Verified

HNB and IFC partner to advance supply chain finance and strengthen risk management

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) announced yesterday a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector, to expand supply chain finance for Sri Lankan businesses and enhance HNB’s risk management and responsible finance frameworks.

The partnership combines HNB’s relationships with corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Sri Lanka with IFC’s global expertise in supply chain finance and financial-sector advisory.

IFC will help HNB develop scalable supply chain finance solutions, connecting its corporate clients with suppliers and distributors.

The initiative aims to ease the working capital constraints for the SMEs in these value chains, strengthen competitiveness and build more resilient, inclusive businesses, with a focus on expanding financing for women-owned businesses.

IFC will also review HNB’s responsible finance and risk management practices against the international benchmarks and recommend improvements to its frameworks, analytics, governance and processes.

HNB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Damith Pallewatte said, “This partnership with IFC represents an important step in HNB’s strategy to build a more connected, inclusive and resilient financing ecosystem. Sri Lankan businesses require financial solutions that respond not only to their individual balance sheets but also to the commercial relationships and value chains through which they operate.

By combining HNB’s deep understanding of the local market and long-standing relationships across the corporate, the SME and microenterprise sectors with IFC’s international expertise, we aim to develop scalable supply chain finance solutions that improve access to working capital, strengthen business linkages and support sustainable growth. Equally, this programme will advance our risk management and responsible finance capabilities, ensuring that growth is supported by strong governance, sound risk disciplines and fair customer outcomes.” IC Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific Sarvesh Suri said, “SMEs are the foundation of Sri Lanka’s economy and their growth is critical for creating jobs, building stronger local supply chains and driving sustainable growth. Our partnership with HNB aims to open new opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses and enable the private sector to play a stronger role in the country’s long-term development.”