Sri Lanka launches five-day business name registration pilot project in Anuradhapura

Summarised by AI from 5 articles

On 10 November 2026, Sri Lanka launched the Simplified and Unified Business Name Registration pilot project in Anuradhapura, enabling sole proprietorships and partnerships to register within five days.

The reform modernises a system dating back to 1918 by separating business name registration from other regulatory licences. Applicants will no longer need land ownership documents or approvals from multiple agencies, requiring only basic identity and residency information.

The initial three-month pilot covers 20 Divisional Secretariat divisions across the Central, Northern, North Central, and North Western provinces. Following an evaluation, the government plans to expand the system islandwide and introduce a digital registration platform.

The project is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, non-profit organisation Chrysalis, and Provincial Councils. Most outlets reported the launch was held under Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, though Virakesari named him Chaturanga Abeywickrama.

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