Left –Right:  Ms. Nilmini Gunaratne-Vice President Marketing, DFCC Bank, Ms. Jill Macdonald, Curator - Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2019, Ms. Sunela Samaranayake, Festival Director - Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2019, Mr. Thimal Perera-DCEO,DFCC Bank, Sapumal Perera – Cards Marketing Manager, DFCC Bank. 

DFCC Bank will partner the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2019 as the Official Banking Partner for the second consecutive year. Officials from DFCC Bank and the festival committee gathered at a press conference on 25th October 2018, where the Deputy CEO of DFCC Bank, Thimal Perera, handed over the sponsorship formally to Sunela Samaranayake, Festival Director of Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2019, as the official banking partner for the event. Fairway Galle Literary Festival, since its launch in 2007, has become one of the most anticipated literary events in South East Asia for both authors and literary enthusiasts around the world. 

The festival is celebrated annually, in and around the historic Dutch Galle Fort, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. By sustaining its commitment to the culturally significant event, DFCC Bank has proved its credentials as a true and committed patron of arts and culture in the country, helping put Sri Lanka on the global literary map. 

To be held from 16th to 20th January 2019, the festival will attract renowned writers such as Sir David Hare – one of the best known contemporary playwrights; Kamila Shamsie, a respected voice in literature who has just had her latest book, Home Fire,  long-listed for the Man Booker Prize; celebrated photojournalist Sir Don MuCullin; poet Vahni Capildeo; Canadian writer Madeleine Thien; detective writer Anthony Horowitz; famed Sri Lankan writer Romesh Gunasekera; and noted historian and author Sir William Dalrymple. Furthermore, children’s book author Nandana Das will contribute to the children’s programme at the festival while celebrity chef Peter Kuruwita is expected to launch his latest cookbook at the venue. 

Commenting on the sponsorship, Deputy CEO of DFCC Bank, Thimal Perera said: “DFCC Bank is pleased to continue its commitment to one of the premier literary events in the world, the Fairway Galle Literary Festival, once again in 2019. This event not only attracts renowned literary and arts and culture personalities to Sri Lanka, but it has also raised Sri Lanka’s profile as a country that values knowledge and learning. DFCC Bank will ensure that our customers get the best out of the festival by accessing our services at the venue while also enjoying some of the exciting events we have planned throughout the festival.”

DFCC Bank is a fully-fledged commercial bank and prides itself on delivering tailor-made products that are designed to meet the specific financial needs of both retail and business customers, attractive interest rates, structured repayment plans, easy access to all funds and fast and prompt customer service. The Bank has been rapidly growing its footprint across the country with a network of 138 branches and service points. Furthermore, the southern region remains one of the bank’s key areas for expansion and growth, attracting an increasing number of customers seeking reliable financial services that support their personal and business needs and specific lending requirements. 

DFCC Bank was recently recognised as one of the Top 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL). It is rated AA-(lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited.