First Capital Holdings PLC, a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group) and a key player in Sri Lanka’s capital markets landscape, secured several global and local sustainability affiliations during FY 2025/26 while deepening its commitment towards responsible finance, climate accountability, financial inclusion and long-term stakeholder value creation.
The year saw the company secure multiple globally recognised sustainability affiliations, several of them firsts for Sri Lanka’s capital market sector.
Among the key achievements, First Capital became the first investment institution globally to receive the Certificate of Acceptance from the Sustainability Standards & Certification Initiative (SSCI) by the European Organisation for Sustainable Development. The company also became Sri Lanka’s first investment institution to join the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP), and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), reinforcing its commitment to ethical governance, gender inclusion, climate transparency and sustainable finance practices. Further strengthening its sustainability integration, First Capital Asset Management Limited became Sri Lanka’s first corporate entity to join the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Commenting on First Capital’s broader sustainability vision, Dilshan Wirasekara, Managing Director/CEO – First Capital Holdings PLC said, “As an investment institution, we recognise our responsibility in shaping sustainable economic progress through responsible investment, strong governance, and inclusive growth. Sustainability is no longer peripheral to business strategy; it is central to long-term strength and value creation. Within the capital markets sector, First Capital is taking a leading role in advancing sustainable finance practices, setting benchmarks for responsible growth. Our progress during FY 2025/26 reflects our continued commitment to creating meaningful impact for stakeholders, communities, and the broader economy.”
Environmental stewardship remained a strategic priority throughout the year. First Capital advanced its operational sustainability through the installation of solar power systems at its Deal Place rooftop, reducing its environmental footprint and reinforcing its commitment to cleaner energy adoption. The company also partnered with the WNPS PLANT initiative to support forest restoration efforts in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, while conducting environmental leadership programmes focused on plastic pollution prevention and marine conservation. Sustainability governance was further strengthened through SLFRS S1 and S2 training sessions conducted for Board members and senior management, reinforcing climate-related reporting readiness and disclosure discipline.
Commenting on First Capital’s sustainability progress, Diluni Danushika, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Reporting – First Capital Holdings PLC stated, “Sustainability at First Capital is embedded into how we create long-term value. During FY 2025/26, we focused on translating sustainability commitments into measurable action by strengthening governance frameworks, advancing climate accountability, expanding financial inclusion, and aligning with globally recognised sustainability standards. Our approach reflects a long-term vision of building a robust, transparent and future-ready institution.”
Financial literacy and investor empowerment also remained central to First Capital’s sustainability agenda. Through its investED university outreach programme, multilingual investor forums, Stock Talk Webinar Series, and nationwide awareness initiatives, First Capital continued to expand access to financial knowledge and responsible investment education across Sri Lanka, with the investED programme alone engaging more than 1,000 university students.
First Capital also strengthened its commitment to gender inclusion and women’s empowerment through its FinPowerHer programme. FinPowerHer reflects First Capital’s broader belief that empowerment, particularly in financial participation, is about shifting discourse and enabling behavioural change rather than running standalone initiatives. As an investment institution whose mission is to empower lives through capital markets, supporting women’s pathways into finance and leadership remains integral to how the company defines its role.
In parallel, the company continued to deepen its community and social impact through initiatives spanning education, environmental conservation, and grassroots support. These included awareness sessions, turtle conservation activities, school supplies donations, and menstrual hygiene facility upgrades aimed at improving wellbeing in underserved school communities.
First Capital also supported entrepreneurship and youth development through the First Capital Startup Nation collaboration with Hatch, SME advisory partnerships, educational outreach programmes, and a Rs. 15 million contribution towards the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund.
Internally, First Capital continued to strengthen its sustainability culture by embedding awareness across the organisation through training programmes, internal communications, email campaigns, and the formal declaration of a Sustainability Month, which brought focused employee engagement on environmental, social and governance themes. This was further supported by ongoing efforts to strengthen governance structures, reinforcing accountability, oversight and long-term resilience across the company.
Looking ahead, First Capital will focus on operationalising its PCAF-aligned financed emissions baseline, advancing SLFRS S1 and S2 disclosure readiness and progressing its SSCI High Impact Goals as the next phase of its sustainability agenda.
