Over Rs 2 bn so far paid to depositors

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Bimputh Finance PLC (BFP) suspended by the Central Bank in terms of Section 37 of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011 is in the process of paying its depositors.

A senior official of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions told The Island that of the total liabilities pertaining to BFP depositors, approximately Rs 58 mn was yet to be paid. At the commencement of the process the BFP owed depositors as much as Rs 3 bn, the official said, adding that some of those yet to be compensated couldn’t be located.

However, some depositors have been fully paid and the remaining full amount could be paid through the same process, the official said.

Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions regulates and supervises Licensed Finance Companies (LFCs) and Specialised Leasing Companies (SLCs) in terms of the Finance Business Act of 42 of 2011 and the Finance Leasing Act No 56 of 2000.

The official said that on Sept 01, 2023 the Central Bank withdrew the license issued to BFP and made a public announcement regarding the payment of compensation to the remaining depositors. “All claims should be made within two years from Sept 1, 2023,” the spokesperson said.

Responding to another query, the official said that once the compensation payment process was brought to a successful conclusion, the Central Bank would move on to the next stage. That would be the appointment of a liquidator by a competent court after the Central brings the matter to the notice of the Attorney General, the official said.

Daya Gamage founded the BFP in late July 2007, a year before he successfully contested the election for the Eastern Provincial Council. During the Yahapalana (2015-2019) administration the UNP National Organizer Gamage served as Minister of Primary Industries.

The official said that regulatory authorities had no option but to direct BFP to begin compensation payments after consolidation attempts failed. Had the BFP been successful in its negotiations, its assets and liabilities could have been passed on to another party thereby avoiding the liquidation process.

The Island also raised the developments pertaining to loans acquired by BFC during the period of operations against the backdrop of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) taking up a loan the failed company obtained from HDFC Bank during the Yahapalana administration.

Last Nov the COPE inquired about Rs 350 mn loan HDFC Bank had released to BFP on July 18, 2018. The COPE hadn’t inquired about this particular loan at least once prior to it as the HDFC was never summoned before COPE during the tenure of Sunil Handunetti and Charitha Hearath as Chairman of the watchdog committee.

According to parliamentary records, HDFC Bank appeared before COPE on Nov 04, 2014 before being called again in Nov 2023 by Prof. Rajith Bandara.

The Director, Resolution and Enforcement Department has assured depositors of BPF that they would be compensated in line with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme (SLDILSS) Regulation No 02 of 2021.