News & market updates

Kala Pola 2026, presented with support from John Keells Holdings (JKH), showcased a record 487 artists and attracted 13,689 visitors on 8 Feb 2026. The John Keells Foundation led sponsorship and Nations Trust Bank (NTB) was the official banking partner, digitising event transactions.

HNB MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte highlights HNB’s Sarusara agripreneur programme (15,000 participants to date, 30,000 target) and a 2026–2030 strategic plan. He warns of banking-sector challenges (liquidity, asset quality, digital risk) and urges ecosystem-building across exports, agriculture, tourism and digital services.

NDB Investment Bank (part of the NDB group) acted as exclusive financial adviser and arranger to raise $40m for Maldives Airport Company to refinance part of the capex for a new passenger terminal. Hatton National Bank (lead bank and facility agent) and Nations Trust Bank were other lead lenders in the syndicated facility.

IFC proposes up to $20m to support John Keells' South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) capacity expansion to fund new ship-to-shore cranes. The funding will use IFC’s MCPP with a parallel lender; IFC also announced a separate $166m SME financing package via NTB, Commercial Bank and NDB.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) is sponsoring the 33rd Kala Pola open-air art fair in Colombo on 8 February 2026. Nations Trust Bank (NTB) is named as the event's official banking partner.

Daraz Sri Lanka is running a 'Fabulous Feb – 2 Good 2 Miss!' 2.2 campaign from Feb 1 (8:00 PM) to Feb 6 with deals up to 85% off, Rs.50 million in vouchers, free delivery, Golden Rush Hour discounts and bank partner payment offers. The campaign also promotes ongoing Everyday Low Price pricing for essentials.

NDB Bank has launched Visa's Card Present Connect (CPC) in Sri Lanka, a Cybersource-powered in-person payment acceptance solution for SMBs using Android SmartPOS. The offering supports EMV, contactless and mobile wallets and aims to lower costs, speed onboarding and simplify deployment for acquiring banks.

ASPI ended marginally up at 23,960.16 (+0.03%) on turnover of over Rs.5.2bn. Capital goods led turnover (31%) driven by Colombo Dockyard and John Keells, while diversified financials and banks contributed 21% and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.128.2m.

IFC announced a $166m financing package for Sri Lanka, providing a $50m loan to NTB, $80m in RSFs ($60m to Commercial Bank, $20m to NDB) and $36m in trade finance to NTB and NDB to expand SME, women-led and trade financing.

IFC is investing $166 million in Sri Lanka to expand SME and trade finance through three banks: a $50m loan to NTB, $80m in RSFs ($60m to Commercial Bank, $20m to NDB) and $36m in trade finance. $7.5m of the NTB loan is earmarked for women-owned SMEs and IFC will provide digital and climate-risk advisory to NDB.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB.N0000) secured a $70 million IFC debt package — a $50m senior unsecured loan and a $20m Global Trade Finance Program line — to expand SME and trade financing to support Sri Lanka's economic recovery.

Government has consolidated MSME financial facilities into a single digital Rs.95 billion framework and the NCGI will issue Rs.7,000 million in credit guarantees in 2026 to unlock about Rs.10,000 million in MSME lending. Sixteen banks, including HDFC, Commercial Bank, NDB, HNB, Sampath, Seylan, DFCC, Nations Trust and Cargills Bank, will participate in channeling concessional and disaster-relief loans.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB.N0000) secured a $70 million IFC financing package — a $50m senior unsecured loan and a $20m Global Trade Finance Program line. NTB said the funding will boost its capacity to support key economic segments and is IFC’s first Sri Lanka banking debt deal since 2022.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB.N0000) has secured up to USD 70 million from the IFC—USD 50m senior unsecured loan and a USD 20m Global Trade Finance Program line—to expand SME and trade financing and support recovery efforts in Sri Lanka.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.02% at 23,623.74 as speculative interest in Colombo Dockyard drove turnover. Colombo Dockyard listed 323,365,158 new ordinary voting shares after its rights issue; top contributors included Hayleys, Dockyard, ACL Cables, Commercial Bank and Nations Trust Bank.

Colombo bourse opened the week down: ASPI fell 0.44% to 23,627.87 with foreign investors net sellers of ~Rs.697.9m and turnover ~Rs.4.7bn. Top negatives included DOCK, COMB, NTB, SAMP and SPEN, while ACL, Tokyo Cement, DIAL and REEF saw notable turnover/interest.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.39% to 23,639.43 on Monday, with Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank and Sampath Bank among the top negative contributors; turnover was Rs4.68bn and the S&P SL20 was down 0.21% to 6,546.35.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) proposed LKR15 billion Basel III subordinated debentures were assigned an expected Fitch National Long-Term Rating of 'BBB+(lka)(EXP)'. The 5, 7 and 10-year notes will be listed on the CSE, aim to strengthen Tier-2 capital, support loan growth and reduce maturity mismatches.

HNB CEO Damith Pallewatte said exceptional loan growth in 2025 and a shift from government securities to lending are squeezing bank margins, tightening liquidity and raising funding costs. He warned deposit and lending rates are rising and that vehicle imports and lower single-borrower limits are reshaping credit and capital markets.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has partnered with KOKO to allow NTB-issued American Express cardmembers to use their cards on the KOKO app at over 6,000 merchants, adding installment options, Membership Rewards eligibility and special promotions.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.43% as the ASPI gained 100.90 points to 23,708.70, led by Dialog Axiata and gains in banks, capital goods and telcos; market turnover increased to Rs9.2bn.

The inaugural Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025 set industry priorities and KPIs, recommending bank–fintech partnership frameworks, a national cloud policy, digital ID expansion, CBDC research and a target to reduce cash-in-circulation from 4.5% to 3.5% of GDP in three years. Sessions included CBSL, the Ministry of Digital Economy, BOI and banking leaders.

Seminar on safeguards under the amended Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 will be held on 27 Jan (2–5pm) at NH Collection, Colombo 3. Organisers say the amendments place new responsibilities and stricter penal sanctions on company secretaries and directors; speakers include HNB and LOLC Insurance chairs.

Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha warned amendments to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act would allow the Port City Commission to issue offshore banking licences outside the Banking Act, creating shadow-banking and systemic risk. He said permitting Port City offshore banks to borrow from domestic banks and lower capital requirements could strain FX reserves and disadvantage local banks.

Colombo bourse closed the week up 3.45% as the ASPI rose 0.54% yesterday to 23,654.30, with the market gaining about Rs. 264.8 billion in value for the week and daily turnover over Rs. 8.5 billion; top contributors included JKH, COMB, VONE, CARS and NTB.

Central bank lending to banks rose to Rs48 billion on Jan 08 as state banks faced a severe cash crunch, raising liquidity concerns. Analysts warned the government's 'domestic buffer' withdrawals could strain interbank markets, prompt central bank accommodation and pressure interest rates, inflation and the rupee.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.54% on Friday and 3.45% over the week, led by gains in John Keells, Commercial Bank, Vallibel One, Carson Cumberbatch and Nations Trust Bank. Market turnover fell to 8.5 billion rupees and Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank recorded crossings.