In a landmark step towards bridging Sri Lanka’s urban–rural financial divide, Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF) installed the first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at the Tea Research Institute (TRI) in Thalawakale. This initiative brings formal banking access to over 5,000 tea estate families, many of whom are engaging with modern financial services for the first time.

Rooted in Sri Lanka’s largest grassroots development movement, Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF) has spent decades working alongside communities often excluded from mainstream systems. Guided by a people-first philosophy, SDF brings this same approach to finance, designing services that meet communities where they are.

Building on this foundation, SDF took a landmark step in bridging Sri Lanka’s urban-rural financial divide: installing the first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at the Tea Research Institute (TRI) in Thalawakale.

In the hill country town of Thalawakale, surrounded by Sri Lanka’s tea plantations, access to basic banking services has long required a journey. For thousands of tea estate workers and their families, withdrawing cash or checking an account often meant travelling more than an hour, time away from work, family, and daily responsibilities.

That reality changed when SDF brought banking to the community. With this single piece of infrastructure, more than 5,000 tea estate families gained local access to formal financial services, many for the very first time. What might seem like a small piece of infrastructure has had a profound effect: banking services are now available within the community itself, removing a long-standing barrier that quietly shaped daily life.

Overcoming long-standing barriers to financial access

For years, the lack of nearby banking facilities was a quiet but persistent barrier. Limited transport options and daily wage structures made even simple financial tasks costly and stressful. The new ATM removes those barriers, offering a safe, reliable way for community members to manage their money close to home.

The installation of the ATM goes beyond convenience. It restores dignity, autonomy, and control over personal finances for estate-based families who have historically remained on the margins of the formal banking system. With access now available locally, community members can manage their finances with greater confidence and security.

Building financial resilience

Local access to banking also creates the conditions for longer-term change. By encouraging digital transactions and regular interaction with financial services, SDF is supporting the development of financial literacy and healthier savings habits. These everyday actions help strengthen household resilience and contribute to greater economic stability over time.

Commenting on the milestone, SDF Chief Executive Officer, Nilantha Jayanetti, said:

“This is not merely an ATM—it is a symbol of dignity, autonomy, and economic inclusion. In communities where financial access was once a distant reality, we are now enabling opportunity to unfold at their doorstep. True development is rooted in proximity, trust, and empowerment.”

Driving purpose-led finance for lasting impact

Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing region, the initiative supports one of the country’s most economically marginalised yet nationally vital communities. For many first-time users, the ATM represents opportunity and hope, reinforcing the transformative power of access. This initiative also reflects SDF’s commitment to purpose-led finance, meeting people where they are and designing solutions around real community needs.

As a full member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), SDF’s work in Thalawakale brings GABV’s vision to life: using finance to serve people, strengthen communities, and create long-term social value. It is a reminder that inclusive banking is not about scale alone, but about presence, trust, and impact, one community at a time.