DFCC Bank PLC has been recognised at the Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards 2026, winning the “Innovation – Use of Proceeds (Green Bond)” category for its DFCC Blue Bond 2025, Sri Lanka’s first listed blue bond.

The award places a Sri Lankan capital market transaction on the global stage, recognising an approach that directs funding towards water and marine-related priorities through a structured framework with measurable outcomes.

Issued in November 2025, the DFCC Blue Bond raised LKR 3 billion (approximately US$10 million), extending green bond principles into the blue economy. The instrument was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, with additional listings across international exchanges including NSE IX at GIFT City, India INX, and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Luxembourg Green Exchange.

Proceeds from the bond are allocated across defined categories including marine pollution prevention, ecosystem conservation, coastal climate adaptation, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, clean water infrastructure, marine renewable energy, and low-carbon transport. The framework links financing to measurable indicators such as emissions reduced, wastewater treated, ecosystems restored, and improved access to clean water.

The transaction is significant not only for introducing a new asset class to Sri Lanka’s capital markets, but also for addressing a longstanding gap in financing for blue economy sectors. As an island nation, Sri Lanka’s economic and environmental stability is closely tied to its coastal and marine ecosystems, yet investment in these areas has historically been limited.

Commenting on the recognition, Thimal Perera, Director/Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank PLC, said: “The DFCC Blue Bond reflects our intent to move beyond traditional financing and help shape how capital is directed towards the areas that matter most for Sri Lanka’s future. For an island economy, investment in water, coastal, and marine ecosystems is fundamental to long-term sustainability and growth. As Sri Lanka’s first listed blue bond, with listings across both domestic and international exchanges, it was designed to establish a credible and scalable framework for the market. This recognition reinforces the role that disciplined, transparent financing can play in setting new benchmarks for emerging economies.”

The bond framework was supported by independent pre-issuance assurance from KPMG Sri Lanka, with technical assistance provided by the Global Green Growth Institute, strengthening its governance, transparency, and credibility.

As Sri Lanka’s first listed blue bond, the issuance provides a practical model for mobilising domestic capital towards environmental priorities. It also sets a benchmark for future sustainable debt instruments, both locally and across emerging island economies seeking to finance resilience, biodiversity protection, and long-term growth.