The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Summary:

¶ 03 (a) In each district of the Northern Province, the number of financial institutions regulated and supervised by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is summarized, and the names of 66 institutions are set out in Annex 1.

¶ 04 Tables include: - Names of State and private banks operating in Northern Province districts. - Names of finance companies and licensed microfinance companies operating in Northern Province districts. A district summary indicates (including domestic private and foreign bank branches): Jaffna: State banks 7; private banks 13; finance companies 22; licensed microfinance companies 3. Kilinochchi: 5; 6; 15; 3. Mannar: 6; 5; 10; 1. Vavuniya: 7; 10; 21; 3. Mullaitivu: 3; 4; 10; 3.

¶ 05 (ii) The Central Bank’s Bank Supervision Department does not maintain data on interest rates charged by State and private banks for loans. Licensed microfinance companies, as at September 2025, have granted loans at effective annual interest rates ranging from 22.69% to 39.40%.

¶ 06 (b) (i) Not charted here. (ii) Does not arise. (iii) Does not arise. (iv) Does not arise.

¶ 07 (c) Under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 (Section 61), read with the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011, the Financial Leasing Act, No. 56 of 2000, and the Microfinance Act, No. 06 of 2016, the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions is tasked with regulation and supervision of finance companies, specialized leasing companies and licensed microfinance companies. It also supervises primary dealers under amended regulations of 2009 and domestic Treasury bill primary dealers.

¶ 08 Further, a Draft Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill is being prepared and will be submitted to Parliament for approval, strengthening oversight of institutions registered with the Central Bank.