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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 27 COLOMBO 000072 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA AND SCA/INSB 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTDB OPIC ECON USTR EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB PGOV CE
SUBJECT: INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT, 2010 - SRI LANKA 
 
REF: 09 STATE 124006 
 
¶1. Per reftel, below is the investment climate statement for Sri 
Lanka for 2010.  (NOTE: Hyperlinks were altered in the cable version 
to permit transmission, but were sent as requested in the Word 
version.  END NOTE.) 
INVESTMENT CLIMATE SURVEY: SRI LANKA 
OPENNESS TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT 
The end of Sri Lanka's long-running civil war in May 2009 should 
usher in an era of sustained positive economic growth.  Sri Lanka 
can still be a difficult place to do business, however, with an 
erratic policy environment and cumbersome bureaucracy.  Nonetheless, 
compared to other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka is relatively 
open to foreign investment.  It offers a relatively open financial 
system, moderately good infrastructure, and generally capable 
workers.  Some U.S. and other foreign investors have realized 
worthwhile returns on investment in Sri Lanka; others have tried and 
departed frustrated. 
 
Sri Lanka is a lower-middle income developing nation with a gross 
domestic product of about $42 billion in 2009.  This translates into 
a per capita income of just over $2,000, among the highest in the 
region. 
 
The Sri Lankan economy is remarkable for its resilience.  Despite 
the 1983-2009 civil war, GDP growth averaged around 5% in the last 
ten years.  Even the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami failed to 
dent GDP growth, which was over 6% in 2005-2008, due in part to 
tsunami reconstruction.  While inflation soared in 207 and 2008, it 
has dropped to 5% in 2009. 
 
Despite directing resources to end the civil war, Sri Lanka saw its 
gross domestic product (GDP) grow by an estimated 3.5% in 2009. 
Main contributors to growth were government services, fisheries, 
food and beverage, telecommunications, banking, and transport.   Sri 
Lanka's trade deficit narrowed sharply as both imports and exports 
declined, but imports fell much faster than exports, mainly due to 
lower oil prices.  The trade deficit was fully offset by workers' 
remittances estimated around $3 billion.  The current account 
recorded a small surplus after many years.  Overall, the Balance of 
Payments (BOP) is expected to record a surplus of about $2.7 
billion, the highest ever, thanks partly to heavy government 
borrowing.  FDI was much lower than previous years with only about 
$350 million in the first nine months. 
 
While Sri Lanka's exposure to the global financial crisis is limited 
due to controls on its capital account, Sri Lanka experienced 
capital flight in early 2009 by foreign investors who had invested 
in government debt instruments.  Central Bank reserves declined 
sharply in early 2009.  However, business confidence rebounded with 
the end of the war and an IMF agreement in July 2009, allowing gross 
official reserves to increase to a historic high of $5.2 billion as 
of November 2009, providing 6.3 months of imports cover.  The rupee 
has stabilized around Rs 114.50 to the dollar.  Credit ratings were 
revised upward to stable. 
 
2010 will be an important year for the Sri Lankan economy.  The 
Central Bank expects the economy to grow by 7% in 2010, aided by 
growth in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, tourism and 
other services, and the Central Bank forecasts inflation to remain 
at single digit levels.  The government has postponed the 
presentation of the 2010 budget until after the parliamentary 
elections in March/April.  The Government fiscal situation will be a 
concern in 2010 especially due to spending on two national elections 
as well as numerous promises to woo voters.  However, defense 
expenditures should decline.  Furthermore, the potential loss of the 
EU's GSP Plus trade benefit could further hinder Sri Lanka's 
economic growth. 
 
Sri Lanka is a stable parliamentary democracy.  In 1978, it shifted 
away from a socialist orientation and opened to foreign investment, 
although changes in government have often been accompanied by 
reversals in economic policy.  Of the two major parties, the more 
pro-business United National Party has been in opposition in recent 
years.  When it last held power, from 2002 to 2004, it pursued 
privatization and regulatory reform welcomed by domestic and foreign 
investors. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  002 OF 027 
 
 
 
Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has a more statist 
economic approach, guided by President Rajapaksa's 2005 election 
manifesto Mahinda Chintana ("Mahinda's Thoughts").  Mahinda Chintana 
seeks to reduce poverty by steering investment to disadvantaged 
areas; developing small and medium enterprises; promoting 
agriculture; and expanding the already enormous civil service.  The 
Rajapaksa government has halted privatization and advocates state 
control of what it deems "strategic" enterprises such as state-owned 
banks, airports, and electrical utilities.  There are also private 
banks which compete with the state owned banks.  The government has 
increased direct and indirect taxation to fund increased government 
expenditure.  The government has adopted import substitution 
strategies and has increased taxes on imports to protect local 
industries. 
 
Multinational companies complain that increasing government bias in 
favor of local businesses is harming the local investment climate. 
Though many multinational companies perform better than the local 
private sector, international MNCs and SMEs feel the government is 
blatantly biased towards local companies.  Some investors believe, 
and are concerned, that Sri Lanka is becoming a highly nationalistic 
environment where the government often blames foreigners for its 
economic and social ills. 
 
Other impediments to investment in Sri Lanka are workers' declining 
English language skills, inflexible labor laws, overburdened 
infrastructure, and its unreliable court system.  Sri Lanka boasts a 
90% literacy rate in the local Sinhala and Tamil languages, but 
English, which was once widely spoken, is now far less prevalent. 
Sri Lanka's labor laws include many model protections, but can make 
it nearly impossible for companies to lay off workers even when 
market conditions fully warrant doing so.  The cost of dismissing an 
employee in Sri Lanka is, percentage-wise, one of the highest in the 
world.  Sri Lanka has not invested in infrastructure to keep pace 
with its growth.  Its roads are narrow and congested.  With the 
conclusion of the war, Sri Lanka is renovating and constructing 
roads in the North and East.  Multi-year projects to expand the 
ports in Colombo and Hambantota are underway. 
 
Sri Lanka's electricity supply is generally reliable but can fail to 
meet peak demand in years of low rainfall and is priced higher than 
in other Asian countries.  Businesses in Sri Lanka also face high 
interest rates, although rates have come down in the past few 
months.  Sri Lanka's courts cannot be relied upon to uphold the 
sanctity of contracts.  The courts are not practical for resolving 
disputes or obtaining remediation, because their procedures make it 
possible for one side in a dispute to prolong cases indefinitely. 
Aggrieved investors (especially those dealing with the government of 
Sri Lanka on projects) have frequently pursued out-of-court 
settlements, in hopes of speedier resolution.  In late 2008, the 
Supreme Court, in an interim order, halted payments to five 
international and local banks involved in oil hedge contracts with 
the government.  One of the involved banks is American.  The case is 
now proceeding to international arbitration. 
 
TRADE 
 
According to preliminary data for 2009, Sri Lanka's exports (mainly 
apparel, tea, rubber, gems and jewelry) were $6.9 billion and 
imports (mainly oil, textiles, food, and machinery) were $9.6 
billion.  Exports to the United States, Sri Lanka's second largest 
market, are projected around $1.6 billion in 2009, or 23% of total 
exports.  The United States is Sri Lanka's second biggest market for 
garments, taking about 40% of total garment exports.  India is Sri 
Lanka's largest supplier, with exports of over $3.8 billion.  The 
United States' exports to Sri Lanka are projected at $180 million in 
¶2009.  U.S. exports consist primarily of wheat as well as industrial 
machinery, medical instruments, aircraft parts, lentils, paper, 
specialized fabrics and textiles for use in the garment industry, 
fruits and pharmaceuticals. 
 
BOARD OF INVESTMENT 
 
The Board of Investment (BOI) (www.investsrilanka.com), an 
autonomous statutory agency, is the primary government authority 
responsible for investment, with a focus on foreign investment.  The 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  003 OF 027 
 
 
BOI is authorized to manage a number of export processing zones 
which feature business-friendly regulations and improved 
infrastructure for foreign investors.  The BOI is intended to 
provide "one-stop" service for foreign investors, with duties 
including approving projects, granting incentives, and arranging 
services such as water, power, waste treatment and 
telecommunications.  It also assists in obtaining resident visas for 
expatriate personnel and facilitates import and export clearances. 
The Public-Private Partnership Unit, a new division of BOI, has 
responsibility for coordinating all public-private infrastructure 
projects.  The BOI has special investment incentives for investors 
interested in the post conflict Northern and Eastern sections of Sri 
Lanka. 
 
BOI incentives are attractive and real, but the BOI is not the "one 
stop shop" it aspires to be.  Although it is relatively effective in 
assisting investors who want to establish operations within its 
industrial processing zones, it is less effective in facilitating 
and servicing large investments outside these zones.  Sri Lanka's 
large, inefficient, and dated bureaucracy often works at 
cross-purposes with BOI authorities and commitments.  Additionally, 
major investments in Sri Lanka, such as infrastructure projects, 
require approval from the full cabinet, a process which is not 
transparent and which can politicize even the most urgently needed 
investments.  Registration of foreign company branch offices in Sri 
Lanka can be cumbersome as well. 
 
Although there are cases in which it appears that the BOI has been 
used for political purposes, generally the treatment given to 
foreign investors is non-discriminatory.  However, even with 
incentives and BOI facilitation, foreign investors face difficulties 
operating in Sri Lanka.  Problems range from difficulty clearing 
equipment and supplies through customs speedily to difficulty 
obtaining a factory site.  Legal challenges to environmentally 
sensitive projects have been burdensome, even when objections are 
unfounded.  Slow and indecisive application of bureaucratic 
requirements has also obstructed investment.  In part to avoid these 
delays, and to overcome land allocation problems, the BOI encourages 
investors to locate their operations in BOI-established industrial 
processing zones.  Investors locating in industrial zones also get 
access to relatively better infrastructure facilities such as 
reliable power, telecommunication and water supplies. 
 
LAWS AFFECTING INVESTMENT 
 
The principal law governing foreign investment is Law No. 4, created 
in 1978 (known as the BOI Act), as amended in 1980, 1983 and 1992, 
along with implementation regulations established under the Act. 
The BOI Act provides for two types of investment approvals.  Under 
Section 17 of the Act, the BOI is empowered to grant concessions 
(see details below) to companies satisfying certain eligibility 
criteria on minimum investment, exports and in some cases 
employment.  Investment approval under Section 16 of the Act permits 
entry for foreign investment to operate under the "normal" laws of 
the country and applies to investments that do not satisfy 
eligibility criteria for BOI incentives.  Other laws affecting 
foreign investment are the Securities and Exchange Commission Act of 
1987 as amended in 1991 and 2003, and the Takeovers and Mergers Code 
of 1995 revised in 2003.  A new Companies Act came into effect in 
2007 replacing the Companies Act of 1982.  The new law aims to 
improve trade and commerce as well as corporate governance in the 
business sector.  It features simplified regulations concerning 
company formation; provisions specifying the duties of company 
directors; provisions to prevent the abuse of powers by directors; 
provisions to protect creditors; and a dispute board to settle 
disputes among directors.  Various labor laws and regulations also 
affect investors.  See sections below. 
 
FOREIGN EQUITY SHARES BY SECTOR 
 
The government allows 100% foreign investment in the following 
services:  banking, finance, insurance, stock-brokering, 
construction of residential buildings and roads, supply of water, 
mass transportation, telecommunications and information technology 
(software development and business process outsourcing), energy 
production and distribution, professional services, and the 
establishment of liaison offices or local branches of foreign 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  004 OF 027 
 
 
companies.  These services are regulated and subject to approval by 
various government agencies.  The screening mechanism is 
non-discriminatory and, for the most part, routine. 
 
Investment in other sectors is restricted and subject to screening 
and approval on a case-by-case basis when foreign equity exceeds 
49%.  The affected sectors are:  shipping and travel agencies; 
freight forwarding; fishing; timber-based industries; growing and 
primary processing of tea, rubber, coconut, rice, cocoa, sugar and 
spices; and the production for export of goods subject to 
international quota.  Foreign investment restrictions and government 
regulations also apply to international air transport; coastal 
shipping; lotteries; large-scale mechanized gem mining; and 
sensitive industries such as military hardware, dangerous drugs and 
currency. 
 
Foreign investment is not permitted in the following businesses: 
non-bank money lending; pawn-brokering; retail trade with a capital 
investment of less than $1 million (with one notable exception: the 
BOI permits retail and wholesale trading by reputed international 
brand names and franchises with an initial investment of not less 
than $150,000); coastal fishing; and the awarding of local 
university degrees.  Foreign degree courses can be offered in Sri 
Lanka by affiliating with foreign universities.  However, there is 
no system to monitor the quality assurance or accreditation of the 
foreign courses offered in Sri Lanka. 
 
PRIVATIZATION HALTED 
 
The current Government has halted privatizations, preferring to 
maintain state-owned enterprises.  Government treatment of foreign 
investors in past privatization processes has been largely 
non-discriminatory.  In 2003, however, the government sold part of 
the retail operations of state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to 
Indian Oil Corporation without a formal tender process.  In 2008, 
the Supreme Court cancelled a privatization of a government-owned 
bunkering company, done in 2002, citing it was illegal.  In 2009, 
the Supreme Court cancelled a 2003 sale of a government-owned large 
insurance company. 
 
Labor unions in state-owned enterprises are often opposed to 
privatization and restructuring and seem particularly averse to 
foreign ownership.  In the past, this made the privatization of 
government entities problematic for new foreign owners. 
 
Measure                     Year       Index/Ranking 
 
TI Corruption Index         2009         3.1/97 
Heritage Economic Freedom   2009          56/111 
 
World Bank Doing Business   2010          N.A/105 
MCC Gov't Effectiveness     2008        0.50/92% 
 
MCC Rule of Law             2008        0.88/98% 
MCC Control of Corruption   2008        0.63/94% 
MCC Fiscal Policy           2008        -7.1/8% 
MCC Trade Policy            2009        62.2/27% 
 
MCC Regulatory Quality      2008        0.35/87% 
MCC Business Start Up       2009        0.96/85% 
MCC Land Rights Access      2009        0.60/47% 
MCC Natural Resource Mgmt   2009       89.79/100% 
 
CONVERSION AND TRANSFER POLICIES 
 
In accordance with its Article VIII obligations as a member of the 
International Monetary Fund (http://www.imf.org/external/ 
pubs/ft/aa/aa08.htm), Sri Lanka has liberalized exchange controls on 
current account transactions.  In times of balance of payments 
difficulties the government tends to impose controls on foreign 
exchange transactions.  Most recently, in October 2008, the Central 
Bank required importers to keep a 100% deposit on letters of credit 
on a range of imports.  The deposit requirement on the import of 
cars was 200% of the value of the import.  These restrictions were 
later lifted. 
 
Exporters must repatriate export proceeds within 90 days to settle 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  005 OF 027 
 
 
export credit facilities.  Other export proceeds can be retained 
abroad in a local bank's correspondent bank.  Currently, contracts 
for forward bookings of foreign exchange are permitted for a maximum 
period of 180 days for the purposes of payments in trade. 
 
There are no barriers, legal or otherwise, to the expeditious 
remittance of corporate profits and dividends for foreign 
enterprises doing business in Sri Lanka.  Remittance of business 
fees (management fees, royalties and licensing fees) is also freely 
permitted for companies with majority foreign investment approved 
under Section 17 of the BOI Act.  Repatriation of funds for debt 
service and capital gains of companies exempted by the BOI from 
exchange control regulations is permitted.  Other foreign companies 
remitting funds for debt service, business fees and capital gains 
require Central Bank approval. 
 
The average delay period for remitting investment returns such as 
dividends, return of capital, interest and principal on private 
foreign debt, lease payments, royalties and management fees through 
normal, legal channels is in the range of 1 to 4 weeks. All stock 
market investments can be remitted without prior approval of the 
Central Bank through a special bank account.  Investment returns can 
be remitted in any convertible currency at the legal market rate. 
 
While controls on capital account (investment) transactions usually 
prohibit foreigners from investing in Sri Lankan debt instruments, 
the government allows limited access to foreigners to invest in 
government rupee bonds and treasury bills.  The Central Bank's 
dollar-denominated bond issues in the local market are also open to 
foreign investors.  Local companies require Central Bank approval to 
invest abroad.  The process of granting approval for such 
investments was streamlined in 2002, resulting in a substantial 
increase in approvals. 
 
The government is planning to relax existing controls on capital 
account transactions.  The proposed plans include permission for Sri 
Lankans to open foreign bank accounts and invest in shares and short 
term debt of foreign companies; foreign nationals to invest in 
debentures of local companies; insurance companies to invest funds 
in foreign assets; Sri Lankan companies to list in foreign stock 
exchanges; foreign tourists to open Sri Lanka Rupee accounts; and 
relaxation of import payment mechanisms. 
 
EXPROPRIATION AND COMPENSATION 
 
Since economic liberalization policies began in 1978, the Sri Lankan 
Government has not expropriated a foreign investment.  The last 
expropriation dispute was resolved in 1998. 
 
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
 
Sri Lanka's legal system reflects diverse cultural influences. 
Criminal law is fundamentally British.  Basic civil law is 
Roman-Dutch.  Laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, and inheritance 
are communal.  Sri Lankan commercial law is almost entirely 
statutory.  The law was codified before independence in 1948 and 
reflects the letter and spirit of British law of that era.  Its 
amendments have, by and large, kept pace with subsequent legal 
changes in the U.K.  Several important legislative enactments 
regulate commercial matters:  the Board of Investment Law, the 
Intellectual Property Act, the Companies Act, the Securities and 
Exchange Commission Act, the Banking Act, the Industrial Promotion 
Act and Consumer Affairs Authority Act.  Most of these laws were 
revised recently. 
 
Sri Lanka's court system consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of 
Appeal, Provincial High Courts and the Courts of First Instance viz. 
district courts (with general civil jurisdiction) and magistrate 
courts (with criminal jurisdiction).  The provincial high courts 
have original, appellate and reversionary criminal jurisdiction. 
The Court of Appeal sits as the intermediate appellate court with a 
limited right of appeal to the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court 
exercises final appellate jurisdiction for all criminal and civil 
cases.  Citizens may apply directly to the Supreme Court for 
protection if they believe any government or administrative action 
has violated their fundamental human rights. 
 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  006 OF 027 
 
 
All commercial matters exceeding the value of Rs 3 million 
(approximately $26,000) fall within the jurisdiction of the 
Commercial High Court of Colombo.  There are also a number of 
tribunals which exercise judicial functions, such as the Labor 
Tribunals to hear cases brought by workers against their employers. 
Until recently, the court system was largely free from government 
interference.  There are allegations that the judiciary is sometimes 
subject to political influence, but this has not been evident in 
commercial litigation so far.  Litigation can be slow and 
unproductive, though.  Monetary judgments are usually made in local 
currency.  Procedures exist for enforcing foreign judgments. 
 
In late 2008, acting on a fundamental human rights petition, the 
Supreme Court, in an interim order, halted payments to five 
international and local banks involved in oil hedge contracts with 
the government.  One of the banks involved is American.  The banks 
are taking the case to international arbitration. 
 
BANKRUPTCY LAWS 
 
The Companies Act and the Insolvency Ordinance provide for 
dissolution of insolvent companies, but there is no mechanism to 
facilitate the re-organization of financially-troubled companies. 
Other laws make it difficult to keep a struggling company solvent. 
The Termination of Employment of Workmen Act (TEA), for example, 
makes it difficult to fire or lay off workers who have been employed 
more than six months for any reason other than serious, 
well-documented disciplinary problems.  The Labor Commissioner's 
approval or the affected employee's consent is required to fire 
workers.  The government has introduced a standard compensation 
formula under the TEA to facilitate termination for other than 
disciplinary reasons.   Employers protest that compensation is 
excessive compared to similar formulae in the Asian region, with 
terms in Sri Lanka about twice as generous as the East Asian 
average.  (See section on "Labor" for further details.) 
 
In the absence of proper bankruptcy laws, extra-judicial powers 
granted by law to financial institutions protect the rights of 
creditors.  When a company cannot meet the demands of a creditor for 
a sum exceeding Rs 50,000 (approximately $440) the creditor may 
petition for the company to be dissolved by the court.  Lenders are 
also able to enforce financial contracts through powers that allow 
them to foreclose on loan collateral without the intervention of 
courts.  However, loans below Rs 5 million ($435,000) are exempt 
from the application of the law.  Additionally, a judgment ruled 
that these powers would not apply with respect to collateral 
provided by guarantors to a loan.  These two moves have weakened 
creditors' rights.  Financial institutions also face other legal 
challenges as defaulters obtain restraining orders on frivolous 
grounds due to technical defects in the recovery laws.  Also, for 
default cases filed in courts, the judicial process is extremely 
slow. 
 
The new Companies Act of 2007 introduced a "solvency test" to 
determine the financial health of a company.  There are provisions 
relating to the responsibilities of a company's directors in cases 
of serious loss of capital.  The solvency test is intended to 
prevent companies without sufficient assets from obtaining loans and 
to protect rights of creditors. 
 
The Companies Act does not provide for the revival of struggling 
companies.  However, as in the past, it is expected that the courts 
would take a liberal attitude towards any restructuring plans that 
may be of benefit to a company. 
 
INVESTMENT PROTECTION 
 
In principle, foreign investments are guaranteed protection by the 
Constitution of Sri Lanka.  The government has entered into 24 
investment protection agreements with foreign governments (including 
the United States) and is a founding member of the Multilateral 
Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank.  Under Article 
157 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, investment protection 
agreements enjoy the force of law and no legislative, executive or 
administrative action can be taken to contravene them.  The 
government has ratified the Convention on Settlement of Investment 
Disputes, which provides the mechanism and facilities for 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  007 OF 027 
 
 
international arbitration through the World Bank's International 
Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). 
 
The U.S.-Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) was ratified by 
both governments in 1993 (www.state.gov/documents/ 
organization/43588.pdf). 
 
ARBITRATION 
 
The Arbitration Act of 1995 gives recognition to the New York 
Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral 
Awards.  Arbitral awards made abroad are now enforceable in Sri 
Lanka.  Similarly, awards made in Sri Lanka are enforceable abroad. 
A center for arbitration known as the Institute for the Development 
of Commercial Law and Practice (ICLP) 
(www.iclparbitrationcentre.com) has been established in Colombo for 
the expeditious, economical, and private settlement of commercial 
disputes.  However, the ICLP appears unlikely to become involved in 
disputes involving the Sri Lankan Government, which is often a party 
to disputes involving foreign investors. 
 
Sri Lanka's first commercial mediation center was established in 
2000 and became operational in mid 2001. Commercial mediation is 
conducted under the Commercial Mediation Act.  Interest in mediation 
is still low. 
 
The Labor Department has a process involving labor tribunals for 
settling industrial disputes with workers or unions, and arbitration 
is required when attempts to reconcile industrial disputes fail. 
The Labor Commissioner typically becomes involved in 
labor-management mediation.  Other senior officials, including the 
Labor Minister, and the President, have intervened in particularly 
difficult cases. 
 
The government record in handling investment disputes is 
problematic.  Disputes often become politicized, causing the 
government to put political interests ahead of its respect for the 
sanctity of contracts.  For example, in 2006, the Indian Oil 
Corporation's petroleum retailing subsidiary in Sri Lanka 
temporarily closed its operations when the government failed to 
honor its commitment to reimburse the company for fuel sold at the 
government-controlled price. 
 
INVESTMENT DISPUTES INVOLVING U.S. COMPANIES 
 
U.S. companies have experienced problems with payment of valid 
contracts; implementation of agreements with the government; and 
inexplicable failure to secure contracts, despite demonstrated 
superior performance, high value, and competitive bids. 
 
A U.S. power company producing electricity in Colombo has been 
unable to obtain payment since 2004 for power that it produced under 
a temporary, more costly, operating mode following a fire in its 
plant.  The company had intended to suspend operations to conduct 
repairs following the fire, but agreed to the government's request 
that it keep producing power even at a higher cost.  However, the 
government withheld payment on the basis of a questionable Attorney 
General finding that the higher than usual electricity price was 
imposed on the government "under duress." 
 
As mentioned previously, the Ceylon Petroleum Company (CPC) entered 
into a contract with five banks on an oil hedging contract.  Once 
the international price of oil rose substantially, the CPC and 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) refused to honor the oil hedging 
contracts.  One American bank is involved.  The GSL has not resolved 
the case, and the banks have filed for international arbitration. 
 
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES 
 
The Board of Investment specifies certain minimum investment amounts 
for both local and foreign investors to qualify for incentives. 
Firms enjoying preferential incentives in the manufacturing sector 
in most cases are required to export 80% of production, while those 
in the service sector must earn at least 70% of income in foreign 
exchange.  Sri Lanka complies with WTO Trade Related Investment 
Measures (TRIMS) obligations. 
 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  008.2 OF 027 
 
 
Sri Lanka encourages foreign investment in information technology, 
electronics assembly, light engineering, automobile parts and 
accessories manufacturing, industrial and information technology 
parks, rubber based industries, information and communication 
services, tourism and leisure related activities, agriculture and 
agro processing, port-related services, regional operating 
headquarters, and infrastructure projects.  Foreign investors are 
generally not expected to reduce their equity over time, nor are 
they expected to transfer technology within a specified period of 
time, except for build-own-transfer or other such projects in which 
the terms are specified within pertinent contracts. 
 
In some BOI-approved enterprises, businesses are required to 
maintain certain levels of employment to enjoy incentives.  In 
addition, privatization agreements generally prohibit new owners 
from dismissing workers, although the owners are free to offer 
voluntary retirement packages to reduce their workforce.  Some 
foreign investors have received political pressure to hire workers 
from a particular constituency or a given list, but have 
successfully resisted such pressure with no apparent adverse 
effects. 
 
Foreign investors who remit at least $250,000 can qualify for a 
one-year resident visa, which can be renewed.  Employment of foreign 
personnel is permitted when there is a demonstrated shortage of 
qualified local labor.  Technical and managerial personnel are in 
short supply, and this shortage is likely to continue in the near 
future.  In the past, foreign employees attached to BOI-approved 
companies received preferential tax treatment for an initial period. 
 This concession was withdrawn in April 2008.  BOI is planning to 
appeal to the Finance Ministry to reverse this decision.  Foreign 
employees in the commercial sector do not experience significant 
problems in obtaining work or residence permits. 
 
INVESTMENT INCENTIVES 
 
The Board of Investment (www.investsrilanka.com) has various 
incentives, with such investments typically requiring prior approval 
by various ministries.  Please see the note at the end of this 
section on proposed changes to the incentive programs listed: 
 
INCENTIVE PROGRAM I 
 
Qualifying industries: 
-Non-traditional manufacturing exports and companies supplying to 
exporting companies.  Minimum investment of $500,000(a); 
-Export oriented services.  Minimum investment of $500,000; 
-Manufacture of industrial tools and/or machinery.  Minimum 
investment of $150,000; 
-Small-scale infrastructure.  Minimum investment of $500,000; 
-Research and development.  Minimum investment of $100,000; 
-Agriculture and agro processing industries.  Minimum investment of 
$150,000; 
-Export trading houses of rural sector.  Annual turnover of 
$5,000,000. 
 
Incentives:  Currently, the above industries qualify for a five-year 
tax holiday.  A preferential tax of 10% in the 6th and 7th years 
follows the tax holiday for some industries.  Some of these 
industries qualify for duty-free imports (generally, during the life 
of the project for export-oriented projects, and during the project 
implementation period for others).  Exporting companies and 
export-oriented services will be exempted from exchange control 
regulations.  They will also qualify for free repatriation of 
profits and dividends and free transferability of shares.  An 
Economic Service Charge (ESC) at 0.25% of income applies to all 
companies including BOI-approved companies with tax holidays.  A 
three year tax holiday is available for investments between $250,000 
and $500,000. 
 
INCENTIVE PROGRAM II 
 
Qualifying Industries: 
-Information technology (IT) or information technology enabled 
services.  Minimum investment of $150,000.  Minimum employment 
levels apply; 
-Information technology training institutes.  Minimum invest of 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  009 OF 027 
 
 
$100,000.  Minimum number of students applies; 
-Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).  Minimum investment of 
$150,000.  Minimum employment levels apply; 
-Regional operating headquarters providing the following services to 
related businesses outside Sri Lanka:  administration, business 
planning, sourcing raw materials, research and Development, 
technical support, financial and treasury management, marketing and 
sales promotion.  Minimum investment of $250,000. 
 
Incentives:  Currently, IT services, IT training institutes, and BPO 
firms qualify for tax holidays of 5-12 years provided they meet 
minimum employment and student levels.  Otherwise, a preferential 
tax of 10% applies for 2 years.  Regional operating headquarters 
qualify for a tax holiday of 3 years.  A preferential tax of 10% 
will apply in the 4th and 5th years.  From the 6th year onwards, a 
preferential tax of 20% will apply for IT training institutes while 
a tax of 15% will apply for others.  Capital goods for these 
projects will be exempted from import duty for above investments. 
An Economic Service Charge at 0.25% of income applies to 
BOI-approved companies enjoying tax holidays, from the fourth year 
of operation. 
 
INCENTIVES FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
 
The BOI has a separate incentive program to promote regional 
development, with the aim of establishing new factories or service 
companies (such as hotels, hospitals, or training institutes) in the 
regions outside the capital Colombo.  The incentives include 10-20 
year tax holidays for investments in Northern and Eastern Provinces 
and 2-10 year tax holidays for investments located in other 
provinces.  In addition, imports of machinery and equipment are 
exempted from both customs duty and the value-added tax.  Minimum 
investment levels apply. 
 
INCENTIVES FOR NORTH AND EAST DEVELOPMENT 
 
Investments in the Northern and Eastern Provinces receive generous 
tax incentives including 10-20 year tax holidays.  Incentives are 
targeted at producers of textile and apparel, food, wood, paper, 
rubber and plastic products, fishing gear and fishing boats.  In 
addition, hotels, agriculture-based industries, and fisheries are 
also entitled to these incentives.  Exporting companies can import 
raw material, capital goods and construction material free of import 
duty under this program.  Companies producing for the local market 
can import capital goods and construction material without duty.  In 
addition, state lands will be made available at concessionary rates 
for these projects. 
 
INCENTIVES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
 
Companies acquiring existing companies in petroleum, power 
generation, transmission, development of highways, seaports, 
airports, railways, water services, public transport, agriculture 
and agro processing and other infrastructure projects approved by 
the BOI will qualify for tax holidays ranging from 5 to 8 years 
depending on the magnitude of investment.  A preferential tax of 15% 
will follow after the tax holiday period.  These companies will also 
qualify for duty free imports of capital goods.  A minimum 
investment of $12.5 million is required. 
 
Large-scale new infrastructure projects in power generation, 
transmission and distribution; development of highways, seaports, 
airports, public transport and water services; establishment of 
industrial parks, and other infrastructure projects approved by the 
BOI will qualify for tax holidays ranging from 6 to 15 years 
depending on the size of the investment.  A preferential tax of 15% 
will follow the tax holiday.  They will also qualify for duty free 
imports of capital goods.  A minimum investment of $12.5 million is 
required. 
 
INCENTIVES FOR OTHER INVESTMENTS 
 
-Industrial estates.  Minimum investment of $500,000 to $75 million; 
tax holidays ranging from 3 to 15 years; 
-Textile fabric manufacturing, processing.  Minimum investment of 
$500,000 to $10 million; tax holidays ranging from 5 to 15 years. 
 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  010 OF 027 
 
 
For further information on investment incentives and other 
investment-related issues, potential investors are encouraged to 
contact the Board of Investment directly.  The BOI can be found at 
www.investsrilanka.com and www.boi.lk, or reached via e-mail at 
info@boi.lk.  The BOI has introduced an investor matchmaking service 
via the BOI website.  Information regarding this service can be 
found at www.boi.lk/partnership. 
 
TRADE AGREEMENTS ENHANCE MARKET ACCESS TO SOUTH ASIA AND EUROPE 
 
A preferential trade agreement, the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement 
(ILFTA) (www.doc.gov.lk) between Sri Lanka and India, is now in 
effect.  Under this agreement, most products manufactured in Sri 
Lanka with at least 35% domestic value addition (if raw materials 
are imported from India, domestic value addition required is only 
25%), qualify for duty free entry to the Indian market.  Tariff 
concessions for Sri Lankan products include zero tariffs on 4,235 
items; 50 to 100% reduction for tea and garments under quota; 25% 
reduction for 553 textile items; and no reduction for 431 items on 
India's "negative list."  Discussions are underway to reduce the 
negative lists of both countries.  The two countries are also 
discussing services sector liberalization, under a proposed 
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).  Other areas 
potentially covered by the CEPA are investment and economic 
cooperation.  Because production constitutes a portion of value 
addition, ILFTA and the proposed CEPA enables foreign firms 
operating in Sri Lanka to gain preferential entry into the Indian 
market.  The CEPA negotiations have stalled, however, and it is not 
clear that Sri Lanka is interested in finalizing the deal. 
 
Some U.S. companies currently avail themselves of the ILFTA by 
adding at least 35% value in Sri Lanka and getting import duties 
into India reduced from as much as 15% to as little as zero. The 
American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, in a study on the ILFTA, 
identified agro-processing, food preparation, tea, rubber products, 
coconut products, spices, furniture, ceramic and confectionary as 
having growth potential in India.  The study also found vehicles and 
vehicle parts, aircraft parts and motorcycles to be possible 
attractive sectors for U.S. manufacturers under the Indo-Lanka 
Agreement. 
 
Sri Lanka's Board of Investment promotes the following product 
sectors under ILFTA:  beverages, confectionary, rubber products, 
plastics, coconut products, footwear, paper, textiles and garments, 
artificial plants, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, iron and steel 
products, aluminum extrusions, machinery and mechanical appliances, 
electronics and electrical products, automobiles and spare parts, 
furniture, and doors. 
 
The 2005 Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (SLPKFTA) 
(www.doc.gov.lk) provides duty-free entry into Pakistan for almost 
all Sri Lankan exports except those on the negative list. 
Pakistan's negative list contains 541 items with no duty 
concessions.  Sri Lanka's Board of Investment promotes the following 
product sectors under SLPKFTA:  spices, coconut based products, 
animal or vegetable oils, confectionary, processed food, rubber 
products, ceramics, jewelry, iron and steel, copper and aluminum 
articles machinery and mechanical appliances, electronics and 
electrical appliances, medical instruments, and automobiles and 
spare parts. 
 
Sri Lanka and six other South Asian nations belonging to the South 
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) agreed in 2004 to 
establish a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) 
(www.saarc-sec.org/main.php), which began operation on July 1, 2006. 
 SAFTA offers regionalized tariff reductions for imports from member 
countries.  Stated goals of SAARC members under SAFTA are to reduce 
duties for imports from member countries to between zero and 5% over 
a period of 7-10 years.  The SAARC trade talks have had limited 
effect to date on trade and investments. 
 
These agreements could help make Sri Lanka a gateway to South Asia 
for foreign investors. 
 
Sri Lankan exports to the European Union (EU) are also duty free 
under the "GSP-Plus" incentive agreement in effect since July 2005. 
Under this program, 7,200 Sri Lankan products meeting 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  011 OF 027 
 
 
rules-of-origin criteria can enter the EU duty free.  The GSP Plus 
scheme for Sri Lanka was renewed in January 2009 for a period of 
three years, subject to the results of an on-going investigation of 
the government's actions at the end of the civil war.  Depending on 
the findings of the investigation, benefits could be withdrawn by 
July 2010. 
 
RIGHT TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND ESTABLISHMENT 
 
Private entities are free to establish, acquire, and dispose of 
interests in business enterprises.  Private enterprises enjoy 
benefits similar to those granted to public enterprises, and there 
are no known limitations to access to markets, credit, or licenses. 
Foreign ownership is allowed in most sectors.  Private land 
ownership is limited to fifty acres per person.  The government owns 
about 80% of the land in Sri Lanka, including the land housing most 
tea, rubber, and coconut plantations.  The government has leased 
most of these plantations to the private sector on 50-year terms. 
Although state land for industrial use is usually allotted on a 
50-year lease, 99-year leases may also be approved on a case-by-case 
basis, depending on the nature of the project.  There are also 
substantial land disputes arising from the end of the war, as the 
Government regains control of areas after many years of war. 
 
While foreign investors can purchase land from private sellers, the 
government has imposed a 100% tax on land transfers to foreigners. 
For this purpose, Sri Lanka has defined foreign investment to 
involve as little as 25% foreign ownership - a definition that can 
be particularly difficult for companies listed on the Colombo Stock 
Exchange since on any particular day, their ownership 
characteristics may vary.  Apartments above the third floor of 
condominium buildings, land for the development of large housing 
schemes, hospitals and hotels with a minimum investment of $10 
million, exporting companies with a minimum investment of $1 
million, and large infrastructure projects with a minimum investment 
of $50 million are exempted from the tax.  Regulations regarding 
these exceptions have been published in Gazette No 1386/18 dated 
March 30, 2005. 
 
PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS 
 
Secured interests in property are recognized and enforced.  The 
legal system is nondiscriminatory and protects and facilitates 
acquisition and disposition of property rights by foreigners, 
although it has recently become subject to political influence.  A 
fairly reliable registration system exists for recording private 
property including land, buildings and mortgages.  There are likely 
to be difficult land disputes in the recently freed northern and 
eastern regions of the country, following the end of the war. 
However, there are problems due to fraud and forged documents. 
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION 
 
Sri Lanka is a party to major intellectual property agreements 
including the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and 
Artistic Works, the Paris Convention for the Protection of 
Industrial Property, the Madrid Agreement for the Repression of 
False or Deceptive Indication of Source on Goods, the Nairobi 
Treaty, the Patent Co-operation Treaty, the Universal Copyright 
Convention, and the Convention establishing the World Intellectual 
Property Organization (WIPO).  Sri Lanka and the United States in 
1991 signed a Bilateral Agreement for the Protection of Intellectual 
Property Rights.  Sri Lanka, a WTO member, is also a party to the 
Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement in the 
World Trade Organization.  Sri Lanka has not acceded to the WIPO 
Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT); the WIPO Copyright Treaty 
(WCT); or the WTO Information Technology Agreement. 
 
In November 2003, a new intellectual property law came into force 
that was intended to meet both U.S.-Sri Lanka bilateral IPR 
agreement and TRIPS obligations to a great extent.  The law governs 
copyrights and related rights, industrial designs, patents, 
trademarks and service marks, trade names, layout designs of 
integrated circuits, geographical indications, unfair competition, 
databases, computer programs, and undisclosed information.  All 
trademarks, designs, industrial designs and patents must be 
registered with the Director General of Intellectual Property.  Sri 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  012 OF 027 
 
 
Lanka introduced regulations to regulate the commercial use of local 
creations in 2008. 
 
Infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) is a punishable 
offense under the law.  Intellectual property rights come under both 
criminal and civil jurisdiction.  Recourse available to owners 
includes injunctive relief, seizure and destruction of infringing 
goods and plates or implements used for the making of infringing 
copies, and prohibition of imports and exports.  Penalties for the 
first offence include a prison sentence of 6 months or a fine of up 
to Rs 500,000 ($4,425), but smaller penalties are the norm. 
Penalties can be doubled for a second offense.  Aggrieved parties 
can seek redress for any IPR violations through the courts, though 
this can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. 
 
Since the passage of the 2003 IPR law Sri Lanka has slowly begun 
enforcing its provisions.  The Police occasionally raid counterfeit 
CD/VCD stores as well as counterfeit garment sellers.  However, it 
is rare for the police to act without a formal complaint and 
assistance from an aggrieved party.  Several offenders have been 
charged or convicted by courts.  However, the minimal damages and 
suspended sentences imposed suggest that the court system still 
fails to recognize the significance of intellectual property 
rights. 
 
Counterfeit goods continue to be widely available in Sri Lanka. 
Local agents of well-known U.S. and other international companies 
representing recording, software, movie, clothing and consumer 
product industries continue to complain that lack of IPR protection 
is damaging their businesses.  Piracy of sound recordings and 
software is widespread, making it difficult for the legitimate 
industries to protect their market and realize their potential in 
Sri Lanka.  Software companies complain of the lack of IPR 
enforcement within government institutions and even some larger 
corporations, including several banks.  In December 2009, the 
government of Sri Lanka approved a new Information Technology (IT) 
policy for the government sector which includes rules on hardware 
and software procurement.  The implementation date of the new policy 
is not known. The embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce of 
Sri Lanka are working to pursue more aggressive enforcement and 
enhance public awareness. 
 
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS 
 
Patents are valid for 20 years from the date of application but must 
be renewed annually.  Patents are granted for inventions, with the 
following exceptions: discoveries, scientific theories and 
mathematical methods, plant or animal varieties (other than micro 
biological processes) and essential biological processes for the 
production of plants and animals (other than non-biological and 
microbiological processes), business rules and methods, methods of 
treatment by surgery or therapy, and diagnostic methods practiced on 
a human or animal body.  The law also permits compulsory licensing 
and parallel imports of pharmaceutical products.  Compulsory 
licensing will allow the government to grant licenses to manufacture 
certain patented drugs, overruling patent licenses in a national 
emergency.  The parallel imports will allow the import of a branded 
drug from an alternative source. 
 
Copyrights are not registered.  A work is protected automatically by 
operation of law.  Original literary, artistic, and scientific works 
including computer programs and databases are protected under the 
new law.  There are enforcement limitations applying to copyrights, 
including software. 
 
Sri Lanka recognizes both trademarks and service marks.  The 
exclusive right to a mark is acquired by registration.  A mark may 
consist of words, slogans, designs, etc.  Protection also is 
available to well known marks not registered in Sri Lanka. 
Registered trademarks are valid for ten years and renewable.  The 
law also recognizes both certification marks and collective marks. 
 
TRANSPARENCY OF REGULATORY SYSTEM 
 
The Board of Investment strives to inform potential investors about 
laws and regulations that may affect operations in Sri Lanka.  Laws 
are in place pertaining to tax, labor and labor standards, exchange 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  013 OF 027 
 
 
controls, customs, environmental norms, and building and 
construction standards.  However, some of the laws and regulations 
are difficult to access. 
 
Foreign and domestic investors often complain that the regulatory 
system is unpredictable due to outdated regulations, rigid 
administrative procedures, and excessive leeway for bureaucratic 
discretion.  Effective enforcement mechanisms are sometimes lacking, 
and coordination problems between the BOI and relevant line agencies 
frequently emerge.  Lethargy and indifference on the part of mid- 
and lower-level public servants compound transparency problems. 
Lack of sufficient technical capacity within the government to 
review financial proposals for private infrastructure projects also 
creates problems during tendering.  An example of weakness in 
regulations occurred in mid-2006, when police and government 
agencies closed two satellite television broadcasting stations for 
not possessing required licenses.  The two stations remained closed 
for over five months, before various government agencies 
reauthorized their operations. 
 
In 2005-2009, the Government awarded several key infrastructure 
projects to Chinese companies outside the tender process.  They 
included a 300 megawatt coal power project, a fuel bunkering 
project, and a large port construction project and an airport 
project in the southern district of Hambantota.  In addition, the 
Government has promised oil exploration rights to India and China 
outside the tender process.  Similarly, in 2008, the 
government-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement 
with the government of Iran to finance the expansion of the 
country's oil refinery.  The government had previously signed a 
Memorandum of Understanding with an American company to negotiate an 
agreement for the same project.  Despite the purported agreement 
with Iran, the refinery project is still on hold. 
 
Although many foreign investors, including U.S. firms, have had 
positive experiences in Sri Lanka, some have encountered significant 
problems with government practices and regulations.  Some 
multinational firms have experienced extensive unexplained delays in 
trying to reach agreement on investment projects.  Others have had 
contracts arbitrarily canceled without compensation, even though the 
Sri Lankan Cabinet had approved those contracts. 
 
Proposed laws and regulations are generally made available for 
public comment.  However, occasionally they are published without 
public discussion. 
 
EFFICIENT CAPITAL MARKETS AND PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT 
 
Retained profits finance about 70% of private investment, with short 
term borrowing financing a further 20% of investment.  The stock 
market and corporate securities market have not been significantly 
used to raise capital.  Foreign direct investment (FDI) finances 
about 4% of overall investment.  Foreign investors are allowed to 
access credit on the local market.  They are also free to raise 
foreign currency loans. 
 
The state consumes over 50% of the country's domestic financial 
resources and has a virtual monopoly on the management and use of 
long-term savings in the country.  This inhibits the free flow of 
financial resources to product and factor markets.  For 2009, the 
government's net borrowing from the local market is forecast to be 
Rs 183 billion ($1.6 billion).  Due to high inflation and increased 
government borrowing, interest rates were high in 2007 and 2008. 
Most companies cite high interest rates as a major impediment to 
doing business and investment in Sri Lanka.  With the decline in the 
rate of inflation in 2009, the Central Banks reduced key interest 
rates.  Consequently, lending rates to blue chip companies declined 
to 12% in January 2010 from about 20% in January 2009.  Other 
companies including SME's face higher rates. 
 
CREDIT INSTRUMENTS 
 
Commercial banks are the principal source of bank finance.  Bank 
loans are the most widely used credit instrument for the private 
sector.  Financial institutions also raise syndicated bank loans to 
fund large-scale investment projects undertaken by the private 
sector. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  014 OF 027 
 
 
 
The domestic debt market in Sri Lanka is still at a nascent stage. 
The first credit rating agency in Sri Lanka was Fitch Rating Lanka 
(www.fitchratings.lk), which opened an office in Colombo in 1999. 
Fitch Ratings Lanka is a joint venture between Fitch Ratings Inc, 
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Central Bank of Sri 
Lanka, and several leading local financial institutions.  Credit 
ratings are now mandatory for all deposit-taking institutions and 
for all varieties of debt instruments and have helped numerous Sri 
Lankan companies raise funds through debt markets. 
 
Sri Lanka received its first sovereign credit ratings in December 
2005, with a "BB-minus" from Fitch Ratings and a "B-Plus" from 
Standard and Poor's (S&P).  Current ratings are "B-Plus" (Fitch) and 
"B" (S&P).  Fitch has assigned a stable rating outlook for Sri 
Lanka.  S&P's rating outlook is positive. 
 
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 
 
There is an active and fairly competent accounting profession, based 
on the British model.  The source of accounting standards is the 
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), and 
standards are constantly updated to reflect current international 
accounting and audit standards adopted by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB).  In addition, Sri Lanka is 
following the worldwide move to adopt International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) for financial reporting purposes set by 
the IASB.  The proposed full convergence is expected to be in 2011 
for financial periods on or after January 1, 2012.  A significant 
change is expected with full convergence.  Due to the lack of an 
adequate enforcement mechanism, problems with the quality and 
reliability of financial statements still exist. 
 
Sri Lankan accounting standards are applicable for all banks, stock 
exchange listed companies and all other large and medium-sized 
companies in Sri Lanka.  Accounts of such business enterprises are 
required to be audited by professionally qualified auditors holding 
ICASL membership.  ICASL has published accounting standards for 
small companies as well.  The Accounting Standards and Monitoring 
Board (ASMB) is responsible for monitoring compliance with Sri 
Lankan accounting and auditing standards.  British professional 
accounting bodies are quite active in Sri Lanka.  The Chartered 
Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), a leading professional 
accounting body based in the UK and spread over the Commonwealth, 
has its largest overseas presence in Sri Lanka.  CIMA UK suspended 
the Sri Lanka divisional council over a governance issue in December 
2008 and a new council was appointed in January 2010.  CIMA programs 
and operations in Sri Lanka continued undisrupted during this 
period. 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates the 
securities market in Sri Lanka.  The SEC law was revised in 2003, 
enhancing the SEC's coverage and investigative powers.  The SEC now 
covers stock exchanges, unit trusts, stock brokers, listed public 
companies, margin traders, underwriters, investment managers, credit 
rating agencies and securities depositories. 
 
Foreign investors can purchase up to 100% of equity in Sri Lankan 
companies in numerous permitted sectors.  In order to facilitate 
portfolio investments, country funds and regional funds may obtain 
Ministry of Finance approval to invest in Sri Lanka's stock market. 
These funds make transactions through share investment external 
Rupee accounts maintained in commercial banks. 
 
COLOMBO STOCK EXCHANGE 
 
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has fully automated trading, 
clearing and settlement systems.  The CSE maintains a rolling 
settlement period of 3 days.  Twenty one local and foreign joint 
venture brokers currently operate at the CSE. Foreign stockbrokers 
are permitted to hold up to 100% equity in stock brokerage firms 
operating at the CSE.  The SEC has a settlement guarantee fund with 
an initial capital of Rs 100 million ($88,500), which aims to 
guarantee the settlement of trades between clearing members of the 
exchange. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  015 OF 027 
 
 
 
There are 232 companies listed on the stock exchange with the top 
ten positions by market capitalization held by conglomerates, 
telecommunication companies, banks, and food and beverage companies. 
 The CSE, which suffered in 2007-2008 due to increased 
conflict-related violence and the global financial crisis, was the 
second best performing market in the world after Russia in 2009. 
The market gained 125% in 2009.  The post-war optimism led to a 
surge in investor interest. 
 
The CSE suffered somewhat after insider trading charges were filed 
in the U.S. against Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon fund, but quickly 
recovered.  The U.S. based Galleon fund was a major investor in the 
CSE, and held shares in over 70 companies.  Galleon has now exited 
from most of the CSE companies.  Investors have also been 
discouraged by various Supreme Court decisions negatively impacting 
businesses in 2008-2009.  One ruling, citing bias by government 
officials in favor of the eventual contract winner, reversed the 
2002 privatization of a bunkering unit to a large conglomerate 
listed in the stock exchange.  A similar case reversed the sale of a 
large government-owned insurance company to another listed 
conglomerate.  In yet another case, the Supreme Court temporarily 
stopped payments due to local and foreign banks for oil hedging 
contracts.  Other issues include lack of liquidity and limited 
market size. 
 
Improvements are also needed in corporate governance, 
accountability, and public disclosure.  The Accounting and Auditing 
Standards Monitoring Board, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the 
Colombo Stock Exchange, and professional accounting bodies are 
taking initiatives in these areas. 
 
Acquisition of companies through mergers and acquisitions is 
governed by the Takeovers and Mergers Code of 1995 made under the 
Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Act.  This law 
applies only to companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.  It 
is modeled on the lines of the London City Code on Takeovers and 
Mergers.  Acquisition of more than a 30% stake of a listed company 
requires the buyer to make an offer to all other shareholders.  The 
articles of association of a few listed companies restrict foreign 
equity to certain levels. 
 
BANKING SYSTEM 
 
Sri Lanka has a fairly well diversified banking system.  There are 
23 commercial banks - eleven local and twelve foreign.  In addition, 
there are 14 local specialized banks.  Citibank NA is the only U.S. 
bank operating in Sri Lanka. 
 
In late 2008, the Central Bank dissolved the board of directors of a 
private local bank, Seylan Bank, and appointed the state-owned Bank 
of Ceylon to carry on the business of the bank.  This was done to 
ensure stability in the overall financial sector following a 
financial scandal at a non regulated large finance company connected 
to the bank. 
 
Since then, the Seylan Bank has been restructured with equity from 
new shareholders.  The bank has returned to normal business activity 
with a board of directors appointed by the new shareholders. 
 
The Central Bank also took control of several non-bank finance 
companies connected to the failed finance company.  These companies 
are being restructured through mergers.  The Central Bank also 
launched a stimulus package for finance and leasing companies with 
the aim of avoiding a crisis in them.  However, weaknesses in 
smaller finance and leasing companies exposed to real estate remains 
a concern. 
 
Sri Lanka experienced its first bank failure in December 2002 when 
the Central Bank took action to revoke the license of a small 
licensed specialized bank as it approached insolvency.  There was no 
fallout for other banks from this incident.  Two other small 
troubled banks were restructured under Central Bank guidance. 
 
The Central Bank is responsible for supervision of all banking 
institutions.  It has driven improvements in banking regulations, 
provisioning, and public disclosure of banking sector performance. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  016 OF 027 
 
 
Since 2004, credit ratings have been mandatory for all banks 
operating in Sri Lanka.  In 2006, the Central Bank introduced higher 
capital requirements for commercial banks to further stabilize the 
banking system, promote consolidation, and facilitate entry of 
larger banks.  Notable progress in 2008 includes mandatory 
provisioning on performing loans and acceptance of the Basel II 
standardized approach framework.  In addition, the Central Bank 
issued corporate governance rules for banks.  The new rules are 
aimed at promoting the safety and soundness of the banking system. 
In 2009, the Central Bank carried out capacity building programs on 
Basel II.  The Bank issued regulations for service providers of 
payment cards regulations.  The Central Bank will regulate all 
payment card systems.  The Central Bank has also developed a road 
map for the full implementation of International Accounting 
Standards on Financial Instruments for banks by January 1, 2011.  In 
addition, the Central Bank plans to introduce new Sri Lanka 
accounting standards to the banking sector in 2011.  Nevertheless, 
the Central Bank still suffers from lack of autonomous authority, 
especially with regard to the large state owned banks. 
 
Sri Lanka has enacted laws to deal with money laundering and 
terrorist financing.  The Bank Supervision Department of the Central 
Bank supervises and examines financial institutions for compliance 
with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations.  A 
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was created in 2006, and operates 
under the Central Bank.  The Financial Intelligence Unit has issued 
instructions to banks, finance and insurance companies, and the 
securities industry regarding anti-money laundering and terrorist 
financing regulations and, in 2008, extended it rules on "know your 
customer" and "customer due diligence" to insurance companies and 
the securities industry. 
 
STATE-OWNED BANKS 
 
Total assets of commercial banks stood at Rs 2,200 billion ($19 
billion) as of December 31, 2008.  The two state-owned commercial 
banks, Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank, with assets of Rs 492 
billion ($3.3 billion) and Rs 416 billion ($3.6 billion) 
respectively, are still important players, accounting for about 40% 
of all assets. 
 
The two state banks are inefficient and have accumulated extensive 
bad debt.  However, as these banks are implicitly guaranteed by the 
state, their problems have not harmed the credibility of the rest of 
the banking system.  Progress has been made in restructuring the two 
banks -- their nonperforming loan ratios declined from 18% in 2003 
to 5-7% in 2008, while provisioning and profitability have improved. 
 Nonetheless, both these banks have significant exposure to the 
state and state-owned companies, which are treated as performing 
loans. 
 
PRIVATE COMMERCIAL BANKS AND FOREIGN BANKS 
 
Private commercial banks and foreign banks operating in Sri Lanka 
generally follow more prudent credit policies and, as a group, are 
in better financial shape.  Foreign banks tend to make provisions in 
line with international best practices, as most foreign bank 
branches are subject to host country supervision in addition to that 
of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. 
 
Non-performing loans to total loans ratio increased from 4.9% in 
2007 to 6% in 2008.  It is estimated to have increased sharply in 
2009, with significant variations among individual banks.  There are 
concerns regarding credit exposure to housing and consumer sectors, 
impact of high interest rates and the impact of prevailing economic 
conditions on the banking system. 
 
CAPITAL ADEQUACY 
 
Sri Lanka adopted capital adequacy standards set by the Basel 
Committee on banking regulations and supervisory practices in 1993. 
The minimum capital adequacy ratio required by the Central Bank is 
5% for core capital (Tier I) and 10% for risk weighted assets (Tier 
I and Tier II).  The Central Bank adopted Pillar 1 of Basel II 
capital adequacy standard for all banks in 2008. 
 
Risk-based capital adequacy in the banking sector was 13% in 2008. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  017 OF 027 
 
 
The Bank of Ceylon's capital adequacy ratio is well within Central 
Bank requirements.  Following a capital injection from the Ministry 
of Finance, People's Bank reported core and total CAR ratios of 
6.48% and 10.46%, under the Basel II framework in 2008. 
 
COMPETITION FROM STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES (SOE) 
 
SOE's are active in transport (bus and railways, ports and airport 
managements, air line operations), utilities such as electricity, 
petroleum imports and retail, water supply, and telecommunications, 
TV and Radio broadcasting, newspaper publishing, banking and 
insurance. 
 
Directors of SOE's are appointed by the cabinet or a line Ministry. 
They report to line Ministries.  The board seats are allocated to 
both senior government officials and politically-affiliated 
individuals.  Senior management positions such as the post of CEO 
are most often allocated to politically-affiliated individuals. 
 
Sri Lanka does not currently have a sovereign wealth fund (SWF). 
 
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) 
 
Leading companies in Sri Lanka are actively promoting CSR.  Some SME 
companies have also started to promote CSR.  The Ceylon Chamber of 
Commerce (CCC), the largest business chamber in Sri Lanka, has a CSR 
section promoting CSR among its membership.  CCC also has an annual 
"Best Corporate Citizens" award to encourage CSR activities.  In 
addition, a professional accounting body has a program to promote 
sustainability reporting.  Internationally, some of Sri Lanka's 
leading companies have joined the UN Global Compact initiative.  In 
fact, Sri Lanka won the Asia Award 2009 for the "best performing 
global compact principles by a local network."  The apparel 
industry, Sri Lanka's largest export industry, has a specially 
designated CSR program for the industry under the title "Garments 
without Guilt" (www.garmentswithoutguilt.com).   The ethical 
sourcing and sustainable development practices under the program aim 
to empower women and their communities through poverty alleviation 
and opportunities for education and personal growth.  In addition, 
it also endeavors to promote sustainable eco-friendly manufacturing 
practices in the apparel industry.  Firms who pursue CSR are viewed 
favorably by Sri Lanka's business sector resulting in positive media 
attention. 
 
POLITICAL VIOLENCE 
 
The Sri Lankan government's military campaign against the Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May 2009 with the defeat of 
the LTTE.  Prior to that, from January 2008 to June 2009 fighting 
between the Sri Lankan military, paramilitary groups and the LTTE 
increased.  Bomb attacks in densely populated areas killed dozens of 
civilians, including in some areas frequented by foreign tourists. 
LTTE conducted several air attacks in Colombo during this period. 
There were a series of other incidents throughout the country 
targeting armed forces personnel, politicians and civilians in 
2007-2009. 
 
In 1997, the United States designated the LTTE as a Foreign 
Terrorist Organization (FTO).  In 2007, the United States froze the 
assets of, and blocked transactions with, the Tamils Rehabilitation 
Organization (TRO), a U.S.-registered non-profit group, on the 
grounds that it provided support for the LTTE. 
 
During the two and half decades of war, foreign tourists and foreign 
business representatives were not LTTE targets, but they were 
injured in attacks on other targets.  In 2001, the LTTE attacked 
Colombo's international airport and destroyed commercial and 
military aircraft.  Sri Lankan Airlines lost several commercial 
aircraft in the attack.  Prior to 2001 the LTTE attacked several 
foreign-flagged commercial ships in the waters off the north and 
east of the country.  The LTTE also bombed Colombo's financial and 
business districts, causing numerous casualties and extensive damage 
to property. 
 
Currently, Sri Lanka is included in the Lloyds Joint War Risk 
Committee's war, strikes, terrorism and related perils areas list. 
Insurers have the option of imposing war risk premiums on ships 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  018 OF 027 
 
 
using Sri Lankan ports.  Lines which call on Sri Lanka regularly are 
not charged the war risk charge now, but could affect new 
businesses. 
 
CORRUPTION 
 
Corruption, including bribery, raises the costs and risks of doing 
business.  Corruption has a corrosive impact on both market 
opportunities overseas for U.S. companies and the broader business 
climate.  It also deters international investment, stifles economic 
growth and development, distorts prices, and undermines the rule of 
law. 
 
It is important for U.S. companies, irrespective of their size, to 
assess the business climate in the relevant market in which they 
will be operating or investing, and to have an effective compliance 
program or measures to prevent and detect corruption, including 
foreign bribery.  U.S. individuals and firms operating or investing 
in foreign markets should take the time to become familiar with the 
relevant anticorruption laws of both the foreign country and the 
United States in order to properly comply with them, and where 
appropriate, they should seek the advice of legal counsel. 
 
The U.S. Government seeks to level the global playing field for U.S. 
businesses by encouraging other countries to take steps to 
criminalize their own companies' acts of corruption, including 
bribery of foreign public officials, by requiring them to uphold 
their obligations under relevant international conventions.  A U. S. 
firm that believes a competitor is seeking to use bribery of a 
foreign public official to secure a contract should bring this to 
the attention of appropriate U.S. agencies, as noted below. 
 
U.S. FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT 
 
In 1977, the United States enacted the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 
(FCPA), which makes it unlawful for a U.S. person, and certain 
foreign issuers of securities, to make a corrupt payment to foreign 
public officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business 
for or with, or directing business to, any person. The FCPA also 
applies to foreign firms and persons who take any act in furtherance 
of such a corrupt payment while in the United States. For more 
detailed information on the FCPA, see the FCPA Lay-Person's Guide 
at: http://www.justice.gov/ 
criminal/fraud/docs/dojdocb.html. 
 
OTHER INSTRUMENTS 
 
It is U.S. Government policy to promote good governance, including 
host country implementation and enforcement of anti-corruption laws 
and policies pursuant to their obligations under international 
agreements. Since enactment of the FCPA, the United States has been 
instrumental in the expansion of the international framework to 
fight corruption.  Several significant components of this framework 
are the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public 
Officials in International Business Transactions (OECD Antibribery 
Convention), the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UN 
Convention), the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (OAS 
Convention), the Council of Europe Criminal and Civil Law 
Conventions, and a growing list of U.S. free trade agreements.  Sri 
Lanka ratified the UN Anti-Corruption Convention in 2004.  Sri Lanka 
has signed but not ratified the UN Convention against Transnational 
Organized Crime.  Sri Lanka became a signatory to the OECD-ADB 
Anti-Corruption Regional Plan in May 2006. 
 
OECD ANTIBRIBERY CONVENTION 
 
The OECD Antibribery Convention entered into force in February 1999. 
 As of December 2009, there are 38 parties to the Convention 
including the United States (see http://www.oecd.org/ 
dataoecd/59/13/40272933.pdf).  Major exporters China, India, and 
Russia are not parties, although the U.S. Government strongly 
endorses their eventual accession to the Convention.  The Convention 
obligates the Parties to criminalize bribery of foreign public 
officials in the conduct of international business.  The United 
States meets its international obligations under the OECD 
Antibribery Convention through the U.S. FCPA.  Sri Lanka is not a 
party to the OECD Convention. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  019 OF 027 
 
 
 
UN CONVENTION 
 
The UN Anti-Corruption Convention entered into force on December 14, 
2005, and there are 143 parties to it as of December 2009 (see 
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ treaties/CAC/signatories.html).  The 
UN Convention is the first global comprehensive international 
anti-corruption agreement.  The UN Convention requires countries to 
establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts 
of corruption.  The UN Convention goes beyond previous 
anti-corruption instruments, covering a broad range of issues 
ranging from basic forms of corruption such as bribery and 
solicitation, embezzlement, trading in influence to the concealment 
and laundering of the proceeds of corruption.  The Convention 
contains transnational business bribery provisions that are 
functionally similar to those in the OECD Antibribery Convention and 
contains provisions on private sector auditing and books and records 
requirements.  Other provisions address matters such as prevention, 
international cooperation, and asset recovery.  Sri Lanka is a party 
to the UN Convention. 
 
OAS CONVENTION 
 
In 1996, the Member States of the Organization of American States 
(OAS) adopted the first international anti-corruption legal 
instrument, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (OAS 
Convention), which entered into force in March 1997.  The OAS 
Convention, among other things, establishes a set of preventive 
measures against corruption, provides for the criminalization of 
certain acts of corruption, including transnational bribery and 
illicit enrichment, and contains a series of provisions to 
strengthen the cooperation between its States Parties in areas such 
as mutual legal assistance and technical cooperation.  As of 
December 2009, the OAS Convention has 33 parties (see 
www.oas.org/juridico/english/Sigs/b-58.html).  Sri Lanka is not a 
party to the OAS Convention. 
 
COUNCIL OF EUROPE CRIMINAL LAW AND CIVIL LAW CONVENTIONS 
 
Many European countries are parties to either the Council of Europe 
(CoE) Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, the Civil Law 
Convention, or both.  The Criminal Law Convention requires 
criminalization of a wide range of national and transnational 
conduct, including bribery, money-laundering, and account offenses. 
It also incorporates provisions on liability of legal persons and 
witness protection.  The Civil Law Convention includes provisions on 
compensation for damage relating to corrupt acts, whistleblower 
protection, and validity of contracts, inter alia.  The Group of 
States against Corruption (GRECO) was established in 1999 by the CoE 
to monitor compliance with these and related anti-corruption 
standards.  Currently, GRECO comprises 46 member States (45 European 
countries and the United States).  As of December 2009, the Criminal 
Law Convention has 42 parties and the Civil Law Convention has 34 
(see www.coe.int/greco).  Sri Lanka is not a party to the Council of 
Europe Conventions. 
 
LOCAL LAWS 
 
U.S. firms should familiarize themselves with local anticorruption 
laws, and, where appropriate, seek legal counsel. While the U.S. 
Department of Commerce cannot provide legal advice on local laws, 
the Department's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service can provide 
assistance with navigating the host country's legal system and 
obtaining a list of local legal counsel. 
 
ASSISTANCE FOR U.S. BUSINESSES: 
 
The U.S. Department of Commerce offers several services to aid U.S. 
businesses seeking to address business-related corruption issues. 
For example, the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service can provide 
services that may assist U.S. companies in conducting their due 
diligence as part of the company's overarching compliance program 
when choosing business partners or agents overseas.  The U.S. 
Foreign and Commercial Service can be reached directly through its 
offices in every major U.S. and foreign city, or through its Website 
at www.trade.gov/cs.  In Sri Lanka, this service is provided by the 
Economic and Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  020 OF 027 
 
 
(commercialcolombo 
@state.gov). 
 
The Departments of Commerce and State provide worldwide support for 
qualified U.S. companies bidding on foreign government contracts 
through the Commerce Department's Advocacy Center and State's Office 
of Commercial and Business Affairs.  Problems, including alleged 
corruption by foreign governments or competitors, encountered by 
U.S. companies in seeking such foreign business opportunities can be 
brought to the attention of appropriate U.S. government officials, 
including local embassy personnel and through the Department of 
Commerce Trade Compliance Center "Report A Trade Barrier" Website at 
tcc.export. 
gov/Report_a_Barrier/index.asp. 
 
GUIDANCE ON THE U.S. FCPA 
 
The Department of Justice's (DOJ) FCPA Opinion Procedure enables 
U.S. firms and individuals to request a statement of the Justice 
Department's present enforcement intentions under the antibribery 
provisions of the FCPA regarding any proposed business conduct.  The 
details of the opinion procedure are available on DOJ's Fraud 
Section Website at www.justice.gov/ 
criminal/fraud/fcpa. Although the Department of Commerce has no 
enforcement role with respect to the FCPA, it supplies general 
guidance to U.S. exporters who have questions about the FCPA and 
about international developments concerning the FCPA.  For further 
information, see the Office of the Chief Counsel for International 
Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce, Website, at 
www.ogc.doc.gov/trans_anti_bribery.html.  More general information 
on the FCPA is available at the Websites listed below. 
 
Exporters and investors should be aware that generally all countries 
prohibit the bribery of their public officials, and prohibit their 
officials from soliciting bribes under domestic laws.  Most 
countries are required to criminalize such bribery and other acts of 
corruption by virtue of being parties to various international 
conventions discussed above. 
 
CORRUPTION IN SRI LANKA 
 
Public sector corruption, including bribery of public officials, 
remains a significant challenge for U.S. firms operating in Sri 
Lanka.  While the country has generally adequate laws and 
regulations to combat corruption, enforcement is weak and 
inconsistent.  U.S. firms identify corruption as a constraint on 
foreign investment, but, by and large, it is not a major threat to 
operating in Sri Lanka - at least once a contract has been won. 
Corruption appears to have the greatest effect on investors in large 
projects and on those pursuing government procurement contracts. 
 
There is a consensus that corruption is rampant in Sri Lanka.  In 
Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index for 2009 
Sri Lanka ranks 97th with a score of 3.1 out of a possible 10 
points.  The World Bank Control of Corruption Index which ranges 
from -2.5 to +2.5 has shown an improvement to -0.13 in 2006 and 2007 
from -0.26 in 2005.  In a 2006 USAID Democracy and Governance 
assessment, anecdotal evidence from the private sector indicated 
that the percentage of a public sector contract paid in bribes 
nearly tripled.  According to Transparency International, corruption 
is perceived as most pervasive in political appointments to 
government institutions and in government procurement awards, as 
well as in high frequency/low value transactions.  The police force 
and the judiciary are perceived to be the most corrupt public 
institutions.  Corruption is also a persistent problem in customs 
clearance and enables wide smuggling of certain consumer items, to 
the detriment of legitimate manufacturers and importers. 
 
In 2008-2009, the Supreme Court, examining public interest 
litigations against the sale of three government properties, faulted 
a former President and the Secretary to the Treasury for wrongdoing. 
 Both were fined.  The Supreme Court also reversed the sales.  Also 
in 2008, the Supreme Court also removed the Secretary to the 
Treasury from his position and ruled that he cannot hold any public 
office in the future.  However, in 2009 the Supreme Court chaired by 
a new Chief Justice allowed the former the Treasury Secretary to 
resume his duties, thereby reversing the 2008 decision. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  021 OF 027 
 
 
 
In January 2007, a parliamentary Commission found evidence of 
serious and widespread waste, fraud, and abuse in the management of 
Sri Lanka's numerous government enterprises.  Privatization of a 
handful of government enterprises between 2001 and 2004 also appears 
to have been done in a corrupt manner.  The mismanagement and 
corruption reviewed by the Commission have cost Sri Lanka an 
estimated USD 1.3 billion.  However, the government has taken little 
concrete action to date to address the Commission's findings, and it 
later replaced the Commission's chairman and some of its members; 
one new appointee is the President's brother.  Following the 
Commission's report, several other large scale corruption incidents 
and frauds materialized, including at the government's tax office. 
 
Sri Lanka ratified the UN Anti-Corruption Convention in 2004.  Sri 
Lanka has signed but not ratified the UN Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime.  Sri Lanka became a signatory to the 
OECD-ADB Anti-Corruption Regional Plan in May 2006. 
 
BRIBERY COMMISSION NOT EFFECTIVE 
 
The Bribery Commission is the main body responsible for 
investigating allegations of bribery and corruption.  The function 
of the Commission, under Act No 19 of 1994, is to investigate 
allegations brought to its attention and to institute proceedings 
against responsible individuals in the appropriate court.  The law 
states that a public official's offer or acceptance of a bribe 
constitutes a criminal offense and carries a maximum sentence of 
seven years imprisonment and a fine at the discretion of the courts. 
 A bribe by a local company to a foreign official is not covered by 
the Bribery Act. 
 
Although highly publicized, efforts to investigate bribery and 
corruption by the Bribery Commission and Presidential Commissions 
have failed, damaging public confidence in such processes.  In 
February 2008, the President removed the Bribery Commission's 
Director General, the sole individual able to serve indictments and 
appointed a new Director General. 
 
Several other government entities try to address corruption, the 
most important being the Auditor General's Department.  However, 
there is a confusion of mandates and these institutions frequently 
interpret their mandates narrowly, inhibiting their effectiveness. 
 
ANTI-CORRUPTION RESOURCES 
 
Some useful resources for individuals and companies regarding 
combating corruption in global markets include the following: 
 
Information about the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), 
including a "Lay-Person's Guide to the FCPA" is available at the 
U.S. Department of Justice's Website at: http://www.justice.gov/ 
criminal/fraud/fcpa. 
 
Information about the OECD Antibribery Convention including links to 
national implementing legislation and country monitoring reports is 
available at: http://www.oecd.org/ 
department/0,3355,en_2649_34859_1_1_1_1_1,00. html.  See also new 
Antibribery Recommendation and Good Practice Guidance Annex for 
companies: www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/40/44176910.pdf 
 
General information about anticorruption initiatives, such as the 
OECD Convention and the FCPA, including translations of the statute 
into several languages, is available at the Department of Commerce 
Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce Website: 
http://www.ogc.doc.gov/ 
trans_anti_bribery.html. 
 
Transparency International (TI) publishes an annual Corruption 
Perceptions Index (CPI).  The CPI measures the perceived level of 
public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories around the 
world.  The CPI is available at: www.transparency. 
org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009.  TI also publishes an 
annual Global Corruption Report which provides a systematic 
evaluation of the state of corruption around the world.  It includes 
an in-depth analysis of a focal theme, a series of country reports 
that document major corruption related events and developments from 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  022 OF 027 
 
 
all continents and an overview of the latest research findings on 
anti-corruption diagnostics and tools.  See 
www.transparency.org/publications/gcr. 
 
The World Bank Institute publishes Worldwide Governance Indicators 
(WGI).  These indicators assess six dimensions of governance in 212 
countries, including Voice and Accountability, Political Stability 
and Absence of Violence, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory 
Quality, Rule of Law and Control of Corruption.  See 
http://info.worldbank.org/ 
governance/wgi/sc_country.asp.  The World Bank Business Environment 
and Enterprise Performance Surveys may also be of interest and are 
available at:  http://go.worldbank.org/ 
RQQXYJ6210. 
 
The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Enabling Trade Report, 
which presents the rankings of the Enabling Trade Index, and 
includes an assessment of the transparency of border administration 
(focused on bribe payments and corruption) and a separate segment on 
corruption and the regulatory environment.  See 
http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/ 
gcp/GlobalEnablingTradeReport/index.htm. 
 
Additional country information related to corruption can be found in 
the U.S. State Department's annual Human Rights Report available at 
www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/. 
 
Global Integrity, a nonprofit organization, publishes its annual 
Global Integrity Report, which provides indicators for 92 countries 
with respect to governance and anti-corruption.  The report 
highlights the strengths and weaknesses of national level 
anti-corruption systems.  The report is available at: 
http://report.globalintegrity.org/. 
 
BILATERAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS 
 
The Government of Sri Lanka has signed investment protection 
agreements with the United States (which came into force in May 
1993) and with the following other countries: 
 
¶1.  Belgium 
¶2.  People's Republic of China 
¶3.  Denmark 
¶4.  Egypt 
¶5.  Finland 
¶6.  France 
¶7.  Germany 
¶8.  Indonesia 
¶9.  India 
¶10. Iran 
¶11. Italy 
¶12. Japan 
¶13. Korea 
¶14. Luxembourg 
¶15. Malaysia 
¶16. Netherlands 
¶17. Norway 
¶18. Romania 
¶19. Singapore 
¶20. Sweden 
¶21. Switzerland 
¶22. Thailand 
¶23. United Kingdom 
 
TAXATION 
 
A bilateral treaty between Sri Lanka and the United States to avoid 
double taxation was ratified and entered into force on June 12, 
¶2004. 
 
Foreign investors not qualifying for Board of Investment incentives 
such as tax and exchange control exemptions or concessions are 
liable to pay taxes on corporate profits, dividends, and remittances 
of profits.  They are also liable to pay a Value Added Tax on goods 
and services.  The government has also imposed a tax of 0.1% on 
debits to any current or savings account maintained at any bank in 
Sri Lanka.  Debits made to accounts of government and international 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  023 OF 027 
 
 
organizations are excluded.  Accounts maintained at Foreign Currency 
Banking Units, accounts maintained for stock exchange transactions 
(SIERA), and resident and non-resident foreign currency accounts are 
exempted from the tax. 
 
An Economic Service Charge (ESC) at 0.25% of income applies to 
BOI-approved companies enjoying tax holidays.  The Embassy 
encourages prospective U.S. investors to contact an international 
auditing firm operating in Sri Lanka to assess their tax liability. 
 
OPIC AND OTHER INVESTMENT INSURANCE PROGRAMS 
 
The United States and Sri Lanka concluded in 1966 (and renewed in 
1993) an agreement that allows the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation (OPIC) to provide investment insurance guarantees for 
U.S. investors.  OPIC currently provides coverage to banking and 
power sector investments in Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka's membership in 
the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) offers the 
opportunity for insurance against non-commercial risks. 
 
The U.S. Embassy and other U.S. Government institutions spend over 
$13 million annually in Sri Lanka.  This amount can potentially be 
utilized by OPIC to honor an inconvertibility claim; however, no 
such claims have been made to date in Sri Lanka.  The Embassy 
purchases local currency at the financial rate. 
 
LABOR FORCE 
 
Sri Lanka's labor force is literate (particularly in local 
languages) and trainable, although weak in certain technical skills 
and the English language.  The average worker has eight years of 
schooling.  Two-thirds of the labor force is male. 
 
In 2009, 7.6 million Sri Lankans were employed, with 43% in 
services, 25% in industry and 32% in agriculture jobs.  Overall, 41% 
of the workforce is in the private sector and 16% in the government. 
 Self employed workers constitute 30% of all employed while another 
11% were unpaid family workers.  About 61% of the employed are in 
the informal sector. 
 
The unemployment rate has declined in recent years to around 5%. 
The rate of unemployment among women and high school and college 
graduates, however, has been proportionally higher than the rate for 
less-educated workers.  Youth and entry-level unemployment and 
underemployment remain a problem.  A significant proportion of 
unemployed people seek "white collar" jobs.  However, most sectors 
seeking employees offer manual or semi-skilled jobs or require 
technical or professional skills such as management, marketing, 
information technology, accountancy and finance, and English 
language proficiency.  The construction, plantation and apparel 
industries report a shortage of workers.  Some investors have faced 
problems in finding sufficient employees with the requisite skills. 
 
 
The government has initiated educational reforms it hopes will lead 
to better preparation of students and better matches between 
graduates and jobs.  The government declared 2009 to be the year of 
English and Information Technology.  More computer, accounting and 
business skills training programs and English language programs are 
becoming available.  But the demand for these skills still outpaces 
supply. 
 
MIGRANT WORKERS ABROAD 
 
There are an estimated 1.5 million Sri Lankan workers abroad. 
Remittances from migrant workers, at around $3 billion, are one of 
Sri Lanka's largest sources of foreign exchange.  The majority of 
this labor force is unskilled (housemaids and factory laborers) and 
located primarily in the Middle East, but Sri Lanka is also losing 
many of its technically and professionally qualified workers to more 
lucrative jobs abroad.   Despite the global slowdown, remittances 
from migrant workers abroad actually increased in 2009.  At least 
one labor importing country, South Korea, temporarily stopped 
importing labor from Sri Lanka in 2009. 
 
WAGES AND HOLIDAYS 
 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  024 OF 027 
 
 
Labor is available at relatively low cost, though it is priced 
higher than in some other South Asian countries.  Productivity lags 
behind other countries in Asia.  Child labor is prohibited and is 
virtually nonexistent in the organized sector, although child labor 
occurs in informal sectors.  The minimum legal age for employment is 
set at 14.  Most permanent full-time workers are covered by laws 
pertaining to maximum hours of work, minimum wage, leave, the right 
of association, and safety and health standards. 
 
Many believe that Sri Lanka's labor laws and its numerous official 
holidays dampen productivity.  The full moon day of each month 
(sacred in the Buddhist faith), if it falls on a weekday, is a paid 
holiday.  There are eight other public holidays.  The public sector 
and banks enjoy additional holidays.  These statutory holidays are 
in addition to 21 days of annual/casual leave and approximately 21 
days of sick leave (the number of days for sick leave is at the 
discretion of the management).  Further, female employees are 
entitled to 84 days fully paid maternity leave for the first two 
pregnancies.    Female workers are permitted 60 hours of overtime 
work per month. 
 
The Government continues to interfere with private sector wage 
setting.  In October 2005 the Government, through an act of 
Parliament, took steps to mandate a wage increase (of approximately 
Rs 1,000 ($8.85) per month) to private sector workers.  The private 
sector is concerned about such interference in wage setting, which 
could damage competitiveness in certain sectors. 
 
TERMINATION LAWS 
 
The Termination of Employment of Workmen Act (TEA) makes it 
difficult to fire or lay off workers who have been employed more 
than six months for any reason other than serious, well-documented 
disciplinary problems.  Disputes over dismissals can be brought to a 
labor tribunal administered by the Ministry of Justice.  The labor 
tribunals have large backlogs of unresolved cases.  Certain labor 
disputes founded upon fundamental rights (allegations of 
termination/transfers based upon discrimination, etc.) can be 
brought directly to the Supreme Court.  Recent amendments to the 
Industrial Disputes Act (IDA) include labor dispute resolution rules 
to expedite the dispute process. 
 
The government has introduced a standard compensation formula under 
the TEA to facilitate termination.  The compensation formula takes 
into account the number of years of service and offers 2.5 months' 
salary as compensation for 1 year of service, 12.5 months' salary 
for 5 years of service; 38 months for 20 years and up to a maximum 
of 48 months' salary for 34 years service.  According to the World 
Bank's Doing Business 2009 report, Sri Lanka's firing cost is among 
the highest in the world.  For example, Sri Lanka's firing cost for 
20 years of service, at 38 months, compares with Pakistan and 
Nepal's 22.5 months, India's 19.6 months, Malaysia's 18.5 months, 
China's 13.2 months and Bangladesh's 11.7 months.  The Labor 
Commissioner's approval or the affected employee's consent is 
required to fire workers.  The Labor Commissioner's approval is 
often subject to delays of around 6-7 months.  Employers complain 
that the package is excessive, especially compared to international 
norms.  They have also pointed out that higher compensation could 
adversely affect companies requiring restructuring, and discourage 
investment. 
 
TRADE UNIONS 
 
About 20% of the 7 million-strong work force is unionized, but union 
membership is declining.  There are more than 1,900 registered trade 
unions (many of which have 50 or fewer members), and 19 federations. 
 About 15% of labor in the industry and service sector is unionized. 
 Most of the major trade unions are affiliated with political 
parties, creating a highly politicized labor environment.  In many 
cases several unions, affiliated with different political parties, 
work together at state-owned enterprises.  This is not the case for 
private companies, which only have one union or perhaps a workers' 
council to represent the employees.  Several trade unions with 
affiliations to major political parties have formed themselves into 
an organized group, the National Association for Trade Union 
Research and Education (NATURE), to promote education and training 
among trade unionists. 
 
COLOMBO 00000072  025 OF 027 
 
 
 
All workers, other than police, armed forces, prison service, and 
those in essential services, have the right to strike.  By law, 
workers may lodge complaints to protect their rights with the 
commissioner of labor, a labor tribunal, or the Supreme Court.  The 
president retains the power to designate any industry as an 
essential service. 
 
Unions represented workers in many large private firms, but workers 
in small-scale agriculture and small businesses usually did not 
belong to unions. Public sector employees were unionized at very 
high rates.  Labor in export processing zone enterprises tends to be 
represented by non-union worker councils. 
 
Unions have complained that the Board of Investment and some 
employers, especially in the BOI-run export processing zones, 
prohibit union access and do not register unions on a timely basis. 
Employers allege that the JVP, a Marxist political party opposed to 
private enterprise, could provoke labor to strike under the pretense 
of trade union activity.  Due to the JVP's violent past, employers 
are generally not in favor of it or its trade union arm, the 
Inter-Company Trade Union. 
 
In BOI enterprises, including those in the export processing zones, 
worker councils composed of employees generally engage in labor and 
management negotiations.  These worker councils have functioned well 
in some companies in providing for worker welfare.  The BOI has 
requested that companies recognize trade unions and accept the right 
to collective bargaining.  According to the BOI, where both a 
recognized trade union with bargaining power and a non-union worker 
council exist in an enterprise, the trade union will represent the 
employees in collective bargaining. 
 
The International Labor Organization's (ILO) Freedom of Association 
Committee has observed that Sri Lankan trade unions and employee 
councils can co-exist, but advises that there should not be any 
discrimination against those employees choosing to join a union. 
The right of employee councils to engage in collective bargaining 
has been held as valid by the ILO.  The ILO has, however, noted 
weaknesses in rules governing operation of employee councils and low 
prevalence of collective bargaining agreements and requested that 
the Government address these issues. 
 
In response to these observations, the BOI revised its labor manual 
in March 2004, requesting that companies located in export 
processing zones allow union access to zones and provide official 
time off to union members to attend meetings.  Along with this 
revision, the BOI also issued new guidelines for the formation and 
operation of employee councils, giving powers to employee councils 
to negotiate binding collective agreements. 
 
In 2008, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial 
Organizations (AFL-CIO) submitted a petition to the United States 
Trade Representative seeking suspension of Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) benefits for Sri Lanka due to alleged labor rights 
violations in some factories in the export processing zones. 
AFL-CIO submitted a similar petition in 2002, which was rejected. 
USTR did not act on the 2008 petition and the AFL-CIO submitted a 
revised petition in July 2009.  The United States Government has not 
yet made a decision whether to accept the GSP petition for review. 
If accepted, the governments of the United States and Sri Lanka 
would enter into consultations.  A Sri Lanka trade union made a 
similar case with the European Union (EU) when Sri Lanka applied for 
benefits under the special incentive arrangements of the GSP.  After 
an audit, the EU, in January 2004, granted significant benefits to 
Sri Lanka under EU GSP+ in recognition of the country's efforts to 
implement core labor standards.  The EU, however, urged improvements 
in freedom of association.  The current review of GSP+ benefits 
centers on alleged violations of human rights relating to the end of 
the war and treatment of internally displaced persons, not labor 
rights. 
 
Key public sector entities such as the Ceylon Electricity Board, 
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority also 
have large unions which have protested anticipated moves towards 
privatization or restructuring.  They staged a "work to rule" 
campaign in 2009 demanding higher wages.  They returned to work as 
 
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the industries were made essential services by the President.  The 
government granted the striking workers salary increases, although 
not as much as demanded.  Trade unions in the plantations also 
staged a "go-slow" campaign demanding higher wages, when a 
plantation sector collective bargaining agreement came up for 
renewal.  They were granted a 40% increase. 
 
In July 2006, the Supreme Court broke a port slowdown which had 
disrupted shipping through the Colombo Port for over a week. 
However, in response to a challenge lodged by several unions, the 
ILO Freedom of Association Committee noted that the port "go-slow" 
action did not disrupt an essential service, i.e. one whose 
disruption would endanger life, personal safety or health of the 
whole or part of the population. 
 
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING 
 
Collective bargaining is not yet popular.  Employers' Federation of 
Ceylon, the apex employers association in Sri Lanka, assists its 
member companies to negotiate with unions and sign collective 
bargaining agreements.  While about half of the 520 members of the 
Employers' Federation of Ceylon is unionized, currently 135 of these 
companies (including a number of foreign-owned firms) are bound by 
collective agreements.  As of January 2010, there were only four 
collective bargaining agreements signed in companies located in 
export processing zones. 
 
LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS 
 
Formerly confrontational labor-management relations have improved in 
the last few years as employers have worked harder to motivate and 
care for workers.  Work stoppages and strikes in the private sector 
are on the decline, and there were few strikes in 2009.  While 
labor-management relations vary from organization to organization, 
managers who emphasize communication with workers and offer training 
opportunities generally experience fewer difficulties.  U.S. 
investors in Sri Lanka (including U.S. garment buyers) generally 
promote good labor management relations and labor conditions that 
exceed local standards. 
 
ILO CONVENTIONS 
 
Sri Lanka is a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO) 
and has ratified 31 international labor conventions.  The labor laws 
of Sri Lanka are laid out in almost 50 different statutes.  The 
Ministry of Labor has published a Labor Code, consolidating 
important labor legislation.  Sri Lanka has ratified all eight of 
the core labor conventions included in the 1998 ILO Declaration on 
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.  ILO Convention 138 on 
minimum age for admission to employment and Convention 182 on worst 
forms of child labor were ratified during 2000-2001.  Sri Lanka 
ratified ILO convention 105 on Forced Labor in 2003.  The ILO and 
the Employers' Federation of Ceylon are working to improve awareness 
of core labor standards.  The ILO also promotes its Decent Work 
Agenda program in Sri Lanka. 
 
FREE TRADE ZONES 
 
Sri Lanka has 12 free trade zones, also called export-processing 
zones, administered by the BOI.  The oldest, the Katunayake and 
Biyagama Zones, located north of Colombo near the Bandaranaike 
International Airport, are fully occupied.  The third zone is 
located at Koggala on the southern coast.  Several mini 
export-processing zones are located in provinces.  There are nearly 
200 foreign export processing enterprises operating in these zones. 
There are also two industrial parks that have both export-oriented 
and non-export oriented factories.  They are located in Pallekelle, 
near Kandy in central Sri Lanka, and in Seethawaka in Avissawela 
about 60 kilometers from Colombo.  In addition, a large private 
apparel company opened Sri Lanka's first privately run fabric park 
in 2007.  The company invites local and foreign companies to set up 
fabric and apparel factories in this eco-friendly park. 
 
In the past, firms preferred to locate their factories near Colombo 
harbor or airport to reduce transport time and cost.  However, 
excessive concentration of industries around Colombo has caused 
heavy traffic, higher real estate prices, environmental pollution, 
 
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and scarcity of labor.  The BOI and the government now encourage 
export-oriented factories to set up in industrial zones farther from 
Colombo.  However, Sri Lanka's poor roads make these outlying zones 
less appealing.  There have been two garment factories established 
in Eastern Sri Lanka, for example.  The Government has embarked on a 
substantial plan to improve road infrastructure island-wide. 
 
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT TRENDS 
 
From 1998-2001, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Sri Lanka 
averaged only about $150 million per year (excluding privatization 
receipts).  In 2007, FDI increased to about $600 million and in 2008 
to about $750 million.  There was $350 million as of September 2009. 
 
 
U.S. INVESTMENTS 
 
Total cumulative U.S. investment in Sri Lanka is estimated to be in 
the range of $200 million.  Major U.S. investors include:  Energizer 
Battery, Mast Industries, Smart Shirts (a subsidiary of Kellwood 
Industries), Chevron, Citibank, Caterpillar, 3M, Coca-Cola, Tandon 
Corporation, Pepsi Co, Sportif, Worldquest, Fitch IBCR, AES 
Corporation, American International Group (AIG), American Premium 
Water, Virtusa, Avery Denison, North Sails, Amsafe Bridport, RR 
Donnelly (through Office Tiger and Revlon (through its Indian 
subsidiary).  Several Sri Lankan-Americans have started IT and BPO 
companies in Sri Lanka serving the US market.  In addition, IBM, 
Lanier, NCR, GTE, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, Liz Claiborne, Tommy 
Hilfiger, J.C. Penney, Sun Microsystems, Microsoft, Bates Strategic 
Alliance, McCann-Erickson, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ernst and Young, 
and KPMG all have branches, affiliated offices or local 
distributors/ 
representatives.  Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Federal 
Express, UPS, and McDonald's are represented in Sri Lanka through 
franchises.  Numerous other American brands and products are 
represented by local agents. 
 
NON-U.S. INVESTMENTS 
 
Leading sources of foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka are 
Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, India, 
China, the UAE, and Korea.  Major non-U.S. investors include: 
Unilever, Nestle, British American Tobacco Company, Mitsui, Pacific 
Dunlop/Ansell, Prima, FDK, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, S.P. Tao, HSBC and 
the Indian Oil Corporation.  In 2008/9, India's Bharathi Airtel 
invested in mobile cellular services.  Leading U.S. and foreign 
investors that have acquired significant stakes in privatized 
companies include Chevron, Hanjung Steel of Korea, Mitsubishi 
Corporation and C. Itoh (A.K.A. Itochu) of Japan, Emirates Airlines 
of United Arab Emirates, Shell Oil of the UK, and the Indian Oil 
Corporation. 
Web Resources     Return to top 
Board of Investment of Sri Lanka: www.boi.lk or 
www.investsrilanka.com 
 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Sri Lanka country information: 
www.imf.org/external/country/LKA/index.htm 
 
Article VIII obligations of the International Monetary Fund: 
www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/aa/aa08.htm 
 
U.S.-Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Treaty: 
www.state.gov/documents/organization/43588.pd f 
 
Institute for the Development of Commercial Law and Practice: 
www.iclparbitrationcentre.com 
 
Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement:  www.doc.gov.lk 
 
South Asian Free Trade Area:  www.saarc-sec.org/main.php 
 
Fitch Ratings Lanka:  www.fitchratings.lk 
 
Garments without Guilt program of the apparel industry: 
www.garmentswithoutguilt.com 
 
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