These indicators measure restrictions on foreign ownership of companies across sectors.

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Sector Group Country score IAB regional average IAB global average
Mining, oil & gas     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Mining        40 40
Oil and gas        40 40
40.088.092.0
Agriculture & forestry     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Agriculture        100 100
Forestry        100 100
100.090.095.9
Light manufacturing     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Light manufacturing        100 100
Manufacturing of food products         100 100
Pharmaceutical products        100 100
Publishing        100 100
100.096.396.6
Telecom     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Fixed-line infrastructure        100 100
Fixed-line telephony services        100 100
Wireless/mobile infrastructure        100 100
Wireless/mobile services        100.0 100.0
100.094.888.0
Electricity     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Power distribution        0.0 0.0
Power generation – biomass        100.0 100.0
Power generation – coal        100.0 100.0
Power generation – hydro        100.0 100.0
Power generation – solar        100.0 100.0
Power generation – wind        100.0 100.0
Power transmission        0.0 0.0
71.494.387.6
Banking     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Banking        100 100
100.087.291.0
Insurance     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Insurance        100 100
100.075.491.2
Transport     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Airport operation        100 100
Domestic air        .. ..
International air        .. ..
Port operation        100.0 100.0
Railway freight        0.0 0.0
..79.878.5
Media     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Newspaper        40 40
Television broadcasting        40.0 40.0
40.068.068.0
Construction, tourism & retail     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Construction        100.0 100.0
Retail distribution services        100 100
Tourism        100 100
100.096.798.1
Health care & waste management     
Sector Greenfield M&A
Health care        100 100
Waste management and recycling        100 100
100.0100.096.0

Summary
Within the South Asia region, Sri Lanka imposes more stringent restrictions on foreign equity ownership than most other countries measured by the indicators. Select strategic sectors, such as railway freight transportation and electricity transmission and distribution are closed to foreign capital participation. Foreign ownership in the primary sector (mining, oil and gas) is limited to a maximum of 40%. In the media industry, foreign capital participation in local television channels and newspaper companies must be less than 40%. Foreign equity participation in the retail distribution sector is only allowed if it exceeds $1,000,000.

Main laws for this indicator

Main laws (English)
Exchange Control Act No 24 of 1953 as amended
Board of Investment Law No 4 of 1978 as amended

Main laws (local language)
..

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