Business

‘Bad Bank,’ Big Stakes: Sri Lanka’s Rs. 300bn gamble on growth

Published

7 months ago

2026/02/12

The top table at the SLCSMI press conference.

Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector—responsible for 52 percent of GDP and employing nearly half the national workforce—has become the next decisive test of the country’s fragile economic recovery.

A proposal to establish a Rs. 300 billion “Bad Bank” to absorb distressed SME loans now places policymakers at a crossroads: act boldly to revive credit and growth, or risk entrenching stagnation in the real economy.

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) on Tuesday told journalists that they had unveiled a detailed blueprint aimed at restructuring an estimated Rs. 460 billion in non-performing loans (NPLs), much of it concentrated among SMEs battered by successive shocks—from the Easter Sunday attacks and the pandemic to sovereign default and climate-related disruptions such as Cyclone Ditwah.

While headline indicators suggest macroeconomic stabilisation, including lower inflation, improved reserves and a profitable banking sector, credit transmission to smaller enterprises remains severely constrained, Chambers think tank pointed out.

“This is not about rewarding defaulters,” said SLCSMI President Prof. Rohan De Silva. “It is about protecting the productive backbone of the economy. If SMEs collapse, the consequences will extend far beyond individual balance sheets.”

Despite strong liquidity and a return to profitability in the banking system, thousands of SMEs remain blacklisted at the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB), unable to access fresh working capital.

The Chamber argues that unless distressed assets are separated from viable enterprises, banks will remain structurally risk-averse, prolonging the paralysis in private sector credit growth.

The proposed “Bad Bank” would function as a specialised rehabilitation vehicle, purchasing or warehousing toxic SME loans and granting viable firms a five-to-ten-year restructuring window, shielded from parate execution, to rebuild cash flows. Senior Vice President Colvin Fernando described the initiative as an economic circuit-breaker rather than a bailout. “These are not failed enterprises,” Fernando said.

He added:”They are businesses hit by extraordinary external shocks. Unless we ring-fence these distressed loans, credit transmission will remain paralysed.”

The concept draws on international precedents where asset management companies were deployed after systemic crises. Yet such mechanisms succeed only when governed by strict asset valuation discipline, professional management and insulation from political interference. Without these safeguards, they risk becoming vehicles for concealed subsidies or fiscal leakage.

The most contentious element of the Chamber’s proposal lies in its funding model. It calls for a hybrid structure combining low-cost international financing, a levy on commercial bank profits and the utilisation of unutilised balances from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF).

Prof. De Silva argues that the banking sector, having restored profitability partly through elevated interest margins during the crisis years, has both the capacity and systemic responsibility to contribute. “The banking system has returned to strong profitability,” he said. “A structured contribution toward SME rehabilitation is not punitive—it is an investment in systemic stability.”

The suggested mobilisation of pension fund balances, however, is likely to provoke scrutiny over governance and fiduciary safeguards, while a levy on bank profits may raise investor sensitivity in a sector that has only recently regained confidence.

Fernando acknowledged the risks, emphasising that transparency and strict eligibility criteria would be essential. “This must be professionally managed, transparent and focused strictly on viable enterprises. Without discipline and accountability, the entire purpose would be defeated,” he cautioned.

Adding urgency to the debate is the Government’s decision to lower the VAT registration threshold to Rs. 36 million annually from April 1, 2026, drawing more small firms into the tax net. The Chamber warns that tightening tax compliance while credit remains restricted could create a double squeeze. “You cannot increase tax burdens and restrict financing simultaneously without economic consequences,” Prof. De Silva observed, describing the timing as highly sensitive.

Immediate Past President Mohideen Cader underscored the scale of the stakes. With SMEs contributing 52 percent to GDP and already under severe strain, he warned that inaction would result in irreversible economic scarring.

The macroeconomic logic is clear: without restoring SME balance sheets, private investment and employment growth are unlikely to regain momentum. Yet the countervailing risk is equally apparent. A poorly designed vehicle could create moral hazard, transfer private losses onto public shoulders and introduce new contingent liabilities into an economy still emerging from sovereign default.

Sri Lanka’s IMF-backed reform programme has so far focused on fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability. The SME “Bad Bank” proposal introduces a more complex phase in the recovery narrative—one that shifts attention from stabilisation to growth. The question confronting policymakers is whether the economy can sustain recovery without unclogging the credit arteries that feed its most labour-intensive sector.

The Rs. 300 billion proposal is, in essence, a calculated gamble that repairing SME balance sheets will unlock lending, revive investment and restore economic momentum. If executed with rigour, transparency and independence, it could serve as a bridge from crisis management to expansion. If mishandled, it risks deepening vulnerabilities in a system that has only recently regained its footing. For an economy seeking to move beyond stabilisation, the stakes could hardly be higher.

By Ifham Nizam

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Business

SLTDA launches NTSP campaign to elevate national tourism quality and standards

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tourism top officials at Ella programme launch.

by Claude Gunasekera

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) officially launched its nationwide capacity-building campaign, “Grow your Tourism Business with National Tourism Skilling Programme (NTSP),” August 31, from the scenic regional hub of Ella. Directed under the leadership of the Tourism Deputy Minister, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, the comprehensive initiative aims to transform micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by accelerating their digital readiness and business formalization across the local hospitality ecosystem.

The entire islandwide operation is under the direct coordination of Ms. Tharanga Rupasinghe, the SLTDA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, ensuring that all rural operators align seamlessly with international hospitality standards. By utilizing the framework of the NTSP, the campaign focuses on delivering essential digital payment tools, modern online marketing insights, and compliance frameworks directly to village-level enterprises, handcraft artisans, and independent tour operators. Speaking at the launch event in Ella, Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe emphasised that sustainable growth in the travel sector relies heavily on empowering smaller stakeholders to become resilient, data-driven participants in the modern market. “True economic resilience in our tourism sector cannot be achieved through large-scale infrastructure alone, but must be built from the ground up by transforming our local communities and regional MSMEs into direct, digitally enabled beneficiaries of global travel traffic,” Prof. Ranasinghe noted. Through this synchronized, localized training approach, the SLTDA intends to systematically protect cultural heritage while elevating the service quality benchmarks of regional travel hotspots nationwide.

Regional hospitality groups, led by the Ella Tourism Association, have strongly welcomed the launch of the SLTDA national skilling campaign, calling it a vital step toward safeguarding the destination’s international reputation. Local operators noted that rapid commercial growth in the Uva Province has highlighted an urgent need for structural standardization, making the arrival of the National Tourism Skilling Programme (NTSP) highly timely. The grassroots response focused heavily on the benefits of formalization and digital integration for the region’s diverse service sector. The Ella Homestay Owners Collective praised the focus on digital payment tools, noting that transition support will help smaller vendors capture direct bookings and reduce their reliance on third-party booking commissions.

The Uva Tuk-Tuk and Adventure Guides Association highlighted that the safety and compliance training will build trust with high-spending international travelers, effectively raising service quality benchmarks across the town. Local association leaders emphasized that having Ms. Tharanga Rupasinghe, SLTDA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, directly coordinate the field training ensures the program addresses practical, local challenges rather than just theoretical rules. Following the initial rollout, regional committees have pledged to work alongside the SLTDA to ensure that even the smallest village artisans and micro-enterprises achieve official registration, positioning Ella as a model hub for high-quality, community-driven sustainable tourism.

Business

Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Council holds 3rd Annual General Meeting

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Newly Appointed Executive Committee of SLIBC for the year 2026/2027

The Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd Annual General Meeting recently, bringing together Council members and key stakeholders to review the Council’s activities and priorities for the year ahead. The AGM was graced by Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka and Patron of the Council

Delivering her address, Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, provided a comprehensive overview of Indonesia’s political and economic landscape, highlighting the country’s focus on promoting economic independence, strengthening sectoral resilience, improving public welfare, and facilitating both inbound and outbound investment.

Re-elected as President of the Council for 2026/27, Sheamalee Wickramasingha, Chairman / Group Managing Director of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. acknowledged the instrumental role played by the Ambassador in the re-establishment of the Council and reflected on the Council’s key achievements during the past year. She highlighted the successful Sri Lanka–Indonesia Business Delegation to Indonesia, which provided valuable opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses to engage with Indonesian counterparts and explore avenues for commercial cooperation.

Business

LAUGFS Supermarkets opens 46th outlet in Kotahena

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

LAUGFS Supermarkets has further strengthened its growing retail presence with the opening of its 46th outlet at No. 78, K.B. Christy Perera Mawatha, Kotahena. The new outlet operates 24 hours a day, offering customers a wide range of products together with bakery and hot food options, providing greater convenience and accessibility to the surrounding community.

The new Kotahena outlet further expands LAUGFS Supermarkets’ growing network and reflects the Group’s continued focus on strengthening its presence in strategic locations across the country. The opening ceremony was attended by the Group Chairman, Group Executive Vice Chairman, Acting Group Managing Director/Group Executive Director and senior management.

Commenting on the opening, the Sector Managing Director/CEO – Retail, Niroshan De Silva, said, “The opening of our 46th outlet reflects the dedication, teamwork and determination of our people, who have worked exceptionally hard to bring this outlet together. The new Kotahena outlet is designed to offer customers greater convenience, with an inbuilt bakery and hot food facility that provides freshly prepared food alongside our wide range of products, all under one roof. Our focus is to ensure that every LAUGFS Supermarket operates to the highest standards and consistently delivers quality, convenience and service excellence to our customers.”

The opening of the Kotahena outlet marks another significant milestone in LAUGFS Supermarkets’ ongoing expansion, bringing its products and services closer to more customers while further enhancing its 24-hour retail offering. With its growing network of outlets and continued focus on customer convenience and service excellence, LAUGFS Supermarkets remains committed to strengthening its presence and creating greater value for customers across Sri Lanka.