specialised tools and genuine parts held by authorised agents are no longer a luxury – they are a necessity for longevity.

The CMTA’s perspective also invites the buyer to look at the “Big Picture.” Every time a vehicle is imported under an under-declared value or an artificial depreciation bracket, it isn’t just a loss for the Treasury; it is a blow to the country’s foreign exchange discipline.

“A savvy buyer today is more informed than ever. They realize that a “cheap” import with no service history and no tropicalised specifications may eventually become a “minus” on the balance sheet. Frequent repairs and lower resale value can quickly evaporate the initial few lakhs saved at the point of purchase. Ultimately, the choice between brand new and used is a choice between certainty and speculation,” the Association says.

The CMTA is advocating for a level playing field where duty is based on true transaction value. Until that day comes, the burden of due diligence rests on the consumer. To be a “savvy buyer” in 2026 means looking past the showroom shine and asking: Who stands behind this car if something goes wrong tomorrow?

In conclusion, CMTA says,” For those seeking long-term peace of mind, the “brand new” path – supported by a transparent duty structure and a solid warranty – remains the gold standard for steering Sri Lanka’s complex automotive landscape.”

Before signing the papers on a reconditioned vehicle, the CMTA suggests buyers evaluate the four “minus” factors against a “brand new” purchase:

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Business

Spa Ceylon launches initiative to support women entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/9

Thilina Walpola

Co-Founder & Managing Director Shiwantha Dias says women-led businesses are a driving force of economic progress.

Spa Ceylon has unveiled ‘Her Business Matters’, a nationwide initiative running throughout March 2026 to provide growth support for women-led businesses in Sri Lanka.

The program will select five women entrepreneurs weekly for brand amplification through Spa Ceylon’s marketing reach, influencer partnerships, and community network. Eligible applicants must be female founders manufacturing or producing locally.

Selected participants will attend a development workshop in Colombo featuring business leaders and industry experts covering social media strategy, advertising, compliance, brand positioning, and scaling. Spa Ceylon resource personnel will also host category-specific fringe events.

Co-Founder & Group Director Shalin Balasuriya stated the initiative moves “beyond surface-level marketing” to create lasting community impact, inspired by the brothers’ upbringing with an entrepreneurial mother.

Applications are accepted via Spa Ceylon’s social media platforms throughout this month.