Insights for Sri Lankan decision makers

Company compliance guides for Sri Lanka

Directors, company secretaries, AGMs, annual returns, beneficial ownership, labour law and data protection: the duties a Sri Lankan company carries after registration.

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Companies (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2025, page 1, marked

ComplianceOctober 14, 202613 min read

Companies (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2025: what else changed

Beyond beneficial ownership, the 2025 amending Act ended bearer shares, moved allotments to working days and added a Rs 1 million general penalty.

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Latest articles

Registrar of Companies notice on drc.gov.lk: the revised deadline for submission of beneficial ownership information is 21st October 2026, dated 2026.09.30

Compliance10 min read

Beneficial ownership: the 10 percent test, the new October 2026 regulations and what to file

Who counts as a beneficial owner at 10 percent, the forms in the October 2026 regulations, and what existing companies face after the 21 October deadline.

October 12, 2026Company secretarial services

Seven-step flow diagram for changing a company secretary: check the file, choose a qualified secretary, board resolution, Form 19 consent, Form 20 on eROC, handover of records, and notifying the bank and IRD

Compliance11 min read

How to change your company secretary in Sri Lanka

Changing a company secretary step by step: the board resolution, Form 19 consent, Form 20 within 20 working days, the fee and the handover.

October 9, 2026Company secretarial services

Companies Act section 7(2), the words that need the consent of the Minister, highlighted

Compliance12 min read

Change company name Sri Lanka: approval, restricted words, steps

Rebranding a company? The order the Act sets, the words that need the Minister's consent, the three-month objection window and the fines for each step.

September 16, 2026Company secretarial services

Gazette 2498/16 appointing 1 January 2027 for sections 2 and 3 and Parts I and III

Compliance11 min read

PDPA obligations Sri Lanka: the duties that start on 1 January 2027

Lawful basis, security, a management programme, processor contracts and breach notice: each PDPA duty that starts in 2027, by section, and what is open.

September 11, 2026Company secretarial services

Regulations 16 and 17 of Gazette 2299/46, annotated

Compliance11 min read

Port City audited accounts deadline: six months, then the return

Accounts by 30 September, the return thirty days after approval: how the two Port City deadlines interlock, and what a late filing costs.

September 7, 2026Company secretarial services

Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/08 with paragraphs (a) and (b) marked

Compliance12 min read

PDPA commencement date Sri Lanka: what the Gazettes switch on

Four Gazette Orders and one amending Act decide when each Part of the PDPA starts. What is in operation, what starts in 2027 and what has no date.

August 27, 2026Company secretarial services

Regulations 21 to 24 of Gazette 2299/46, annotated

Compliance12 min read

Port City compliance calendar for Authorised Persons

One year in Colombo Port City on one page: licence renewal, audited accounts, the annual return, income tax and payroll, with the rule behind each date.

August 21, 2026Company secretarial services

Companies Act section 133(1) and (2), AGM timing and the eighteen month first AGM, marked

Compliance13 min read

First AGM Sri Lanka: the 18-month rule and late Form 15 fines

A new company's first AGM, worked from the incorporation date: the eighteen month limit, the six month question, and what a late annual return costs.

August 17, 2026Company secretarial services

Section 3 of Act No. 31 of 1980 highlighted: every voluntary social service organization shall be registered under this Act

Compliance12 min read

NGO Act Sri Lanka: Act No. 31 of 1980 and the 2026 draft bill

The 1980 Act is still the law. Registration is required, the fine is Rs 250, and the Secretariat's board and clearance rules do most of the work.

July 22, 2026Company secretarial services

Section 10(2)(b) of the consolidated Shop and Office Employees Act with the general rule on women before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. highlighted

Compliance12 min read

Shop and Office Amendment Act 2024: night work and Gazette 2473/25

Act No. 28 of 2024 lifted the 6 p.m. bar for women in IT, BPO and overseas back offices. Gazette 2473/25 is a separate hotel and airline rule.

July 21, 2026Company secretarial services

Blue calculator, spreadsheet grid and bar-chart illustration for reviewing financial compliance risks.

Compliance8 min read

Five compliance gaps to check in a Sri Lankan business

A five-area compliance self-check for Sri Lankan businesses: VAT and SSCL registration, APIT, EPF and ETF, the Form 15 annual return and secretarial records.

June 21, 2026Company secretarial services

Compliance10 min read
Beneficial ownership: the 10 percent test, the new October 2026 regulations and what to file
Who counts as a beneficial owner at 10 percent, the forms in the October 2026 regulations, and what existing companies face after the 21 October deadline.
October 12, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance11 min read
How to change your company secretary in Sri Lanka
Changing a company secretary step by step: the board resolution, Form 19 consent, Form 20 within 20 working days, the fee and the handover.
October 9, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance12 min read
Change company name Sri Lanka: approval, restricted words, steps
Rebranding a company? The order the Act sets, the words that need the Minister's consent, the three-month objection window and the fines for each step.
September 16, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance11 min read
PDPA obligations Sri Lanka: the duties that start on 1 January 2027
Lawful basis, security, a management programme, processor contracts and breach notice: each PDPA duty that starts in 2027, by section, and what is open.
September 11, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance11 min read
Port City audited accounts deadline: six months, then the return
Accounts by 30 September, the return thirty days after approval: how the two Port City deadlines interlock, and what a late filing costs.
September 7, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance12 min read
PDPA commencement date Sri Lanka: what the Gazettes switch on
Four Gazette Orders and one amending Act decide when each Part of the PDPA starts. What is in operation, what starts in 2027 and what has no date.
August 27, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance12 min read
Port City compliance calendar for Authorised Persons
One year in Colombo Port City on one page: licence renewal, audited accounts, the annual return, income tax and payroll, with the rule behind each date.
August 21, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance13 min read
First AGM Sri Lanka: the 18-month rule and late Form 15 fines
A new company's first AGM, worked from the incorporation date: the eighteen month limit, the six month question, and what a late annual return costs.
August 17, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance12 min read
NGO Act Sri Lanka: Act No. 31 of 1980 and the 2026 draft bill
The 1980 Act is still the law. Registration is required, the fine is Rs 250, and the Secretariat's board and clearance rules do most of the work.
July 22, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance12 min read
Shop and Office Amendment Act 2024: night work and Gazette 2473/25
Act No. 28 of 2024 lifted the 6 p.m. bar for women in IT, BPO and overseas back offices. Gazette 2473/25 is a separate hotel and airline rule.
July 21, 2026Company secretarial services
Compliance8 min read
Five compliance gaps to check in a Sri Lankan business
A five-area compliance self-check for Sri Lankan businesses: VAT and SSCL registration, APIT, EPF and ETF, the Form 15 annual return and secretarial records.
June 21, 2026Company secretarial services

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Meet the advisory team behind every article

Chartered professionals who translate regulations into practical guidance for Sri Lankan organisations.

Kavindu Perera

Head of Accounting & Compliance

ICASL-qualified specialist in statutory accounting, RAMIS filings, and IFRS reporting for Sri Lankan businesses.

Dilrukshi Jayawardena

Head of Payroll & Labour Compliance

CIMA-certified payroll specialist focused on EPF/ETF governance, APIT workflows, and labour-compliance operations.

Thilina Rodrigo

Head of BPO & Virtual CFO Services

Leads BPO pod strategy, cash-flow modelling, and board-level reporting for growth-stage and regional teams.