DFCC Aloka Partners with Chrysalis to Strengthen Women-Led Enterprises Across Sri Lanka

DFCC Bank PLC (DFCC Bank), through its women-focused proposition DFCC Aloka, has partnered with Chrysalis to expand financial access, business capacity, and market opportunities for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises across Sri Lanka.

The collaboration brings together DFCC Bank’s financial expertise and enterprise support with Chrysalis’ extensive grassroots engagement with women entrepreneurs and community-based enterprise networks. The partnership aims to help more women transition from informal economic activity into structured, sustainable businesses by strengthening access to finance, business development support, and commercial networks.

Through the initiative, women entrepreneurs will gain improved access to credit facilities, training programmes, digital tools, and business advisory support designed to strengthen operational capability and long-term commercial viability. The partnership will also facilitate connections with district-level business groups and national industry networks, enabling greater exposure and stronger pathways to market.

Commenting on the partnership, Shamindra Marcelline, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank, said, “Women-led enterprises represent a powerful force in Sri Lanka’s economic landscape. Through DFCC Aloka, our focus has always been to ensure women entrepreneurs are equipped not only with financial access, but with the structures, knowledge, and networks that allow businesses to grow sustainably. Our collaboration with Chrysalis strengthens that ecosystem by connecting grassroots entrepreneurship with formal financial support and market opportunity.”

The initiative aligns with DFCC Bank’s continued commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s SME and MSME sectors, which remain key drivers of employment, productivity, and inclusive economic growth. By addressing both financial and structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, the partnership seeks to support enterprises that generate income, create jobs, and strengthen community-level economic resilience.

Ashika Gunasena, Chief Executive Officer of Chrysalis, said:

"For almost a decade, Chrysalis has worked closely with women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka, particularly in rural and underserved communities, supporting them to strengthen their livelihoods and grow sustainable enterprises. We have seen first-hand the potential, resilience, and innovation that women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka bring to their businesses and communities. This partnership with DFCC Aloka allows us to further expand that impact by connecting women-led businesses with greater access to finance, financial literacy, and business development support, enabling them to grow with confidence and resilience."

DFCC Aloka continues to serve as DFCC Bank’s flagship proposition dedicated to supporting women through accessible financial solutions, enterprise development initiatives, and partnerships that expand opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in the national economy.

By bringing together institutional financing and grassroots enterprise development, the partnership between DFCC Aloka and Chrysalis represents another step towards building a stronger, more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem across Sri Lanka.

For more information, visit www.dfcc.lk or contact the DFCC Bank Call Centre on 011 2 350 000.