NDB ranked amongst the elite

• Honoured as a Most Admired Company in Sri Lanka 2021

National Development Bank PLC was recognised as one of the 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka for 2021 at the Most Admired Companies (MAC) awards program jointly conducted by CIMA Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka International Chamber of Commerce and Daily FT. 

This title, much coveted amongst local corporates, was awarded to NDB for the second consecutive year, at a formal awards presentation held on 27 October and was accepted by NDB’s Director/Group Chief Executive Officer Dimantha Seneviratne and Chief Operating Officer Deepal Akuretiyagama. 

The MAC awards, the 2021 edition of which is the fourth since its launch in 2018, garners respect as one of the most objective, balanced and transparent awards programs in the local domain. Winners were chosen following a highly competitive and rigorous evaluation process, the first phase comprising company evaluations based on published financial information/performance and  the second phase (for shortlisted candidates) comprising a presentation of the candidate’s business case.

Heightening the calibre of the awards program is the fact that this business case was required to be presented by the organisation’s top executive within a set time frame, across seven performance areas. Strong articulation by the top executives of how the company maintained an equilibrium in performance across all aspects, whilst rising up to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic earned them the prestigious title. 

NDB’s Director/Group Chief Executive Officer Dimantha Seneviratne commented that NDB has time and again proven its prowess as a high performing bank in Sri Lanka.

NDB is the reigning winner of the Best Bank in Sri Lanka (2021) as adjudged by Global Finance USA and the Bank of the Year Sri Lanka (2020) as adjudged by the Banker Magazine UK, two renowned international banking and financial services sector publications. To become a MAC is fortification of this proof, that NDB is not just the best in the banking sector, but in a much larger universe of corporates from a multitude of sectors.   

NDB has generated continually sound financial results to its shareholders amidst challenging macro-economic settings, with sustained long term average growth rates recorded over the last five years, exceeding industry averages. The bank’s dynamism is reflected in the strong digital drive it has adopted in becoming one of the most agile banks, delivering many industry first innovations. We also have a carefully laid out strategy for the five years running up to 2025, which has placed us on a focused trajectory towards where NDB aspires to be. Meticulous strategy execution has been NDB’s strong point propelling it towards accelerated growth. 

With a recent significant equity capital infusion netting Rs. 9.4 b alongside partnering Norfund, a top European investors as a long-term shareholder, NDB is set to achieve greater results, Seneviratne noted.

Whilst all this has been happening, the bank has committed towards ensuring the well-being of its employees, customers and the community at large at the face of the pandemic through ‘NDB Cares,’ the bank’s structured response program for COVID-19. 

The bank is also pleased to note that its corporate sustainability and community empowerment initiatives, such as ‘Let’s Grow’ reforestation project and Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana, are underway in full force unabated by the effects of the pandemic. 

On a final note, Seneviratne stated: “We draw inspiration and motivation from the fact that MAC awards have placed due recognition on NDB for this all round performance and we extend our appreciation to the panel of judges which comprised eminent corporate personalities with diverse backgrounds.”

Driven on the manifesto of ‘The Future is Banking on Us,’ NDB is committed to delivering sustained value to all its stakeholders whilst redefining the banking experience through technology driven innovation and exceptional customer-centric solutions.