Business
SLBA rejects “misconceived” diatribe against lending and debt recovery practices of banks
The Sri Lanka Bank’s Association (SLBA) has rejected a reported recent tirade against banks by two senior lawmakers, describing their remarks as “misconceived, inaccurate, misleading and unhelpful.”
The SLBA, which represents all banks licensed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) including state banks, public listed companies and branch offices of international banks, said in a statement that it was compelled to respond to the remarks attributed to the two ministers in the interest of assuring depositors that their monies are safe, and that due process was being strictly followed in lending and recovery of loans from debtors.
“We are concerned that the hyperbole generated about the lending and loan recovery processes of banks could create an impression that due processes are not being followed by banks and that depositors’ funds could be at risk,” the SLBA said. “This is most definitely not the case, and any impression being created that banks are lending on personal connections and political influence, that parate laws are being abused and customers exploited, are misconceived, inaccurate, misleading and unhelpful.”
The SLBA said it wishes to assure depositors that the monies being lent are being recovered, and that it is only a small number of borrowers that want to continue their failed or unproductive businesses, that are unwilling to review their viability with the banks, and are resorting to aggressive lobbying. “Their desire seems to be to continue living their life-style on unsustainable debt rather than on earnings from productive enterprise,” the Association said.
“Banks take deposits from the public and must repay these deposits as promised. These deposits are lent to eligible borrowers — individuals, small scale businesses, the MSME sector which is a significant contributor to the national economy, as well as to large corporates,” the SLBA said, pointing out that according to the annual report of the Ministry of Finance, banks had lent Rs 704 billion to SMEs alone, in 2023.
“It is inevitable that among the banks’ borrowers there will be some who have failed, face debt repayment stress or are simply willful defaulters. This last segment though small, is vociferous and has within it, influential lobbyists. However, the process world over is that loans that have been identified as non-performing are reviewed by both borrower and lender to assess viability with a view to moving to a resolution that preserves residual assets. This prevents forced sale for recovery of what may be available. It needs cooperation from borrowers to work with lenders – not to resort to lobbyists in an attempt to carry on a failed or unproductive enterprise,” the SLBA said.
“All debt recovery remedies are intended to protect the depositors from risk of a bank failing to meet payments of interest and return of their deposits as promised,” the SLBA said.
The Association pointed out that banks have helped and continue to help borrowers including MSMEs that got into difficulty due to their exposure to external risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, and the economic crisis, and that many of these borrowers have overcome those difficulties.
As agreed with the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (Guarantee) Ltd. (SLBA), to provide relief measures to affected SMEs by licensed commercial banks and licensed specialised banks, Circular No. 04 of 2024 dated 19.12.2024, and its addendum, Circular No. 01 of 2025 dated 01.01.2025 were issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to ensure the effective implementation of the relief measures specified in the cited Circulars in a consistent manner across all licensed banks.
In case of any rejections or disputes, borrowers are requested to contact the respective banks and to appeal to the Director, Financial Consumer Relations Department of CBSL (FCRD), if required through the following channels:
Based on the repayment capacity and the submission of an acceptable business revival plan by the borrower, the relief measures extended to affected SMEs include rescheduling of credit facilities up to a period of 10 years, extending the time to commence repayments based on the capital outstanding, waiving off unpaid interest subject to conditions, and providing new working capital loans. Despite the availability of the above relief measures, limited number of borrowers had approached licensed banks to avail themselves of these benefits to date.
In addition to the above measures, with the gradual recovery of the economy, in order to facilitate the sustainable revival of businesses that were adversely affected during the recent past, several other measures were taken by CBSL together with the banking industry.
Accordingly, inter alia, strengthening the Post Covid 19 revival units of licensed banks, CBSL issued Circular No. 02 of 2024 dated 28.03.2024 on “Guidelines for the Establishment of Business Revival Units of Licensed Banks” mandating banks to establish Business Revival Units (BRUs) to assist viable businesses that are facing financial and operational difficulties.
Under BRUs, banks may provide support to viable businesses, such as restructuring and rescheduling of credit facilities including the adjustment of interest rates, maturity extensions, providing interim financing, advisory services etc., subject to the condition that such borrowers are required to submit acceptable business plans and feasible repayment plans. As reported by banks, by the end of 2024, around 6,000 facilities had been facilitated through these BRUs.
The above cited Circulars and Guidelines can be accessed via https://www.cbsl.gov.lk
Visa (NYSE: V), the global leader in digital payments reiterated its support to women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka as a part of its International Women’s Month celebrations across the world, by stating a firm commitment towards financial inclusion and digitization of women-led businesses, and hosted women from different walks of life in a specially curated event at Colombo.
Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager for Visa in Sri Lanka and Maldives stated, “At Visa, we believe in being the best way to pay and be paid by uplifting everyone, everywhere. This year, we celebrated International Women’s Month to support the very capable businesswomen in our country, with an event titled ‘Overcoming Barriers to Growth’ along with Square Hub, an incubator and business accelerator.”
The event by Visa brought together 35 upcoming women entrepreneurs across various sectors, including fashion, e-commerce, fintech, technology, manufacturing, and agriculture. While prominent industry experts shared views, learnings and experiences from their own journeys, the event also facilitated open discussions and networking among entrepreneurs, on how they can build and sustain thriving businesses.
Avanthi elaborates that Visa has built a firm foundation in supporting female entrepreneurship and the empowerment of women in Sri Lanka and understands the challenges women-owned businesses face when seeking capital, access, networks and guidance and continues to actively uplift women in Sri Lanka. Globally and in Sri Lanka, Visa believes that the participation of women is key to the growth of an economy. Avanthi adds, “Two years ago, when we celebrated 35 years of Visa in Sri Lanka, we announced a grant for The Asia Foundation to assist women-led small and medium businesses (SMBs) throughout the country. This initiative offered vital seed funding, skills training, and financial inclusion opportunities for women entrepreneurs, helping remove some major barriers to their success,” she recalled.
Environmental groups, including the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and the Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL), are raising renewed concerns about the potential ecological impact of large-scale wind energy development on Mannar Island. Conservationists argue that the island, home to a unique and sensitive ecosystem, faces serious risks from industrial projects that may disrupt biodiversity and endanger local wildlife.
At the heart of the controversy is whether the environmental issues raised by Adani Group’s proposed wind energy project in Mannar were being adequately considered. Critics argue that tariff negotiations and economic interests overshadowed ecological assessments, potentially leading to a project that might compromise the island’s rich natural heritage.
“Can wind energy coexist with Mannar Island’s fragile ecosystem? asked environmental scientist Hemantha Withanage of the CEJ.
He told The Island Financial Review: “We must ensure that our transition to renewable energy does not come at the cost of irreplaceable biodiversity.”
Other conservationists have pointed out that environmentalists are often misrepresented as obstructionists in debates over development. “Are we being painted as enemies of progress, or is the public being misled about the real consequences of such projects? questioned Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, a leading environmental advocate.
With Adani’s possible withdrawal from the project, there is now an opportunity to reevaluate Sri Lanka’s approach to sustainable energy. Experts emphasize the need for a smarter, science-driven path that prioritizes both renewable energy and environmental conservation.
A joint media conference, scheduled for today at the Dutch Burgher Union, Colombo, aims to address these concerns. Organized by WNPS, CEJ, EFL and Pethiyagoda, the event will explore questions such as whether the project might resurface under a new guise and who the true beneficiaries of such large-scale energy initiatives are.
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