In an era when financial institutions are increasingly expected to create value beyond profits, few organisations embody this philosophy as convincingly as Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC. Under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nilantha Jayanetti, the institution has emerged as a unique force in Sri Lanka’s financial sector, championing financial inclusion, community empowerment, and sustainable development.

As Sri Lanka’s only development finance company, Sarvodaya Development Finance has built its reputation by extending financial services to underserved communities while maintaining strong governance, sustainability, and business growth.
From empowering women, youth, and farmers to attracting global impact investors and listing Sri Lanka’s first Sustainability Bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, the organisation continues to demonstrate how purpose-driven leadership can create meaningful change.

In this edition of Leadership Dialogue, Dr. Samantha Ratnayake engages Mr. Jayanetti in a thought-provoking conversation on leadership, innovation, financial inclusion, and creating lasting social impact through finance.

Dr. Samantha Ratnayake:
Welcome to Global CEO Magazine’s Leadership Dialogue. Today, we are privileged to feature a versatile and accomplished financial professional whose leadership has helped redefine the role of finance in social and economic development.
Joining us is Mr. Nilantha Jayanetti, Chief Executive Officer of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC.

Nilantha, rather than reading through your profile, I would like our audience to hear directly from you. Could you share a few key highlights of your professional journey, the work you do, and some of the recognition you and your organisation have received?

Nilantha Jayanetti:
Thank you very much to Global CEO Magazine for this opportunity.

After serving for many years in two leading financial institutions, I was given the opportunity to join Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC. The institution was founded by the late Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, whose vision and philosophy inspired me deeply. When I understood the organisation’s purpose and business model, I felt it was the ideal place to continue my professional journey while serving communities that deserve greater opportunities.

Sarvodaya Development Finance is Sri Lanka’s first and only development finance company. Unlike conventional financial institutions, our core philosophy is centred on serving communities and improving access to finance.

Today, we operate through 56 branches across the country, closely connected to Sarvodaya Shramadana societies. Through this extensive network, we reach communities that often have limited access to mainstream banking and financial services.
Financial inclusion remains one of our primary objectives. According to various reports, more than 45 per cent of the country’s population remains outside the formal financial sector. Our mission is to bridge that gap by providing financial solutions and access to finance for underserved communities.

Over the years, our efforts have been recognised both locally and internationally. We are proud recipients of the CA Sri Lanka TAGS Awards, which recognises excellence in Transparency, Accountability, Governance and Sustainability. We have won the Gold Award for five consecutive years. In addition, we have received numerous other national and international accolades, which stand as testimony to the impact we have created within communities.

Dr. Samantha Ratnayake:
That is an inspiring beginning. Our discussion today focuses on leadership thinking and translating vision into action.
How do you connect your broader leadership vision with the practical strategies implemented within the organisation?

Nilantha Jayanetti:
Our leadership vision is fundamentally about serving the nation.

The word Sarvodaya means “awakening of all”, and we interpret this vision through three levels of impact: the micro level, the meso or industry level, and the macro level.

At the micro level, we focus on three key areas: women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, and supporting farmers. We strive not only to provide access to finance but also to facilitate access to knowledge, technology, and opportunities that enable these groups to improve their livelihoods.

These interventions ultimately contribute to broader economic development. Through carefully designed financial solutions, we seek to create sustainable improvements in people’s lives while supporting national economic growth.

Dr. Samantha Ratnayake:
That is quite powerful, Nilantha. I find it particularly interesting how your organisation serves society at multiple levels.
I understand there is a remarkable story from Ampara that has attracted international attention and has even become a case study for impact investors. Could you share that story with us?

Nilantha Jayanetti:
Thank you for raising that question. It is a story that is very close to my heart.

I was born and raised in Ampara, and I always felt a responsibility to contribute to the development of the area that shaped my early life.

We established several branches in the Ampara District. One example is our Kesbewa Gam branch, located approximately thirty kilometres away from Ampara town. At the time, the village had no internet connectivity and very limited communication infrastructure.

Despite these challenges, we were determined to establish a fully connected branch capable of providing real-time online financial services to the community.

We worked closely with telecommunications providers and, after considerable effort, succeeded in installing the necessary infrastructure to bring connectivity to the village. The impact has been significant.

We created employment opportunities for eleven young people from the same village who had completed higher education but lacked suitable employment opportunities.

We also installed an ATM facility. When we analysed transaction patterns, we found that villagers collectively saved more than Rs. 2 million per month in transportation costs alone. Previously, they had to travel approximately thirty kilometres to access banking facilities.

Beyond financial savings, each transaction now saves nearly two hours of travel time. That time can be redirected towards farming, cultivation, and other productive activities that generate income.

This is just one example among thousands of initiatives undertaken by Sarvodaya Development Finance. While many of our branches operate in major cities and economic centres, we also intentionally establish branches in underserved rural communities to provide convenient access to financial services.

Interestingly, this initiative attracted the attention of several international impact investors. The story became a valuable case study demonstrating how financial inclusion can create measurable social and economic impact.

Dr. Samantha Ratnayake:
That is indeed an impressive example of leadership translating into tangible community impact.
I would now like to shift our focus to the international stage. You have successfully positioned Sri Lanka within several global financial networks and capital markets. Could you tell us more about that journey?

Nilantha Jayanetti:
Certainly.

Like many financial institutions, we have ambitious growth aspirations. However, because we serve a unique and rapidly expanding market segment, our growth trajectory has been particularly strong.

Over the past three years, our asset growth has consistently exceeded 50 per cent annually. To sustain this momentum and continue serving underserved communities, we needed access to significant capital.

Traditionally, financial institutions rely on deposits, capital market instruments, and equity financing. While we utilise these channels, we also sought innovative approaches.

As a result, we issued Sri Lanka’s first Sustainability Bond. This