Business
HNB Group posts Rs. 8.8bn in PAT during first nine months of 2020
Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) reported Profit After Taxes (PAT) of Rs. 7.7Bn for the first nine months of 2020, while the Group recorded a PAT for Rs. 8.8Bn for the same period.
Commenting on the performance, Dinesh Weerakkody, chairman of HNB stated that, “Sri Lanka managed the first wave of the pandemic commendably. However, as the situation continues to evolve globally, we as a nation are currently at a crucial juncture once again. Despite the significant challenges brought about by the pandemic, HNB continued to demonstrate strength, stability and resilience. The recent unprecedented two notch downgrade of the Sovereign rating by Moody’s has been a further setback. In this backdrop, I’m happy to note that HNB was able to conclude a long term loan agreement of USD 60Mn with the French Development Financing Institution, Proparco to support the SME sector of Sri Lanka”.
The monetary easing adopted post the pandemic has led to a 400bps drop in AWPLR since the beginning of the year. The Interest Income of the Bank declined in line with the drop in interest rates to Rs. 79.6 Bn, by 8.7% YoY in comparison to the corresponding period of 2019. Interest Expenses of Rs. 45.8 Bn represented a 7.3% YoY drop from last year, resulting in a Net Interest Income (NII) of Rs. 33.8 Bn which was 10.6% lower compared to the first nine months of the previous year.
The impact of COVID-19 continued to hamper the Net Fee and Commission income which declined by 18.9% YoY to Rs. 5.4 Bn as a result of the restrictions placed on imports, low volume of foreign card transactions, removal of certain charges as part of CBSL initiated COVID relief scheme and low level of economic activity etc. However, the Bank witnessed an encouraging increase in income from digital products and platforms with customers shifting to digital channels under social distancing and health guidelines.
Expressing his views on the performance of the Bank, Jonathan Alles, Managing Director / CEO of HNB stated that, “Our country was moving in a positive trajectory over the last few months, until the second wave struck us, however, this has been a common phenomenon across the world. Therefore, it is important to provide the necessary support to drive grass root revival and adapt to the ‘new normal’. As of September, HNB has provided moratoriums to over 85,000 customers and processed working capital finance amounting to over Rs. 24Bn to COVID affected businesses under the CBSL Saubhagya schemes. Over the past two years, the banking sector of Sri Lanka, has stepped in to support distressed sectors, providing necessary financial assistance as our country underwent, multiple shocks. At this critical point in time as a responsible D-SIB, HNB will once again stand by its loyal customers, to ensure that they come out of this crisis successfully. We strongly believe that the authorities will introduce sustainable, long term solutions and more stable alternate funding options to support the most vulnerable segments of our economy”.
He added that “We are cognizant of the tough road ahead of us, however we remain optimistic of the revival of our economy and the time taken for recovery would depend on how successful we are as a nation in managing the crisis. At HNB, we will continue to drive transformational change in our systems, processes and people operating within the new normal, and play a meaningful role in the resurgence of Sri Lanka.”
The NPA ratio of the Bank increased to 6.51% compared to 5.91% as at end of December 2019 and 6.4% as at 30th June 2020. However, an exposure of Rs. 11.5 Bn to a State Owned Enterprise, which was classified as NPA in December 2019, was regularized in October 2020. Accordingly, after adjusting for this recovery, the NPA ratio for the Bank would have decreased to 5.06% from the NPA ratio of 6.51% reported for September 2020. The impairment charge for the period increased by 45.6% YoY over the nine-month period to Rs. 11.8Bn. Although the Bank’s policy is to account for impairment for foreign currency denominated government securities based on the ratings published by Fitch Ratings, the Bank recognized a provision of Rs 427 Mn during 3Q 2020, on account of the sovereign downgrade by Moody’s in September 2020, in addition to the provision made in 1Q 2020 due to the sovereign downgrade by Fitch Ratings.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) launched the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 on 05 May 2025 at the Atrium of CBSL, marking a key milestone in its continued efforts to foster a climate-resilient and socially inclusive financial system.
Recognising the growing implications of climate-related risks on price stability and financial system stability, CBSL introduced the first Sustainable Finance Roadmap in 2019, which provided foundational guidance to financial institutions on managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks while encouraging financing for green and inclusive economic activities.
In light of evolving global developments, increasing access to climate-focused financing, and broader recognition of the social dimension of sustainability, CBSL developed the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 for the period 2025–2029, with technical and financial support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in partnership with the European Union, under the Accelerating Climate-Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (EU-ACSIIS) programme.
The Roadmap 2.0 was crafted in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA), The Finance Houses Association of Sri Lanka (FHA), financial institutions and government bodies.
Focusing on Sri Lanka’s financial sector, the Roadmap 2.0 outlines a comprehensive set of prioritised actions for banking, non-banking, capital market, and insurance sectors. These actions are geared toward financing sustainable development, strengthening the management of environmental and social risks, enhancing reporting and disclosures, and improving governance and coordination across institutions.
The launch event was attended by distinguished guests including Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka; officials of IFC and EU; Ministerial secretaries and senior officials of government institutions; national and international experts on sustainability; representatives of financial institutions and partner agencies.
Communications Department 05.05.2025 2 Delivering the keynote address, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, emphasised that the launch of Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 marks a vital step in strengthening the resilience and inclusiveness of Sri Lanka’s financial sector amid growing climate and social challenges. He highlighted the need for urgent, coordinated action to integrate climate risk into financial decision-making and called for strong stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective implementation of the Roadmap 2.0.
Speaking at the event, Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for World Bank and IFC in Sri Lanka, noted that as Sri Lanka strives for resilient and inclusive growth, sustainable finance will be crucial in creating jobs and driving economic expansion, while also positioning the country to be investment ready. He further highlighted that building a truly sustainable financial ecosystem in Sri Lanka is a collective endeavor – one that IFC has been a part of from inception, and remains committed in working together with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and industry stakeholders to bring the shared vision of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 to fruition.
The keynote was followed by a session providing an overview of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0, led by Ms. W. A. Dilrukshini, Assistant Governor of CBSL, and Ms. Wei Yuan, ESG Officer of IFC. A panel discussion on “Rolling Out the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0” featured Dr. Thusitha Sugathapala, National Technical Expert on Sustainability; Ms. S. Ketawala, Additional Director of the Bank Supervision Department of CBSL; Thimal Perera, Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank; and Ms. Nilupa Perera, Chief Regulatory Officer -Designate of CSE.
The Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0 can be accessed using the following link:
https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/sustainable_finance_roadmap_2.0.pdf
Browns Investments PLC (BIL), the investment arm of the LOLC Group, has announced a significant expansion of its plantation portfolio with the acquisition of FLMC Plantations (Pvt) Ltd (FLMC). The acquisition was completed on May 5, 2025, through a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Damro Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd and Piyestra Furniture (Pvt) Ltd, for a total consideration of LKR 4.8 billion.
FLMC Plantations serves as the holding company and managing agent for Pussellawa Plantations Ltd (PPL) and Melfort Green Teas (Pvt) Ltd. PPL operates over 11,500 hectares of land across 24 estates, managing 5,400 hectares of tea, 5,900 hectares of rubber, and 200 hectares of minor crops. The estates collectively produce 4.3 million kilograms of made tea and 2.3 million kilograms of rubber annually. Strategically located in Sri Lanka’s renowned tea-growing regions, including Pussellawa, Udupussellawa, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa, these estates will further enhance BIL’s presence in the country’s agricultural landscape.
Commenting on the acquisition, the Group Managing Director/ CEO of LOLC Holdings PLC, Kapila Jayawardena stated, “Over the past two decades, LOLC Group has been guided by a bold vision of expansion and diversification, positioning ourselves as a global powerhouse across multiple sectors. Our acquisition of FLMC Plantations through Browns Investments PLC is another key milestone in strengthening our leadership in agriculture and plantations. With the addition of Pussellawa Plantations and Melfort Green Teas, we are not only expanding our footprint in Sri Lanka’s premier tea-growing regions but also enhancing our ability to supply premium-quality tea to global markets.’’
Business
VFS Global acquires majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience to create a centre of excellence
Supercharged Growth: VFS Global’s partnership will accelerate CiX’s expansion across Brazil, Latin America, and beyond.
Global Powerhouse: With VFS Global’s capital, technology, talent and scale, CiX Citizen Experience will bring new products and technology to the global marketplace.
Quality of Life Commitment: Both companies are dedicated to innovative solutions, including the use of AI, that improve citizens’ quality of life
Local Impact with Wider Reach: Collaboration to modernise services for citizens of Brazil by creating a centre of excellence that stands as a global example.
VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure global mobility for governments and citizens, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a leading provider of digital and physical citizen services based in Brazil. This strategic acquisition marks a pivotal step in VFS Global’s expansion journey—particularly across Latin America (LATAM)—as it continues to broaden its capabilities and deepen its impact in the public service delivery space.
With nearly two decades of pioneering innovation in citizen services, CiX has established a strong presence in Brazil. This success will be further scaled across LATAM and other global markets, leveraging VFS Global’s international reach and operational excellence.
This acquisition is centred on driving transformation through advanced digital technologies, including AI and data-driven platforms. By uniting CiX’s cutting-edge digital capabilities with VFS Global’s extensive global infrastructure and expertise in managing complex service ecosystems, we are positioned to deliver next-generation, integrated solutions to public and private sector clients around the world.
For both companies’ client governments and partners, this will lead to enhanced, tailored solutions that improve citizen engagement, access, and satisfaction.
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