Proceedings of 8th International Research Conference, KDU, Published November 2015 Corporate Governance of Banks: A critical analysis of Sri Lankan Law and practice A Edirisinghe Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
[email protected] Abstract— Banks play one of the most significant and I.INTRODUCTION essential roles in any financial system; the health of the “Corporate governance deals with the ways in which economy and the soundness of banking system go hand suppliers of finance to corporations assure themselves of in hand. In Sri Lanka the Capital market reforms have getting a return on their investment" taken place since 1990s adopting the Anglo American - Shleifer and Vishny structure of Corporate Governance. Notwithstanding the reforms several banks faced scandals in recent years, Effective corporate governance is an integral part of the most significant being the failure in Pramukha Savings modern corporate world. It is important in both global and Development Bank and the imminent failure in Seylan Bank. Further measures were introduced following and domestic environment to obtain the full benefits of the scandals for effective regulation of banks. Currently global capital market, attract long term patient market, this area of law is mainly governed by the Banking Act No increase the confidence of the investors, reduce the cost 13 of 1988 including directives issued thereunder, of capital and ultimately to induce more stable resources Companies Act No. 7 of 2007, Codes of best practice and of financing (OECD Principles of Corporate Governance). Regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The key problem which is sought to be According to OECD, “Corporate Governance is a set of addressed in this research is the banking failures in Sri relationships between a company’s management, its Lanka.