←Home
Sri Lanka · SEC-Regulated · 2026

Unit Trust Funds Guide

CAL · NDB · First Capital · 25+ Funds · Full Comparison
What is a Unit Trust Fund?
A unit trust is a pooled investment where money from many investors is managed by professional fund managers. Your money is invested in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, government securities, and deposits. You own "units" representing your share. Perfect alternative to FDs with potentially higher returns, better liquidity, and no lock-in periods.
Unit Trust vs Fixed Deposit
FeatureUnit TrustFixed Deposit
MinimumRs. 100Rs. 5,000 – 25,000
ReturnsVariable (7–25%)Fixed (5–9.5%)
Lock-inNone (Daily)1m – 5 years
LiquidityAnytimePenalty if early
Interest CreditDailyMonthly/Maturity
WHT Tax10%5% (may vary)
Deposit Insurance❌ Not covered✅ Rs.1M (SLDILSS)
Risk LevelLow to HighVery Low
Professional Mgmt✅ Yes❌ No
Diversification✅ Built-in❌ Single institution
Types of Unit Trust Funds
💰 Money Market Fund7–8% p.a.
Risk: Very Low
Short-term (< 397 days). Best for: Emergency funds, 3-6 month savings. Examples: CAL Money Market, NDB Money Fund.
📊 Fixed Income / Gilt8–14% p.a.
Risk: Low
Government bonds and corporate debt. Best for: Medium-term (1-3 years). Examples: CAL Investment Grade, NDB Income, First Capital Fixed Income.
🏛️ Gilt Fund10–15% p.a.
Risk: Low
Pure government securities only. Default risk-free. Examples: NDB Wealth Gilt Edged Fund.
⚖️ Balanced Fund10–20% p.a.
Risk: Medium
Mix of equity and fixed income. Best for: Medium-long term (3-5 years). Examples: CAL Balanced Fund, First Capital Wealth Fund.
📈 Equity / Growth15–30% p.a.
Risk: High
Primarily stocks. Best for: Long-term (5+ years). Examples: CAL Quantitative Equity, JB Vantage Value Equity, First Capital Equity.
☪️ Shariah / Islamic6–7% p.a.
Risk: Very Low
Shariah-compliant investments only. Examples: CAL Islamic Money Market Fund.
Top Asset Management Companies
Capital Alliance
Since 2011 · AUM 200B+ · Min Rs.100
Video KYC
NDB Wealth Management
Since 1991 · AUM 250B+ · Min Rs.1000
First Capital
Since 1982 · AUM 100B+ · Min Rs.1000
Video KYC
JB Financial
Since 2000 · AUM 50B+ · Min Rs.1000
Ceybank Asset Management
Since 1992 · AUM 80B+ · Min Rs.1000
Regulated by SEC Sri Lanka · Returns not guaranteed · Past performance doesn't indicate future results