A National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) will be launched on September 22, following Cabinet approval, as part of a government initiative to streamline investment approvals and remove bureaucratic obstacles that have long hindered industrial growth.
Operating under the Presidential Secretariat, the NBFC will serve as a single point of contact for entrepreneurs and investors, coordinating across multiple state agencies to fast‑track land allocation, project development, environmental clearances, regulatory licences, utility connections, and access to financing.
Officials said the centre is designed to cut red tape, encourage both domestic and foreign investment, and strengthen the economy ahead of debt repayment obligations beginning in 2028.
At a media briefing held yesterday (16) at the Government Information Department, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and NBFC Head Seevali Arukgoda explained that the centre will initially focus on resolving day‑to‑day regulatory, legal, and policy issues faced by entrepreneurs.
He noted that complaints are regularly received at the Presidential Secretariat from business owners struggling with delays in approvals.
Arukgoda said the NBFC will operate in two stages: first, by addressing immediate regulatory bottlenecks, and later by offering end‑to‑end guidance under a single‑window model for individuals with capital but no business plan.
Committees of economic experts will help prepare proposals, arrange land and utilities, and secure permits under one roof. An official website will also be launched to allow entrepreneurs to submit issues online without having to visit the Colombo centre.
Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Dasun Rajapaksha added that state institutions often fail to prioritize investor requests, leading to delays that discourage investment.
“Through this initiative, we aim to coordinate every institution an investor must deal with directly through the NBFC, turning it into a single focal point that resolves all delays,” he said.
The NBFC will be located at C 80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 7, and will function under a National Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary to the President, comprising ministry secretaries and agency heads empowered to intervene directly with government institutions. (Newswire)