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. Since its inception, the platform has evolved into a comprehensive financial ecosystem that uplifts families and contributes significantly to the national economy.
To mark this occasion, the Bank has introduced several specialized products aimed at wealth creation and financial security:
- High Interest Savings Account (HISA): A secure, flexible investment mode offering tiered interest rates that scale with deposit value, ensuring higher returns for disciplined savers.
- Vanitha Vasana Money Planner: A systematic investment plan with target maturities ranging from LKR 25,000 to LKR 500,000. These plans feature attractive interest rates and automated installment facilities via standing orders, supplemented by special promotional gifts.
- Exclusive Benefits: Accountholders will receive specifically branded Debit and Credit cards offering exclusive discounts at leading retailers island-wide, along with a 0.5% interest benefit on ‘Swarna Pradeepa’ pawning advances.
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, and the MSME Re-Energizing Package, are now available with competitive annual interest rates starting from 5% (per annum).
Speaking on these offerings, Ms. 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.”
More information about these benefits can be found by calling People’s Bank’s hotline on 1961, by visiting the website www.peoplesbank.lk or by visiting the nearest People’s Bank branch.
Photo Caption: People’s Bank Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Services Aruni Liyanagunawardana
