Sampath Bank to boost economy with IFC’s US$ 400mn cross-currency swap

From left: Rukshila Gooneratne - Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation, Abishek Sinha- Senior Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation, Manjula Ekanayake - Senior Manager Treasury, Sampath Bank PLC, Nanda Fernando - Managing Director, Sampath Bank PLC, Joon Young Park - International Finance Corporation Portfolio Manager, Financial Institutions Group for South Asia, Aloka Ekanayake - Chief Manager Investor Relations, Sampath Bank PLC, and Rajindra Tillekeratne - Senior Manager Treasury, Sampath Bank PLC

In an effort to support Sri Lanka by stabilising the nation’s economy amid an ongoing economic crisis, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has stepped forward to provide a cross-currency swap facility to Sampath Bank PLC, along with two other private banks.

Accordingly, the IFC notes that US$ 400 million will be a cross currency swap over a period of one year to Sampath Bank and two other private banks. After recognising that Sampath Bank is among the three of the country’s leading national banks which facilitate over 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s remittances and exports, the move is expected to enhance the dollar denominated import of essential goods, while also strengthening the two decade-long relationship between Sampath Bank and IFC.

In addition to supporting Sampath Bank’s financing of exports of goods and services for their clients it also allows the country to make US$-denominated debt repayments. Sampath Bank notes that through this facility, it will now be able to improve access to medium and long-term finance for its clients, helping local businesses sustain their valued operations.

Speaking on this development, Nanda Fernando, Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC said, “The facility provided by IFC comes at a juncture where the Sri Lankan economy is facing a challenging time. The transaction will enable Sampath Bank to better manage our foreign currency holding by borrowing at lower rates and manage our foreign currency exposure, while facilitating foreign currency lending to our customers across the whole economy. 

The transaction will also renew the longstanding relationship with IFC, which was spread across many business areas such as trade, foreign exchange, and financial services. Sampath Bank is also grateful for the trust placed by IFC by continuing to engage as a major business partner in Sri Lanka and is confident that this will lead to a long and fruitful relationship.”