SDB Bank partners Australia’s Market Development Facility

From left: MDF Business Advisors Hiruni Liyanarachchi, Vishan Rajakaruna, Country Team Coordinator Deshan Wickremesinghe, SDB bank Manager – VCF and Agri Entrepreneurship Development Kanchana Hirimuthugoda, Executive Director/CEO Kapila Ariyaratne, MDF Country Director Maryam Piracha, SDB Bank Chief Business Officer Chitral De Silva, Business Banking and SME Head Hemal Geeganage, Branch Banking Head Binesh Arvinda, Business Banking Chief Manager Tharanga De Silva, and MDF Deputy Country Director Malik Sheriffdeen

• Initiative to strengthen coconut, coffee, and mango value chains

SDB Bank, with its consistent focus on fuelling national development by nurturing entrepreneurship, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Government-funded Market Development Facility (MDF) to strengthen its ongoing value chain financing efforts. 

This strategic partnership will focus on uplifting the coconut, coffee, and mango sectors by addressing critical funding and development gaps across their respective value chains.

SDB Bank Executive Director/CEO Kapila Ariyaratne said: “As a Bank with a clear focus on contributing towards the development and prosperity of Sri Lanka, we view it as both a responsibility and an opportunity to support inclusive economic growth. Agriculture remains a vital pillar of the economy, and our value chain funding program is designed to strengthen the entire ecosystem—not just through capital, but through strategic partnerships like this. We are confident that this collaboration with MDF will yield meaningful results at the grassroots level and contribute positively to the national economy.”

Under this collaboration, SDB Bank and MDF will work closely to provide co-investment opportunities for sector stakeholders, extend technical advisory services to improve production and value addition, facilitate market entry and product testing for emerging businesses, and offer market intelligence while connecting producers to broader commercial networks. This comprehensive approach is aimed at empowering smallholder farmers, processors, and agri-entrepreneurs while enhancing sector resilience and competitiveness.

MDF Country Director Maryam Piracha said: “With rising global demand, Sri Lanka’s specialty coffee, mango and coconut sectors are well-positioned for growth. Strategic investment and strong local partnerships can transform these industries into high-value export drivers, creating real return for businesses and long-term benefits for communities. MDF believes that this partnership with SDB Bank solidifies our commitment and vision to seeing Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector reach bolder heights.

Value chains represent the full journey of a product - from cultivation and harvesting to processing, marketing, and distribution. In Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, many actors across this chain lack access to capital, expertise, and market pathways. Through its value chain funding initiative, SDB Bank seeks to close these gaps and create more inclusive, sustainable growth across rural economies.

MDF, which has already built strong relationships with key stakeholders in the coconut, coffee, and mango sectors, is engaging with a banking partner in Sri Lanka for the first time through this MoU – marking a significant step toward integrating financial solutions with market development efforts.

SDB Bank encourages all relevant Government agencies, development partners, and private stakeholders to actively engage with this program and contribute to building a more resilient and inclusive agri-economy for the nation.