From left: DFCC Bank Assistant Vice President Business Banking Jude Muttiah, Business Banking Assistant Vice President Dilan David, Lanka Impact Investing Network Entrepreneurship Development Senior Executive Iresha Perera, Projects and Consulting Manager Erandi Dinusha, General Manager Vishwanath Gunawardena, Chairman Chandula Abeywickrama, DFCC Bank Chief Executive Officer Thimal Perera, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Shamindra Marcelline, Senior Vice President Retail and Business Banking Aasiri Iddamalgoda, Vice President/Head of Business Banking Pradeep De Alwis and Assistant Manager Business Banking Koushall Vian
DFCC Bank PLC has entered into a strategic partnership with Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) to connect high-potential small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with equity-based funding through the Social Enterprise Fund (SEF).
The partnership reinforces DFCC Bank’s commitment to responsible banking – providing financial solutions that extend beyond traditional credit to support inclusive and sustainable economic development. By facilitating access to equity investment, the bank is creating new opportunities for SMEs that deliver both financial returns and measurable social or environmental impact.
Under the agreement, DFCC Bank will work with LIIN to identify and prepare eligible SMEs from its portfolio to access growth capital via SEF – Sri Lanka’s first dedicated impact investment fund, launched in collaboration with Capital Alliance and the United Nations Development Programme.
“SMEs account for over half of Sri Lanka’s GDP and nearly 45 percent of employment,” said DFCC Bank Senior Vice President and Head of Retail and Business Banking Aasiri Iddamalgoda.
“We recognise that purpose-driven enterprises need more than working capital – they need long-term, strategic support to innovate, grow and create sustained social value. This partnership enables us to enhance our support for these businesses by providing access to equity-based funding that does not increase their debt burden. It is a natural extension of our role as a bank committed to inclusive and sustainable growth.”
In the initial phase, LIIN will serve as a knowledge and support hub, providing DFCC Bank with expertise, awareness sessions and tools to assess and prepare SMEs for potential investment through SEF.
This initiative aligns with DFCC Bank’s broader purpose-led strategy, which focuses not only on financial performance but also on building a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable economy for Sri Lanka.