How long does business registration take in Sri Lanka?

Typical timeline is 7–14 working days for a (Pvt) Ltd company. We handle ROC filing, name reservation, Articles of Association, and director consents end-to-end.

What documents do I need to start a business in Sri Lanka?

NIC copies, proposed company name (3 options), registered address proof, director/shareholder details, Form 1 (Application for Incorporation), Forms 18 & 19 (Director consents), and the Articles of Association. We prepare everything for you.

Do I need a VAT registration?

VAT registration is mandatory when annual turnover exceeds LKR 80 million. Below that, it is optional but can be beneficial for B2B operations.

Startup Launchpad

Start your business.
We'll walk every step.

A complete launch service for founders in Sri Lanka — registration, documents, government authorities, banking, accounting, branding, and the digital tools you need on day one.

Book a Free Consultation View the 5-Step Roadmap

The Roadmap

From idea to operational — in 5 stages

Every founder needs this. We've packaged it.

Idea Validation

Market research, competitor mapping, target audience definition, MVP scoping.

Industry research report
Competitor SWOT analysis
Customer persona deck
Go/no-go recommendation

Business Registration

Name reservation, BR registration, Tax ID, EPF/ETF — all handled.

Sole Proprietorship / Partnership / (Pvt) Ltd
Registrar of Companies filing
Inland Revenue TIN & VAT
Provincial & local authority permits

Documents & Compliance

The paperwork that keeps you audit-ready and protected.

Shareholder & director agreements
Employment contracts
NDAs, SLAs, T&Cs, privacy policy
Trademark & IP registration

Operations Setup

Banking, accounting, payroll, digital infrastructure — switched on.

Corporate bank account opening
QuickBooks / Zoho / ERP setup
Domain, email, Google Workspace
Brand identity & website launch

Growth & Scale

Marketing, sales engine, and the analytics to know what's working.

SEO & Google Business profile
Social media launch campaign
Lead-capture funnels
Monthly growth retainer (optional)

Documents Checklist

Every paper you'll need.

We prepare, file, and follow up — you sign.

Registration

National Identity Card (NIC) copies
Proposed company name (3 options)
Registered business address proof
Director/shareholder details
Form 1 (Application for Incorporation)
Form 18 & 19 (Director consent)
Articles of Association

Tax & Finance

Tax Identification Number (TIN)
VAT registration (if turnover > LKR 80M)
EPF/ETF employer registration
Corporate bank account documents
Audited opening balance sheet
Withholding tax registration

Operational

Trade licence (Pradeshiya Sabha / MC)
BOI registration (for exports/FDI)
Import / Export licence (if applicable)
Industry-specific permits
Trademark & logo registration (NIPO)
Data protection registration

Authorities Directory

Who you deal with — and what for.

We handle the back-and-forth. Here's who's actually behind the desks.

Registrar of Companies (ROC)

Business name reservation, incorporation, annual returns.

📍 Colombo 02🌐 drc.gov.lk

Inland Revenue Department

TIN, VAT, income tax, withholding tax, SSCL.

📍 Maitland Crescent🌐 ird.gov.lk

EPF / ETF — Dept. of Labour

Employer registration, monthly contributions, member queries.

📍 Narahenpita🌐 epf.lk

Board of Investment (BOI)

Tax holidays, FDI approval, export-oriented enterprises.

📍 World Trade Center🌐 investsrilanka.com

Sri Lanka Customs

Import/export declarations, duty payments, clearance.

📍 Times Building🌐 customs.gov.lk

NIPO — IP Office

Trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyrights.

📍 Sampathpaya🌐 nipo.gov.lk

Local Authority (PS / MC / UC)

Trade licence, building approvals, environmental clearance.

📍 Your area🌐 lgpc.gov.lk

Data Protection Authority

PDPA compliance, controller registration, breach reporting.

📍 Colombo🌐 dpa.gov.lk

Start your business.We'll walk every step.