Business
SDB bank records handsome growth in 2021
SDB bank has achieved outstanding financial results during 2021, amidst an unprecedentedly challenging economic environment. Total profits for the year ended 31st December 2021 stood at LKR 909 million, recording a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 9%, while profit for the 4th quarter of the year was recorded at LKR 159 million. Net interest income grew by 11% YoY, to LKR 6.774 billion, while total operating income grew by 9% YoY to reach LKR 7.4 billion. SDB bank’s loan book too showed robust growth, expanding by 9% against the year prior to LKR 111.89 billion, while a total of LKR 65 billion was disbursed through 98,185 accounts during the year. Net NPL (Non-Performing Loans) Ratio also witnessed positive change, improving to 1.49% in 2021, against 1.79% in 2020, due to improved provisioning during the period. SDB bank’s Total Assets also grew healthily by 15% in the year under review to LKR 147.8 billion, while the Deposit Portfolio expanded marginally by 1% YoY.
Discussing the Bank’s robust financial performance, Niranjan Thangarajah – The acting CEO at SDB bank said, “We have focused heavily on our core SME and MSME customers during the year, with special emphasis on women owned and led enterprises, in line with our drive towards inclusive banking. The exceptional planning and strategy devised by our senior management team has proven to be effective during the year, while we also benefitted from the rescinding of pandemic related restrictions. Furthermore, our commitment to working together with our customers in mutual partnership, placed us in an excellent position to detect early warning signs of financial distress, and helped us guide our customers towards making the right decisions. This is reflected in our expanding loan portfolio, coupled with shrinking NPLs. In 2022, we look forward to building on the achievements we have made in 2021. We also take this opportunity to thank our customers and stakeholders for their continued cooperation and support of SDB bank.”
2021 also saw SDB bank conduct a Secondary Public Offering (SPO), which received exceptional interest from investors, enjoying a hefty oversubscription on the opening date of the issue. The Bank also solidified its global reputation as a pioneering financier for SMEs in Sri Lanka, playing host, in November 2021, to the Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Chapter of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV). In line with SDB bank’s 4-year strategic growth plan, 2021 also saw the bank focus heavily on the SME sector, female entrepreneurship, driving sustainability both financially and environmentally and aggressively push digital banking across Sri Lanka, staying true to its commitment to take inclusive digital banking to the masses.
A future-ready bank, providing holistic, 360-degree support to its customers, SDB bank is constantly catering to ever-changing needs, through a combination of financial support and value additions to life and business through mentorship and knowledge-sharing focusing on areas such value chain enhancements and financial management. SDB bank is also committed to a sustainable business model in terms of environmental, social and governance sustainability. This commitment is reflected in the Bank’s financing activities, giving preference to businesses and initiatives that take a sustainable approach over those that do not. By supporting Sri Lanka’s SMEs, empowering women entrepreneurs and taking digital banking to the masses, SDB bank has established itself as a financier that values every customer equally, for their potential and not their worth. (SDB bank)
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
