Advancing financial inclusion in Sri Lanka

Expanding access to finance through a nationwide lending model

Established in 1995 and licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, CDB has grown into one of the country’s leading NBFIs, with a strong reputation for financing the real economy. With a nationwide presence and a hybrid operating model that combines digital channels with physical offices, the institution today serves more than 137,411 credit customers and 320,257 savers including MSMEs, self employed individuals, and retail customers.2 CDB’s lending model is anchored in asset-based and enterprise-focused financing, with a particular focus on supporting micro and small businesses, thereby contributing to income generation, asset ownership, and enterprise continuity outside primary urban centers.

As of December 2025, CDB reported continued balance sheet expansion, with total assets of approximately USD 657 million and a gross loan portfolio of around USD 499 million, reflecting strong credit growth during Sri Lanka’s post crisis recovery phase. Lending remained firmly oriented toward micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), underscoring CDB’s role in supporting productive and income generating segments of the economy. This growth has been underpinned by a robust capital position, with capital adequacy ratios maintained at 17.8% comfortably above regulatory requirements (14%), providing a solid foundation for stable and responsible expansion going forward.