Dialog Finance is a licensed finance company registered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and a subsidiary of Dialog Axiata, the country’s largest telecommunications group. Its business is straightforward on paper: device financing, digital lending, savings and fixed deposits, and merchant payment solutions, sold to consumers and small businesses across the country. What makes it unusual is that every one of those products is delivered through two mobile platforms, Dialog Pay & Dialog Pay Business, with no physical counter behind any of them.
That distinction is now paying off in numbers. According to Dialog Finance’s 2025 annual report, operating income more than doubled over the year and the loan book grew by over 77%, while the company’s non-performing loan ratio held below the industry average. Fitch Ratings Lanka rates the company AA(lka), stable. None of it came from doing everything at once. Since its establishment, Dialog Finance has concentrated its strategic efforts on two core markets; digital payments and digital lending.
Nazeem Mohamed, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Dialog Finance, has spent the year translating that vision into a tangible reality. In the conversation that follows, he shares how Dialog Finance is redefining banking through a fintech-driven model, leveraging digital payments, innovative lending solutions, and seamless customer experiences to deliver financial services more efficiently, accessibly, and at scale.
Dialog Finance has recently been recognised among Sri Lanka’s 100 Most Valuable Brands. What decisions have been instrumental in this journey?
This recognition really reflects the trust our customers have placed in us, and the commitment our people bring to keep innovating. From the very beginning, we made a conscious decision not to replicate traditional financial services models. Instead, we set out to build a technology-led organisation focused on accessibility, convenience, and customer experience.
That meant thinking about our strategy differently too. Rather than building standalone products, we set out to create connected digital experiences, weaving together payments, lending, merchant solutions and digital financial services so that, together, they make financial services faster, simpler and more accessible.
Being part of the Dialog ecosystem has made that possible in a way it wouldn’t have been otherwise. It lets us bring connectivity, technology and financial services together in ways that create real value for customers. This recognition is a meaningful milestone, but honestly, we see it as the beginning of a much larger journey, not the destination.
With Dialog Pay serving as the primary customer channel, what challenges have you faced in building a digital-first institution?
Trust is at the centre of every digital interaction. Unlike traditional institutions, digital organisations must establish credibility without relying on face-to-face relationships. Every interaction, from onboarding and authentication to payments and customer support, must be simple, secure and intuitive. Customers today expect services to be available instantly and around the clock. Meeting those expectations requires constant investment in cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, analytics, automation and customer experience. Ultimately, success depends on building customer relationships that are just as strong as those developed through traditional channels.
How does technology support innovations such as instant digital lending and loans against fixed deposits?
Technology is embedded throughout the organisation. Our platforms integrate customer onboarding, credit assessment, identity verification, payments, risk management and decision-making capabilities in real time. This allows us to reduce complexity, improve speed, strengthen security and deliver more personalised experiences while maintaining strong governance standards.
What have you learned from supporting Sri Lanka’s small and medium-sized businesses?
Small businesses need much more than access to capital. They need efficient payment systems, faster collections, simplified reconciliation processes, improved cash-flow management and access to digital channels. Our objective is to create an ecosystem that helps businesses become more productive and competitive while supporting their long-term growth.
Dialog Finance has launched several new products within a relatively short period. What drives innovation within the organisation?
Innovation begins with culture. We encourage collaboration, accountability, agility and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking. Remaining close to customers enables us to understand changing needs and respond quickly. The broader Dialog ecosystem, together with our extensive distribution network, gives us access to technological capabilities and expertise that allow us to move quickly while maintaining high standards of operational excellence.
Why has Dialog Finance concentrated on digital payments and digital lending?
We believe that long-term value comes from developing deeper capabilities rather than expanding into disconnected products and services. Payments create regular engagement, while lending addresses immediate customer needs. Together, these services form the foundation of a broader digital ecosystem. Strategic focus enables stronger execution and, ultimately, a better customer experience.
What is Dialog Finance’s vision for the future?
Our ambition is to build Sri Lanka’s most connected digital financial ecosystem. Payments will increasingly become the starting point for broader financial relationships, creating opportunities across savings, lending, merchant services, and digital commerce. As technology continues to evolve, financial services will become increasingly seamless, intelligent and personalised. Our objective is to ensure that more Sri Lankans can participate confidently in the country’s digital future while benefiting from simpler, more accessible and more connected financial services.