Damith Pallewatte, Managing Director/CEO, HNB received Letter of Credit (LC) application from Thusitha Rajapaksa, Managing Director, D. Samson and Sons at the official launch of HNB Trade Hub in Pettah.
HNB launched its first dedicated Trade Hub in Pettah to enhance support for Sri Lanka’s importers and exporters with improved trade finance services.
The opening was attended by Damith Pallewatte, MD/ CEO, HNB, along with Sanjay Wijemanne, COO and senior management, and customers from the metro region. The HNB Trade Hub—Pettah is a standalone facility located in a busy commercial district, designed to meet businesses’ trade financing needs. With extended hours from 9am to 5pm, it allows trade customers to submit and process documentation like Letters of Credit applications, access advisory services, and handle various trade transactions efficiently. The Trade Hub model aligns with HNB’s strategy to empower businesses through specialized financial infrastructure and better services. The launch in Pettah is the first of several planned Trade Hubs nationwide.
Sanjay Wijemanne, COO, HNB, noted that the expansion reflects the Bank’s focus on elevating operational efficiency and customer convenience. “Trade finance is critical to national growth and to the thousands of businesses driving Sri Lanka’s economic engine. With the launch of our first employ dedicated Trade Hub, we are creating a more agile, customer-centric environment to meet those needs better. Faster processing, expert guidance, and the right infrastructure are what our trade clients require, and this is the model we’re now scaling.”
Supun Dias, Executive Vice President/Head of Network Business, said: “The HNB Pettah Trade Hub is the first step in a wider expansion of our trade network. As we grow this model across strategic regions, we are aligning our physical presence with the most active commercial zones in the country. This initiative ensures that HNB’s trade clients enjoy greater proximity, better service quality, and dedicated support wherever they operate.”
