Business

People’s Bank celebrates its 60th anniversary

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/4

30th June 2021, Colombo:

On the 1stJuly 2021, People’s Bank celebrated its 60th anniversary on 1st of July 2021 marking a period during which it revolutionized the Sri Lankan banking industry by taking innovative banking to touch the lives of even the most grass root level customers who had had been largely overlooked by the industry.

During the past 60 years, the bank has always strived to understand its customers’ needs and was able to use new technology and innovative products to meet those needs. It is this approach that has won them Sri Lanka’s largest customer base of over 14 million.

People’s Bank was established under Act No. 29 of1961 with the aim of uplifting the corporate business and rural banking systems. This Act was submitted to Parliament by then Minister of Trade, Food, Co-operatives and Shipping,T. B. Illangaratne, during the regime of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Vincent Subasinghe was the first Chairman of People’s Bank; he was a pioneer in providing banking services to the corporate sector.

In an era when banking services were limited to English speaking upper end of the society,

It was the establishment of People’s Bank that changed that phenomenon, by starting to work in Sinhala and Tamil.

Right from the inception, the bank started working towards its mission to serve the masses. Accordingly, People’s Bank has introduced many firsts to the country such as agriculture loans, Pawning, SME loans, Women’s Savings Accounts and Children’s Savings Accounts to name few. Most of these product concepts were so widely embraced by the society, that almost all the local commercial banks are now offering them under different brand names.

Currently, People’s Bank is one of Sri Lanka’s largest financial institutions, boasting over Rs.2.3 trillion in assets. Its network of 741 branches/service centres is the country’s largest. The bank also possesses a network of over 250 Self Banking Units operating 24/7 all 365 days of the year. This enormous network has enables the people to get their banking done safely, securely and with ease of accessibility.

Speaking at a 60th anniversary celebratory event, the Chairman of the People’s Bank Mr. Sujeewa Rajapakse stated “Marking a turning point in the Sri Lanka banking sector, People’s Bank was established on 1st July 1961. Today, we celebrate the 60th anniversary with much pride. As a reputed state bank, People’s Bank not only provides state-of-the-art financial facilities but also renders their services to uplift the social economy. As a state bank, People’s Bank’s objectives transcend beyond mere profits and the main focus has always been the country’s development. Hence many a time we have provided financial facilities for exports, education, health, expressways and tourism infrastructure.

People’s Bank has always come forward to shoulder the societal responsibilities and even the current COVID-19 pandemic is no different. We are very much a part of this nation and this is why the country in turn considers us as the pride of the nation”.

Ranjith Kodituwakku – Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, People’s Bank also commented “From the inception, People’s Bank was open to the common man instead of just one strata of the society. Although the bank was catering the mass market, that did not prevent it from being innovative and technology oriented. This is why People’s Bank expanded rapidly in terms of network, financial performance, product portfolio and brand value. Furthermore, People’s Bank has greatly supported the country’s socio-economic development. People’s Bank continues to introduce new banking technology to the financial sector and to its customers in order to establisher stronger relationships with them. We look to pioneer modern banking solutions in the future as well”.

While the bank initially focused on rural sectors and cooperative movements, since then the bank has evolved and is currently offering a range of products to support their customer’s standards of living. The loan schemes on offer include, Personal Loans, Housing Loans, Professional Loans, Educational Loans and Vehicle Loans. Furthermore, People’s Bank from time to time has introduced special loans schemes to assist farming and fishing communities especially to revive the country’s economy after challenging times.

Adapting to the modern world, the People’s Bank launched a digital banking project in 2015, to ensure that their customers could transact easily, safely and efficiently. People’s Bank was the first bank in the island that took steps to undertake a comprehensive digital transformation project covering major part of its operations. As a result People’s Bank now provides a world class digital banking experience to all its customers.

For example, People’s Bank has enabled customers to open an account paperless in as short a time as 10 minutes. As another key component of the digitization journey, People’s Bank introduced People’s Wave mobile banking App for customers to transact any time of the day using their mobile phone without having to go to a bank branch and this has become the most downloaded app in Sri Lanka. Also, People’s Wiz Loan Originating System has enabled the bank to grant personal loans within 24-hours.

In addition, a mobile app was specially introduced to institutional customers called People’s Wyn. Online banking facilities targeting both retail and corporate customers were introduced in 2018.

In recognition of the unparallel contribution made by the People’s Bank towards betterment of the country, banking industry and customers, it has been recognized with many an award both locally and internationally over last several years. Recently the Bank won multiple awards from leading institutes such as The Asian Banker magazine (Sri Lanka’s Best Retail Bank & Sri Lanka’s Best Digital Bank in 2021″ and Asia Money magazine (Best Domestic Bank and Best Digital Bank in Sri Lanka in 2020). Additionally, The Banker Magazine named People’s Bank as one of the top 1000 banks. Locally, People’s Bank has won “Banking Services Provider of the Year” award at SLIM Nielson awards for 15 consecutive years.

All News Advertisement

Business

Selling pressure makes a dent in CSE’s early trading gains

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

CSE trading kicked off on a positive note yesterday but turned negative on account of selling pressure from investors deriving from tensions in the West Asian region, market analysts said. Amid those developments both indices moved downward. The All Share Price Index went down by 115.36 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 55.67 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 5 billion with nine crossings. Top seven crossings were as follows: ACL Cables 7.5 million shares crossed for Rs 727 million; its shares traded at Rs 97, Ceylinco Holdings 185,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 616 million; its shares sold at Rs 3300, Renuka Agri 8.3 million shares crossed for Rs 111.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 12.56, HNB 164000 shares crossed for Rs 70.2 million; its shares traded at Rs 428, Hemas Holdings 2.2 million shares crossed for Rs 70 million; its shares traded at Rs 31.60, Commercial Bank 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 42.8 million; its shares traded at Rs 240 and JKH two million shares crossed for Rs 42.6 million; its shares sold at Rs 21.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; HVA Foods Rs 226 million (35.9 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 196 million (two million shares traded), Colombo Dockyard Rs 175 million (1.2 million shares traded), HNB Finance Rs 174 million (17.5 million shares traded), Lanka Credit and Business Finance Rs 135 million (16.3 million shares traded), Softlogic Capital Rs 122.8 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 118.8 million (718,000 shares traded). During the day 196.5 million share volumes changed hands in 33719 transactions.

Royal Ceramics announced an interim dividend of Rs one per share. The share was trading at Rs 47.80, up 0.21 percent.

The banking, find manufacturing sectors performed well. Among banks Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank were impressive. In the manufacturing sector JKH led.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 311.30/60 to the US dollar in the spot market,weaker from Rs 310.50/311.10 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady across the yield curve with the exception of the 01.062033 which saw demand and edged down.

A bond maturing on 01.05.2028 was quoted at 9.10/14 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 was quoted at 9.58/62 percent, down from 9.59/62 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.58/62 percent, down from 9.60/65 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.03.2030 was quoted at 9.60/64 percent, down from 9.65/68 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.67/72 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted flat at 9.85/90 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.22/28 percent, from 10.20/30 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.48/51 percent, down from 10.50/55 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2034 was quoted at 10.67/75, up from 10.65/75 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 was quoted flat at 10.75/80 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2037 was quoted at 10.85/95 percent.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Business

CDS accounts on the increase, crosses one million accounts

Published

23 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), has reached a milestone as total registered accounts surpassed the 1 million mark. This achievement coincides with the approach of the organization’s 35th anniversary in September 2026, marking three and a half decades of providing depository infrastructure for the Sri Lankan capital market.

Since its inception in 1991, the CDS has held the distinction of being the first depository in the South Asian region. In its core capacity as a depository, the institution is responsible for holding a wide array of securities including shares, debentures, corporate bonds, and units belonging to investors in electronic form.

The crossing of the one million account threshold also reflects the aggressive broad basing of the retail investor market over the past five years. This expansion is largely attributed to the comprehensive digitalization of the CSE, which has created accessibility for individuals across the country. Digital tools such as the CSE Mobile App and the “CDS e-Connect” portal have revolutionized how investors interact with the stock market, providing them with real time access to their holdings and a seamless interface for account management. The “CDS e-Connect”, originally launched in 2016 and revamped in 2021, has become a one stop shop for stakeholders, by offering services such as client profile management, real time balance and transaction viewing, eNomination facility, monthly statements and newly introduced dividend payment history viewing option. From 2016, by offering eStatements and SMS alert facilities CDS ensures transparency and security for the CDS accountholders. By decentralizing account openings and introducing online facilities in 2020, the CDS successfully brought the stock market to the fingertips of the general public, moving away from the traditional, paperwork heavy processes that once characterized the industry.

A critical pillar of this 35-year history was the 2011 launch of the full dematerialization drive. This initiative was designed to significantly reduce the movement of physical certificates, which were prone to loss, damage, and forgery. Today, the success of this drive is evident as the CDS holds 97 percent of listed equity and 100 percent of corporate debt in scripless form. This near total transition to electronic records has provided a secure and accessible service environment. The Central Control Unit plays a vital role, ensuring that all functions performed by the depository and its participants align with strict rules and regulatory guidelines. By identifying operational, financial, and market risks early, the CDS maintains the integrity of the ecosystem and fosters trust among both domestic and international investors.

Beyond its primary depository functions, the CDS has significantly expanded its influence through the Corporate Solutions Unit (CSU), established in 2017. The CSU was created to standardize and elevate the benchmarks for corporate action services in Sri Lanka and has since grown through the strategic acquisition of PW Corporate Registrar arm. This diversification allows the CDS to expand registrar services and manage corporate actions for both listed and unlisted companies, providing a holistic suite of services that includes the distribution of dividends, rights issues, and e-applications for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). The digitization of issuer services has been a hallmark of the CSU’s work, introducing innovations such as eDividend payments, eWarrants, and eNotices. These advancements have streamlined the process for issuers while ensuring that shareholders receive their entitlements promptly and securely.

The strategic outlook for the CDS is now centred on the newly formed Research and Development Unit, which is essential to the organization’s vision for the future. This unit functions as a Project Management Office and is responsible for developing innovative services. By cultivating strategic alliances and international collaborations, the R&D unit ensures that the CDS remains a future forward institution capable of adapting to the evolving needs of the global financial sector.

As the CDS looks toward its 35th year of service, it remains focused on digital transformation, strategic partnerships that power progress, new service offerings and enhanced international relations. The integration of new technologies continues to ensure robust infrastructure for the next generation of market participants.

Head of CDS Nadeera Athukorale commenting on the vision of the CDS, remarked “By balancing its core depository duties with non-core registrar and consultancy services, the CDS has positioned itself for long term sustainability and industry leadership.”

The achievement of one million accounts serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the Sri Lankan capital market infrastructure, demonstrating CDS’ ability to facilitate a growing digitized market while continuing to serve as the backbone of the nation’s investment landscape. (CSE)

Business

TONIK set to become next Sri Lankan hospitality brand reaching the global stage

Published

23 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

Garfield Bungalow by TONIK

TONIK, a new hospitality venture under Sri Lanka’s Acorn Group, has unveiled its vision to place culture, storytelling and design at the heart of island exploration, positioning itself as the next Sri Lankan hospitality brand to achieve global recognition.

Built on the Acorn Group’s decades of expertise across aviation, travel, logistics and leisure in multiple Asian markets, TONIK aims to elevate Sri Lanka’s tourism by translating the “soul” of destinations into curated experiences. The brand’s philosophy, “Every Stay Is a Story”, treats villas and boutique hotels as “living narratives” shaped by architecture, memory, craft and community.

The venture addresses a key market gap: while Sri Lanka features exceptional independent villas, many struggle with visibility and global reach. TONIK seeks to resolve this by amplifying each property’s unique value proposition – transforming distinctiveness into revenue -generating potential for owners.

“TONIK’s philosophy aligns with the evolution of our industry- where authenticity and meaningful experiences are no longer optional but essential,” said Harith Perera, Partner at Acorn Group. “Sri Lanka’s narrative deserves platforms that elevate its voice globally.”

For property owners, TONIK offers access to Acorn’s intelligence networks across the Maldives, Middle East, Europe and Asia, including insight into High-Net-Worth travel patterns.

CEO Sundararajah Kokularajah said: “By nurturing properties as living narratives, we aim to shape a new chapter for tourism – authentic, future-ready and deeply Sri Lankan.”

By Sanath Nanayakkare