The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) have formalized and strengthened their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote sustainable finance and financial inclusion in Sri Lanka. This collaboration aims to build both demand-side and supply-side capacities in sustainable finance, supporting the advancement of Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. A primary goal of the MOU is to increase access to financing for Sri Lanka’s private sector, particularly export-oriented value chains and the SME sector, to facilitate their transition to more sustainable operations.
As outlined in the Ceylon Chamber’s Vision 2030: Five-Year Economic Plan (2025-2030), key targets include boosting Sri Lankan exports to 30% of GDP and increasing SME contributions to 60% of the national economy. With the growing emphasis on sustainability in global trade and finance, the country’s private sector must adapt swiftly to remain competitive in international markets. The Vision 2030 plan highlights important areas for mobilization, including achieving a national target of 70% renewable energy in electricity generation and reducing commercial energy intensity by 20%. It also underscores the importance of securing resources for climate adaptation and resilience, especially in sectors like agri-food.
SLBA, representing over 60% of Sri Lanka’s financial sector assets, has actively promoted the country’s transition to a green economy through its Sustainable Banking Initiative (SBI) since 2015. In partnership with other sector associations, SLBA has championed innovative solutions in sustainable finance. In 2023, the Ceylon Chamber and SLBA, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Council, explored the creation of a Blended Finance Facility to attract domestic and international private capital to key sectors like agri-food through risk-sharing mechanisms and structured finance solutions.
Through the MOU, the Ceylon Chamber and SLBA will not only continue to collaborate on the blended finance initiative but also support their Member companies in aligning their sustainability and climate strategies with national goals. This includes helping businesses navigate opportunities and risks in line with the IFRS S1 and S2 standards, and develop the necessary capacity for Sri Lanka’s Green Finance Taxonomy.