responsAbility has signed a USD 21.5 million financing package with Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB), Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest non-banking financial institution (NBFI), to support small business lending, gender-focused finance and climate investments.
The financing represents a combined exposure across several responsAbility-managed strategies, including its Financial Inclusion, Global Gender-Smart and Climate Finance strategies.
The deal is expected to strengthen responsAbility’s presence in South Asia and expand its footprint in Sri Lanka, while supporting CDB in increasing lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting gender-focused financing and scaling investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
CDB operates a nationwide network of 71 branches supported by a strong digital platform that enables broad digital access and service delivery. The institution has positioned itself as an emerging provider of sustainable finance within Sri Lanka’s non-bank financial sector, supported by a dedicated ESG team and senior management commitment to expanding green lending activities.
Through responsAbility’s Financial Inclusion strategy, the funding will help CDB expand lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Sri Lanka, while also strengthening the institution’s digital capabilities and resilience. The partnership aims to support financial inclusion and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Under responsAbility’s Gender-Smart strategy, the partnership includes a USD 5 million senior loan designed to promote gender balance, expand outreach and strengthen women’s leadership. The initiative is also intended to improve access to finance for women-owned and women-led businesses.
CDB has also adopted a Climate Transition Plan aligned with Sri Lanka’s net-zero ambitions and already offers green finance products such as electric vehicles and residential solar photovoltaic systems. Through the Climate Finance strategy partnership, the institution plans to scale these products and expand its green lending portfolio.
