The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is launching a major awareness drive, “Anti-Pyramid National Awareness Week,” from July 14 to 18, to educate the public about the dangers of illegal pyramid schemes and unauthorised deposit taking.

The campaign, organised by the Financial Consumer Relations Department, will utilise various channels, including schools, Grama Niladhari divisions, and mass media, to reach a wide audience. The core message is that pyramid schemes are traps and should be avoided.  Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said illegal pyramid schemes and unauthorised deposit taking in Sri Lanka is on the rise.
He pointed out that such illegal schemes not only pose a threat to individuals and institutions which fall prey but to the entire Sri Lankan economy.

The ‘Anti-Pyramid National Awareness Week’ from July 14 to 18 will be launched under the theme of: “Pyramid is a trap – don’t get into the wrong track.”

This national initiative aligns with CBSL’s mandate to maintain financial system stability and promote the well-being of financial consumers. The campaign aims to raise widespread awareness on Prohibited Pyramid Schemes and the significant risks they pose to individuals and the broader economy.

The campaign is expected to generate substantial national awareness among a wide cross-section of the population, including School Students and Teachers, Officers of the Tri-Forces, Civil Security Department Personnel, Officers of Sri Lanka Police, Government Sector Employees and Public.

Outreach activities will be carried out through 6,172 schools and 14,022 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions’ countrywide, ensuring extensive grassroot-level coverage and community engagement.

Throughout the awareness week, participants will be educated on legal provisions relating to prohibited pyramid schemes, the deceptive nature and structure of such business models, risks and financial consequences of investing in pyramid schemes, real-life accounts and painful experiences of victims.

A multi-platform media strategy will be utilised to ensure a broader and effective outreach. This includes newspaper advertisements, social media campaigns, educational posters, live-stream sessions, television and radio programmes, news taglines, public seminars across the country. CBSL encourages all members of the public to actively participate in the campaign and stay informed.

Awareness and vigilance are key to protecting oneself and others from financial fraud and preserving trust in the financial system the CBSL yesterday said.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

A controversial real estate financing model, ‘PrimeMax’, introduced by Prime Lands for apartment buyers, is allegedly putting both buyers and HNB Finance depositors at significant financial risk.

This is because Prime Lands, which holds a 38% stake in HNB Finance, is leveraging its shareholder power to aggressively direct public funds into high-risk, speculative real estate loans.

Experts warn that this move not only violates CBSL’s risk diversification regulations but also exposes HNB Finance to significant liquidity risks.

Traditionally, HNB Finance operates in the microfinance sector, which relies on fast cash flow and frequent repayments.

However, this real estate loan model contradicts the principles of microfinance by front-loading funds into high-value condominium projects and locking capital into long-term, high-value loans with slow repayment cycles. This shift undermines the company’s liquidity, putting both the financial stability of HNB Finance and the security of its depositors’ funds at significant risk.

How the ‘PrimeMax’ 0.5% payment scheme works:

• 10% Down Payment: Buyers pay only 10% of the total property value upfront.
• 47.5% Bank Loan: HNB Finance funds nearly half of the property value through a loan.
• Interest-Only Payments for 3 Years: Buyers pay just 0.5% per month, primarily covering interest with minimal reduction in the principal.
• Additional 15% Paid as Interest: Over the 3-year period, buyers will have paid an additional 15% of the sale value as interest.
• Outstanding Balance After 3 Years: After the 3-year period, approximately 75% of the total property value remains unpaid. This balance consists of the remaining loan amount owed to HNB Finance, along with the outstanding balance owed to Prime Lands.

Financial trap for apartment buyers

Prime Lands markets this scheme as a flexible investment opportunity, but economic experts say it is actually a debt trap that locks buyers into long-term loans.

Crippling debt even after 3 years : With more than 75% of the property price left unpaid, buyers will be burdened with a massive financial liability. This overwhelming debt will make it nearly impossible to secure refinancing or sell the property at a reasonable price.Even after 03 years, buyers will still owe roughly 75% of the property’s price, which makes refinancing or reselling at fair value very difficult.

The buyback & resale scam : Meanwhile, the promised opportunity to resell at a higher value is highly speculative and unreliable.  Project delays, unfavorable market conditions, and low demand can make reselling impossible, leaving buyers stuck in a property they can’t sell.

With these limited options, they may be forced into the buyback scheme-often at a price far below market value, resulting in significant financial losses rather than the anticipated profits.

Threats to HNB finance depositors

This flawed financing structure does not only impact buyers – it directly threatens the financial stability of HNB Finance customers and depositors:

• Liquidity Challenges: With loan repayments delayed, HNB Finance may struggle to maintain its financial commitments, putting depositors’ funds at risk.
• Risk of Defaults: If apartment buyers default due to high outstanding balances, HNB Finance could face serious financial losses, ultimately jeopardizing its depositors’ security.
• Regulatory Violations: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka enforces strict lending policies for finance companies. This scheme raises concerns about compliance, as it prioritizes aggressive sales over responsible lending practices.The shift from microfinance to large-scale property lending could also push HNB Finance beyond regulatory limits for exposure to a single sector.

CBSL must intervene to protect public funds and depositors

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) enforces strict Risk Diversification Regulations for licensed finance companies to prevent excessive exposure to any single sector, ensuring depositor safety and financial stability.

However, HNB Finance PLC is dangerously violating this principle by diverting a significant portion of its funds into speculative real estate loans under the Prime Lands 0.5% scheme.

Unlike commercial banks, finance companies rely heavily on public deposits, making it crucial for them to maintain liquidity and prudent lending practices.

By over-lending to real estate, HNB Finance not only concentrates risk in a volatile sector but also compromises depositor funds, increasing the chances of liquidity shortfalls and defaults.

If this reckless lending continues, HNB Finance risks breaching CBSL’s sectoral exposure limits, leading to severe financial instability.

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like Sri Lanka after upgrades to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The changes, announced as part of the UK’s wider Trade for Development offer, aim to support economic growth in partner countries, including Sri Lanka, while helping UK businesses and consumers access high-quality, affordable goods.

New measures include simplifying rules of origin, enabling more goods from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the Philippines can enter the UK tariff-free, even when using components from across Asia and Africa.

These changes are expected to be in place by early 2026.

This move strengthens Sri Lanka’s position in its second-largest apparel market, supporting exports, jobs, and economic growth.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, said: “This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector, and for UK consumers. With the UK being the second largest export market and garments making up over 60% of that trade, we know manufacturers here will welcome this announcement.

“We want Sri Lanka to improve the utilisation of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme for a wider range of goods, not just garments. With the Sri Lankan government’s ambition to grow exports, and with the simplification of rules of origin for other sectors too, we strongly encourage more exporters to explore how they can benefit from the preferences offered by the DCTS. The UK remains committed to working towards creating shared prosperity for both our countries.”