DFCC rings CSE bell heralding Sri Lanka’s first Basel III-compliant, listed GSS+ Bond

DFCC Bank Chairman J. Durairatnam rings the bell at the CSE in the presence of (from left) CSE Director Sujeewa Peiris, CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, DFCC Bank CEO Thimal Perera, Deputy CEO Shamindra Marcelline, and Senior Vice President Treasury, Wholesale Banking and Investment Banking Prins Perera 

DFCC Bank PLC was invited by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) to ring the market opening bell to mark the successful launch of Sri Lanka’s first Basel III–compliant Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked Loan (GSS+) Bond, a milestone in the country’s evolving sustainable finance landscape.

The bell-ringing ceremony followed the strong market reception of the Bond, which was oversubscribed on its opening day, reflecting robust investor confidence in the instrument’s structure, governance standards, and long-term relevance.

The event was attended by DFCC Bank Chairman J. Durairatnam, Chief Executive Officer Thimal Perera, members of the senior leadership team of the bank, officials of the Colombo Stock Exchange, KPMG (Global Assurance), Nithya Partners, and the Joint Managers, Capital Alliance Partners Ltd. and NDB Investment Bank Ltd. 

The GSS+ Bond represents the first instrument in Sri Lanka to combine impact-focused financing with Basel III regulatory capital compliance. By reinforcing the bank’s capital base while directing funds towards measurable environmental and social outcomes, the issuance bridges financial system resilience with national development priorities.

DFCC Bank CEO Thimal Perera said: “The ringing of the bell is more than a tradition. It reflects the broader significance of this issuance for Sri Lanka’s capital markets. This Bond strengthens our regulatory capital position while enabling the mobilisation of long-term funding towards initiatives that support environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic resilience. It demonstrates that prudential strength and impact-oriented finance can operate within the same disciplined framework.”

CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike said: “The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is pleased to see DFCC Bank continue its long-standing commitment to sustainable finance through the issuance of Sri Lanka’s first Basel III-compliant GSS+ Bond. When we introduced the GSS+ instrument framework in 2024, we aimed to provide a platform for companies to raise capital for social and environmental projects. We are happy to see the effective use of this mechanism.”

The GSS+ structure enables financing across four interconnected pillars:

Green finance – renewable energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.

Social finance – housing, healthcare, education, essential services, and SME and MSME support.

Sustainability finance – projects delivering integrated environmental and social outcomes.

Sustainability-linked loan finance – funding tied to defined performance benchmarks to ensure accountability.

The issuance builds on DFCC Bank’s established track record in sustainable finance innovation. In 2024, the bank introduced Sri Lanka’s first Green Bond, securing listings on the Colombo Stock Exchange and internationally, followed by the country’s first Blue Bond supporting marine and water-related initiatives.

With the launch of the Basel III–compliant GSS+ Bond, DFCC Bank further deepens the domestic capital market’s capacity to originate sophisticated sustainable instruments aligned with global standards, while reinforcing stability within the financial system.

The ceremony at the Colombo Stock Exchange marked more than a listing milestone. It underscored the continued integration of sustainability, regulatory discipline, and long-term capital formation within Sri Lanka’s financial architecture.