Banking & Financial Institutions
Licensed commercial banks, specialised banks, finance companies, leasing companies and other non-bank financial institutions in Sri Lanka operate under the supervision of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Their lending, deposit-taking and payment activities must meet licensing, prudential, governance and conduct requirements, while their transactions need to be documented and secured in a way that will hold up if enforcement becomes necessary.
We act for lenders, borrowers, financial institutions and investors on financings and regulatory matters, and on recoveries and disputes when a transaction does not go to plan.
How we help
We advise banks, financial institutions and their counterparties on matters including:
- Corporate, syndicated and bilateral lending
- Secured and unsecured financing
- Project, acquisition and leveraged financing
- Security creation, perfection and enforcement
- Debt restructuring, refinancing and work-outs
- Financial-services licensing, regulatory approvals and compliance
- Corporate governance and risk management
- Acquisitions, mergers and strategic investments in financial institutions
- Digital banking, payments and the handling of customer data
- Financial disputes, recoveries and enforcement proceedings
Industry experience
We advise licensed banks, finance and leasing companies, microfinance providers, development finance institutions, international lenders, borrowers and corporate groups across a range of industries. Our work frequently involves coordinating financing, corporate, regulatory, tax and dispute-resolution considerations within a single matter, from initial structuring and due diligence to documentation, closing, compliance and enforcement. Where transactions involve several jurisdictions, we work alongside international counsel and other advisers to provide coordinated Sri Lankan legal support. See also our Banking & Finance practice.
Capital Markets & Investment Funds
Capital markets and investment funds connect businesses seeking capital with investors seeking returns, within a framework of securities regulation, disclosure obligations and market rules. Issuers, investors and intermediaries must structure transactions and products carefully while meeting the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and the Colombo Stock Exchange.
We work with domestic and international issuers, investors, fund managers, trustees, stockbrokers and other market participants on equity, debt and fund-related matters connected with Sri Lanka.
How we help
We advise clients in the capital markets and investment funds sector on matters including:
- Initial public offerings, listings and secondary offerings
- Debentures, commercial paper and other debt-securities issues
- Rights issues, private placements and other capital raising
- Takeovers, mergers and transactions involving listed companies
- Continuing listing, disclosure and corporate-governance obligations
- Unit trusts and other collective investment schemes
- Fund management, trustee and custodian arrangements
- Licensing of market intermediaries and investment managers
- Foreign portfolio investment and cross-border securities transactions
- Regulatory inquiries, investigations and securities disputes
Industry experience
We advise listed and unlisted companies, investment banks, stockbrokers, fund managers, trustees, institutional and private investors and other participants in Sri Lanka’s capital markets. Our work ranges from preparing for a first offering or fund launch to ongoing compliance, corporate actions, restructurings and exits, and we coordinate securities, corporate, tax and regulatory considerations within a single transaction. Where offerings or investments involve overseas investors or several jurisdictions, we work alongside international counsel, auditors and financial advisers to provide coordinated Sri Lankan legal support.
