People’s Bank Commemorates International Women’s Day 2026 with Enhanced benefits for ‘Vanitha Vasana’

In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8th, People’s Bank has announced an expansive suite of exclusive benefits and financial empowerment programs under its flagship ‘Vanitha Vasana’ brand. This year’s initiative is designed to pay tribute to the multifaceted roles played by Sri Lankan women—as leaders, caregivers, and economic drivers—while providing the practical tools necessary to secure their financial independence and foster a culture of entrepreneurship.

The Vanitha Vasana savings account was pioneered in 1993 to encourage the ancestral habit of thriftiness among Sri Lankan women.

To mark this occasion, the Bank has introduced several specialized products aimed at wealth creation and financial security:

People’s Bank is placing a strategic emphasis on female-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to bolster the nation’s business landscape. Targeted loan schemes, including Vanitha Saviya, Aswenna, SMED, People’s Spark, NCGIL, and the MSME Re-Energizing Package, are now available with competitive annual interest rates starting from 5% (per annum).

Speaking on these offerings, Aruni Liyanagunawardana, Deputy General Manager (Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Services), stated:

“”People’s Bank launched the Vanitha Vasana savings account for women in 1993., coinciding with International Women’s Day. Since then, People’s Bank has been able to encourage women’s savings and provide various credit facilities for the advancement of women and thereby uplift the economy of women and their families, and to make a strong contribution to the country’s economic development.”

“On this International Women’s Day, People’s Bank is ready to offer a number of special benefits under the Vanitha Vasana account. The bank has also unveiled a number of bank loan schemes with annual interest of 5% upwards with the aim of empowering them as entrepreneurs. In addition, the ‘Women Business Challenge’ program has been launched to select the best performing female entrepreneur from each district and award them with cash prizes.”

source: The Island