DFCC Bank at 70: Revolutionising the Rise of Resilient Entrepreneurs

Seventy Years of Partnership, Purpose, and Progress with Sri Lanka's MSMEs - a conversation with Pradeep De Alwis, Vice President - Head of Business Banking at DFCC Bank.

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They move the country forward - slowly, steadily - one field at a time, one loom, one kitchen, one garage. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of Sri Lanka are not merely business entities. They are acts of resilience. And for seventy years, DFCC Bank has stood beside them, not from the sidelines, but as a partner and a believer in their growth.

As we commemorate MSME Day 2025, we reflect not simply on the scale of these enterprises but on the quiet strength they embody. The strength to persevere, to create employment, and to courageously build futures - often in places where significant capital seldom ventures. This year's CMA Sri Lanka Business Excellence Awards affirms that reality. Several MSMEs nurtured by DFCC Bank have been recognised for their innovation, sustainability, and community impact. Their success is not isolated it is part of a broader, collective narrative that the Bank is proud to have supported.

A Foundational Mission: Development for All

Founded in 1955 as Sri Lanka's first development finance institution, DFCC Bank has spent seven decades shaping the country's entrepreneurial landscape, offering not only financial assistance but also mentorship, proximity, and belief.

In 1975, DFCC Bank secured a line of credit from the World Bank's International Development Association to support small and medium-scale industries. By 1978, the Bank had established a dedicated SME unit, a visionary step that laid the foundation for its longstanding commitment to the sector.

A decade later, in 1988, DFCC Bank advanced further, establishing a professional SME team specifically for outstation clients. New branches were opened in key provincial towns, staffed by officers trained not only in finance but in the art of relationship-building. These officers were mentors and trusted advisors. Many of those early relationships continue to this day, a testament to the Bank's enduring ethos.