2026-08-03 | Finance Business Act Directions No.04 of 2026Added
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka requires Finance Companies to obtain prior approval for structural changes, including forming subsidiaries, changing share capital, or merging. Investments in ordinary shares are capped at 5% of core capital individually and 25% in aggregate, with non-financial subsidiaries restricted to supporting core business activities. Asset transfers must be for monetary consideration, and existing non-compliant investments must be divested within five years, while excess share investments must be reduced within one year.
03 August 2026 J. Legal provisions 2. Objective of the directions 3. Applicability 4. Regulatory requirements for structural changes GOVERNING BOARD CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA FINANCE BUSINESS ACT DIRECTIONS STRUCTURAL CHANGES No.04 of 2026 In terms of the powers conferred by Section 12 ( 1) of the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) hereby issues these directions on Structural Changes to all Finance Companies (FCs) licensed under the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011. Ensuring that structural changes of FCs take place in a prudent, transparent and orderly manner, while safeguarding the resilience and soundness of FCs and the stability of the financial system. These directions will be effective from the date of issuance of these directions to all FCs, subject to the transitional provisions given in direction 7. FC shall obtain prior approval from the approving authority specified in Annexure I to these directions for the structural changes listed below. a) Formation or acquisition or operation of a subsidiary or an associate company, subject to the following conditions.
O 3 August 2026 5. Limitation on transfer/sale of assets 6. Limits on investment in ordinary shares ~- ! . : 'a ~ ~ GOVERNING BOARD CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA FINANCE BUSINESS ACT DIRECTIONS N o.04 of 2026 6.1 referred in direction 4. a) ii above, is directed towards the respective FC, while a limited level of services may be provided to third parties, where necessary, to ensure the operational sustainability of the subsidiary or associate company. 1v. FC shall not form or acqmre or operate a subsidiary or an associate company outside Sri Lanka, unless such company; (a) provides only financial services; (b) is regulated by a financial sector regulator in the host jurisdiction; and (c) does not operate with multi-layered, cross-jurisdictional ownership structures. Where a holding structure is adopted for justifiable reasons, such structure shall be limited a single intermediate holding company. b) Changes in share capital of FC c) Other structural changes No FC shall transfer or sell any of its assets for any consideration other than for monetary consideration, which should pass in favour of FC. Investments in the ordinary shares of any company made by FC shall be subject to the following conditions; a) Investment in the issued ordinary share capital of a company shall not at any time exceed five (5) per cent of the core capital of FC as shown in the capital adequacy return for the immediately preceding quarter; and 2
C, 3 August 2026 7. Transitional provisions 8. Definitions GOVERNI~G BOARD CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA FINANCE BUSINESS ACT DIRECTIONS No.04 of 2026 b) The aggregate amount invested in the issued ordinary share capital of companies shall not at any time exceed twenty-five (25) per cent of the core capital of FC as shown in the capital adequacy return for the immediately preceding quarter. 6.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of direction of 6.1 above, an FC that complies with the regulatory capital requirements, may form or acquire a subsidiary or an associate company with the approval of CBSL. 6.3 The provisions of direction 6.1 above shall not apply to any shares which FC acquires in the course of the satisfaction of any debt due to such FC provided that, where such acquisition of shares results in FC holding shares in excess of the percentage limits stipulated in direction 6.1 above, such FC shall dispose such excess shares within the period determined by CBSL. 7.1 A transitional period of five (5) years from the effective date of these directions shall be granted for FC to divest its existing investments in subsidiary or associate companies that are not in compliance with direction 4. a) above. 7 .2 When the investment in ordinary shares of companies referred to in direction 6.1 above exceeds due to the amendments in the prudential limits, such investments shall be reduced to a level below the limit within a period of one (1) year from the effective date of these directions. In this direction, a) "Associate company" shall have the same meaning as contained in the definition in Section 74 of the Finance Business Act, No.42 of 2011. 3
6 3 August 2026 9. Revocation of direction GOVERNING BOARD CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA FINANCE BUSINESS ACT DIRECTIONS N o.04 of 2026 b) "A Business activity, which is not directly related to finance business" means any activity that is undertaken by an FC to support its core business. Such activities may include, among others, the valuation of vehicles for which a credit facility is to be provided, or of repossessed vehicles, using qualified internal valuers; operating vehicle repair units for the maintenance of repossessed vehicles; and similar supportive functions. However, FC shall ensure that these activities are utilized exclusively for its own business purposes. c) "Core capital" shall have the same meaning as contained in the definition in Section 74 of the Finance Business Act, No.42 of 2011. d) "Subsidiary company" shall have the same meaning as contained in the definition in Section 74 of the Finance Business Act, No.42 of 2011. e) "Non-financial services" means any activities other than the activities conducted by a financial sector participant, as defined in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023. f) "Prevailing market value" shall mean the estimated price determined by a licensed valuer for which an asset should exchange between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's length transaction, at a specified point in time. g) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions (DSNBFI) of CBSL. The following directions will be revoked from the effective date of this direction. 4
03 August 2026 GOVERNING BOARD CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA :FINANCE BUSINESS ACT DIRECTIONS N o.04 of 2026 a) Finance Companies (Investments) Direction No.07 of 2006. b) Finance Companies (Structural Changes) Direction No. 01 of2013. c) Finance Business Act (Amendments to Direction on Structural Changes) Direction No. 08 of 2018. M. v--,-:;,C« ·~ ,I "'-A"-. ~--~ , - ~ Dr. P Nandalal Weerasinghe Chairperson of the Governing Board and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka 5
Annexure I Table I: Structural Changes and Approval Requirements Structural changes Approving Authority