Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday, 17 November 2025 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Deputy General Manager (Treasury, International and Investment) Shameela Senaratne Loku Kaluge (left) and Assistant General Manager (Investment) Trimalie Fernando
People’s Bank has made history by becoming the first State Bank to be granted the Corporate Finance Adviser Licence by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, reaffirming its leadership in financial innovation and excellence.
This milestone further strengthens the mandate of the People’s Bank Investment Banking Unit (PBIBU) — a pioneering arm of the Bank established to enhance its presence in Sri Lanka’s capital markets and deliver cutting-edge financing solutions to clients across sectors.
Since its inception, PBIBU has been at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s capital market development, consistently setting industry benchmarks through innovative transactions and trusted advisory services.
PBIBU has successfully managed and placed several milestone issuances over the years, each representing a significant contribution to the advancement of Sri Lanka’s capital market. The below transactions not only demonstrate PBIBU’s strong structuring and placement capabilities but also highlight its pivotal role in facilitating large-scale corporate and state-sector funding initiatives:
2013 – Inaugural listed debenture of HDFC Bank of Sri Lanka, amounting to Rs. 2,000 million.
2014 – Listed debenture issuance for Kotagala Plantations PLC, amounting to Rs. 1,000 million.
2015 –Equity issuance of People’s Insurance PLC, amounting to Rs. 750 million.
2020 –BASEL III–compliant, Tier 2, unlisted, rated debenture issued by People’s Bank, amounting to Rs. 20,000 million.
2021 – The pioneering listed debenture issue for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), amounting to Rs. 20,000 million.
2021 –Successfully placed listed debenture issue for LOLC Holdings PLC, amounting to Rs. 10,000 million.
2021 – Listed, Rated, Senior debentures of People’s Leasing & Finance PLC, amounting to Rs. 10,000 million.
To date, PBIBU has successfully managed 32 debenture listings and 1 equity IPO, collectively mobilising over Rs. 200 billion — a testament to its robust market leadership and client confidence.
Looking ahead, PBIBU is actively structuring four new debt issuances, scheduled for launch in the latter part of 2025/early January 2026, which are expected to further expand the depth and dynamism of Sri Lanka’s capital markets.
Capping its continued excellence, PBIBU was recognised internationally with two prestigious accolades at the Global Banking and Finance Review Awards 2025 — “Best Investment Bank Sri Lanka” and “The Next 100 Global Awards – Investment Banking”. These achievements reflect People’s Bank’s unwavering commitment to innovation, financial leadership, and the advancement of Sri Lanka’s Capital Market ecosystem.
