HNB official banking partner for Sri Lanka Coffee Festival 2025

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HNB Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte (centre) with other officials at Sri Lanka Coffee Festival 2025

HNB PLC has announced its continued support of the island’s growing coffee industry as the official banking partner of the Sri Lanka Coffee Festival 2025, held at the Kandy City Centre (KCC).

Now in its fourth edition, the event marked 200 years since the introduction of commercial coffee cultivation to Sri Lanka, drawing stakeholders from across the coffee value chain.

Organised by the Department of Export Agriculture (DEA) with support from the Australian Government’s Market Development Facility (MDF) and the Lanka Coffee Association, the festival served as a platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s unique highland-grown specialty coffees, support smallholder farmers, and celebrate the country’s revival in premium coffee production.

HNB’s participation reflects its deep-rooted commitment to developing Sri Lanka’s agribusiness sector. Through targeted financing and capacity-building, the bank continues to empower smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs across the island, with a focus on regions like the Central Highlands, which are pivotal to Sri Lanka’s specialty coffee revival.

Commenting on the bank’s engagement, HNB Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte said: “Coffee is part of Sri Lanka’s agricultural heritage, and we see its resurgence as an opportunity for rural income growth, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. HNB is proud to support this journey by providing tailored financial solutions, technical advisory, and partnerships that uplift the full coffee value chain.”

This builds on the bank’s broader ‘Sarusara’ initiative, a national platform for agri sector modernisation that connects farmers with regionally customised financial solutions, market access, technical advisory, and digital tools.

Through ‘Sarusara’, HNB works closely with rural communities to strengthen entire agri-value chains and drive more resilient, sustainable livelihoods.

The festival featured coffee tasting sessions, barista competitions, workshops on coffee processing and post-harvest techniques, and discussions on Sri Lanka’s emerging role in the global specialty coffee market. It also spotlighted youth participation and entrepreneurship in coffee, aligning with HNB’s broader focus on inclusive growth and rural economic development.

HNB Vice President – Agribusiness Deepal Udukumbura added: “We believe in enabling agribusiness that drives inclusive growth. Supporting events like this festival allows us to align financial solutions with the needs of the entire coffee value chain, while contributing to Sri Lanka’s emergence as a specialty coffee destination.”

The Chief Guest at the event was Central Province Governor Sarath Abeykoon, joined by the Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Lalita Kapur, and other dignitaries. Representing HNB were Regional Business Head – Central Bandula Monnekulama, Kandy Branch Senior Manager Danushka Rajapaksha and other senior officials from HNB Central Regional Office.