Sri Lanka has opened the “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) in Colombo, establishing a dedicated mechanism to help remove administrative and regulatory barriers faced by investors and businesses and accelerate the processes involved in starting and operating enterprises.

The centre, established under the Presidential Secretariat, was officially opened on September 22 under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Located at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, the centre is headed by Senior Additional Secretary to the President Seevali Arukgoda. Its official website was also launched alongside the opening, providing businesses and entrepreneurs with access to the centre’s services.

The NBFC has been established to coordinate with relevant government institutions and address difficulties encountered by investors and entrepreneurs when obtaining approvals, facilities and other government services. Rather than requiring businesses to navigate multiple agencies independently, the centre will coordinate with the relevant institutions to help resolve such issues.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said the establishment of such a centre had been a long-standing request from chambers of commerce, exporters and entrepreneurs. He identified access to land, financing and Customs-related procedures among the key challenges affecting investors and said the new mechanism would help improve the efficiency of these processes.

The Minister also outlined the Government’s plans to attract investment into several sectors, including mineral resources, under the National Mineral Resources Policy. He further said plans were being pursued to develop Sri Lanka as an international hub for gems and jewellery.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said economic growth and development would remain central to the country’s transformation efforts. He noted that while the Government continues to address challenges faced by investors and businesses, it is also monitoring global developments affecting foreign exchange, exports, import revenue and the financial sector.

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake described the NBFC as an important mechanism for supporting economic expansion, particularly through the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and the strengthening of Sri Lanka’s export sector.

He explained that the centre goes beyond the conventional “one-stop shop” model by bringing together multiple ministries and institutions and working to improve existing systems. The objective is to provide entrepreneurs with solutions through stronger coordination between the public and private sectors.

Senior Additional Secretary Seevali Arukgoda said the centre would focus on simplifying procedures involved in establishing and operating businesses. He noted that entrepreneurs would not necessarily have to visit the centre physically, as they can submit their issues and relevant documentation remotely. The NBFC will then coordinate with the appropriate government institutions on their behalf.

Where issues cannot be resolved because of existing legal or policy constraints, the centre intends to submit recommendations to the Government through the National Operations Committee of the National Business Facilitation Centre.

The initiative is expected to support both the establishment of new businesses and the expansion of existing enterprises by improving access to government services and reducing administrative obstacles. The Government views the centre as part of its broader efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s investment environment and support industrial and economic transformation.

Senior government officials, representatives of key institutions, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and members of the business community attended the opening ceremony.