HNB and IFC Partner to Advance Supply Chain Finance and Strengthen Risk Management
Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) announced today 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 working capital constraints for 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 international benchmarks and recommend improvements to its frameworks, analytics, governance and processes.
HNB Managing Director/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 longstanding relationships across the corporate, 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.”
Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, 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 Hatton National Bank 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.”
About HNB
With 256customer centers, HNB stands as one of Sri Lanka's largest and most technologically innovative private sector banks.
