NBFIs accorded flexibility to support businesses affected by COVID–19 

The Central Bank has provided flexibility to Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) to support businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus (COVID–19) outbreak.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank) decided to introduce a number of measures to provide flexibility to NBFIs namely Licensed Finance Companies (LFCs) and Specialised Leasing Companies (SLCs) facilitating them to support businesses and individuals affected by COVID-19.
These measures include relaxation of regulatory requirements and granting liquidity support for needy LFCs, Central Bank said in a media release.
Accordingly, the Monetary Board relaxed several regulatory requirements as measures to support COVID-19 affected businesses and individuals on an urgent basis.
One of the measures is the reduction of maintenance of liquid asset requirement for time deposits, savings deposits and borrowings to ease liquidity stress faced by LFCs/SLCs due to sudden withdrawal of cash by depositors and delay of repayment of loan rentals.
An extension of one year will be given NBFIs to comply with minimum core capital requirements.
Accordingly, the timeline of 01.01.2020 and 01.01.2021 already set for the enhancement of capital up to Rs.2 billion and Rs.2.5 billion will be extended until 31.12.2020 and 31.12.2021, respectively.
Action will be taken to defer the enhancements of minimum capital adequacy requirements due by LFCs/SLCs on 01.07.2020 and 01.07.2021, for a further period of one year until 01.07.2021 and 01.07.2022, respectively.
Deadlines on submission of statutory returns will be relaxed so that all LFCs/SLCs are informed to submit statutory returns to the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions within two weeks of the commencement of normal business operations.
Further, arrangements have been made to provide liquidity support under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme (SLDILSS) for LFCs with acceptable collaterals to facilitate urgent liquidity needs of such LFCs, in order to ensure the safety and soundness of LFCs.
Several other measures to enhance the liquidity are being currently considered to inject more liquidity to the system.
In addition to that, NBFIs are advised to take all possible measures to minimise their operational costs and to provide the benefits to the needy people who have affected with this COVID-19 pandemic, and to revive their businesses.