New Partnership to Foster Climate Resilience in Sri Lanka as IFC’s South Asia Regional Director Visits to Emphasize Support for the Nation’s Development Agenda
To bolster growth and combat climate change, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB)—a leading non-banking financial institution in Sri Lanka—are partnering to enhance CDB’s green portfolio, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.
IFC will support CDB to expand its climate finance product offerings and devise a carbon credit aggregation business model, aligning it with the country’s climate commitments. IFC will also help CDB review and strengthen its environmental and social management system in line with IFC's Performance Standards.
“Our collaboration with IFC is aligned with CDB’s strategic aspirations to realizing unprecedented growth and our firm sustainability commitment. This partnership with IFC will strengthen our journey of moving towards becoming a net zero entity. CDB’s strategy considers embracing sustainability and tech disruption as the key enabling pillars,” said Mahesh Nanayakkara, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, CDB.
This collaboration coincides with the visit of IFC’s Regional Director for South Asia, Imad N. Fakhoury, who reiterated IFC’s dedication to support Sri Lanka’s development, climate readiness, and resilience efforts during his inaugural trip to the country.
“Sustainability is at the heart of IFC’s mission in Sri Lanka. Our latest partnership with CDB allows us to leverage our expertise, including a deep understanding of the nation’s financial markets and a strong local presence,” said Fakhoury. “In alignment with national priorities, IFC is committed to advancing Sri Lanka’s climate agenda, fostering economic stability, and creating jobs and opportunities. We focus on an inclusive transition that prioritizes people, jobs, and long-term development. Given the nascent market for green finance in Sri Lanka, IFC aims to support financial institutions by building their capacity and helping them align their lending portfolios with changing climate scenarios.”
ComBank breaks new ground in Sri Lanka enabling Alipay QR payments for merchants
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has opened up a world of new opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses, by becoming the first bank in Sri Lanka to enable Alipay QR Code payments under unified Lanka QR.
Alipay e-wallet holders, currently numbering over 1 billion, can now scan the Commercial Bank LankaPay unified QR code issued to Sri Lankan merchants to make payments from anywhere in the world, as a result of this latest development.
The Bank said more than 50,000 of the Bank’s merchants will be enabled to accept the Alipay QR when the Bank completes the deployment of the new QR across its network, facilitating access to a vast new customer segment. Around 28,000 merchants who have POS devices can already accept Alipay QR payments via POS devices after enabling the service by calling the bank.
“This is a huge breakthrough for Sri Lankan businesses, and we are proud to be the Bank that unlocks the potential of the Alipay portal for them,” Commercial Bank’s Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking & Marketing Mr Hasrath Munasinghe said.
Yiva Ceylon Introduces Consciously Curated Ceylonese Self-Care Line
Yiva Ceylon, an innovative self-care brand, proudly announces its official launch, offering meticulously crafted skincare solutions deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Ceylonese traditions. Under the guiding principle of 'Consciously Curated Ceylonese Self-care guiding principle,' Yiva Ceylon emerges as a beacon of sustainable beauty, championing local produce and traditional ingredients to redefine the skincare landscape.
Founded by Suwani Hitihamu, originally hailing from Kandy, she pursued her higher studies in Melbourne, majoring with a background in Economics and Accounting. Yiva Ceylon represents a culmination of her passion for natural healing and dedication to promoting the treasures of Sri Lanka's indigenous wisdom.