A landmark long-term partnership will restore native forests, empower communities, and demonstrate how sustainable finance can create lasting environmental and social impact.
Alliance Finance Company PLC (AFC) has entered into a landmark long-term partnership with Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Ltd. (PLANT), marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka's forest restoration journey. Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration brings together sustainable finance and conservation to restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and create long-term value for communities.
The partnership reflects AFC's commitment to embedding sustainability into its core business while supporting meaningful environmental action. As part of this multi-year initiative, AFC will support the planting of 105,000 trees across PLANT restoration sites while implementing community development programmes in surrounding areas. The collaboration also seeks to integrate sustainability into AFC's products and services, creating a holistic model where finance contributes directly to environmental and social progress.
The first phase of the partnership will be implemented at Radella Estate in Nuwara Eliya, managed by Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC. Here, AFC will support the establishment of a critical forest corridor as part of a 13-kilometre ecological restoration initiative led by WNPS PLANT together with multiple partners.
Situated along the Nanu Oya stream, the Radella landscape is currently dominated by invasive grasslands. Restoration efforts will focus on planting native pioneer tree species to stabilise stream banks, improve local micro-climates, enhance biodiversity, and reconnect fragmented forest habitats. The initiative forms part of PLANT's Emerald Trails Initiative, which aims to reconnect Sri Lanka's biodiversity-rich southwestern landscapes while supporting climate adaptation and ecological resilience.
Beyond ecological restoration, the partnership places equal emphasis on community empowerment. By combining conservation, environmental education, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive financial solutions, AFC and PLANT aim to create a scalable model that demonstrates how nature restoration can generate long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Chairman of PLANT, said, "This partnership shows what can happen when stewardship replaces sponsorship," said Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Chairman of PLANT. "Alliance Finance is not just funding a project; they are investing in a living, breathing system.
Together, we are bringing forests back, empowering families, and giving communities a tangible stake in nature's future. AFC is leading the way in demonstrating that sustainability efforts are long term oriented, and they were willing to provide longer term funding solutions for our work, once they understood our vision around Emerald Trails".
A pioneer in responsible finance, Alliance Finance Company PLC was the first finance company in Sri Lanka to commit to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking (UN PRB). Through this partnership, AFC continues to demonstrate how financial institutions can play a transformative role in addressing climate challenges while creating shared value for people, nature, and the economy.
Commenting on the collaboration, Romani De Silva, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Alliance Finance Company PLC, stated that, “At Alliance Finance, we believe sustainability means uplifting communities while restoring ecosystems, This partnership reflects our long-term commitment to financing regeneration, not just for nature, but for the people who depend on it. Together with PLANT, we are investing in a future that balances prosperity with planetary well-being. Through this initiative, we also aim to empower the next generation by linking tree planting with financial literacy via our Hapannu Savings Scheme - giving children a chance to grow their savings alongside the trees they help protect"
This partnership further reinforces AFC's purpose of making the world a better place through sustainable finance, demonstrating that meaningful progress is achieved when responsible finance, conservation, and community development work together. As the initiative expands over the coming years, it is expected to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka's national restoration ambitions while creating a lasting positive impact for future generations.
