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Compliance Finder Draft NGO Act 2026 · L.D.-O. 6/2026

What does the draft NGO law mean for your fundraiser?

Answer a few short questions. You get a checklist of what to register, notify and report, with the clause behind each point.

Draft only, not law. Submission to Parliament was reported paused in September 2026 and may return with changes. Last reviewed 20 October 2026.

  • Register. Charities, societies, trusts and informal groups of five or more.
  • Notify. Banks, companies, religious bodies and others running a welfare project outside their usual purpose.
  • Probably outside. Individuals and groups of fewer than five.
Question 1 of 5

Who is raising the money?

Pick the closest match. You can change it later.

How the draft sorts organizations

The draft puts every non-profit body into one of three positions. The Finder places you in one of them from your answers.

Register

Must register with the Competent Authority

  • Bodies registered under the VSSO Act of 1980
  • Trusts and societies doing voluntary social service
  • Guarantee or offshore companies receiving foreign funds for non-profit work
  • Bodies created by a Private Member's Bill
  • Informal groups of five or more persons
  • Branches of foreign organizations
s.2(1), s.8
Notify

Exempt from registering, but must notify

  • Religious organizations (for non-religious projects)
  • Licensed banks
  • Public and private limited companies, cooperatives, partnerships, sole proprietors
  • School development societies, alumni associations, trade unions

The duty applies to voluntary social service projects not covered by their constitution or articles.

s.2(3)
Outside

Not named in the draft

  • Individuals raising money for a personal cause
  • Groups of fewer than five persons
  • Exempt bodies running projects their constitution already covers

The Authority's other lawful powers and the courts' jurisdiction still apply.

s.2(1)(g), s.2(3), s.2(7)

Where Sathkara fits in

Sathkara is planning compliance tools around fundraising, so organizers can meet the draft's duties without a separate system. These are plans, not live features.

Crowdfunding notice packPlanned

Prepares the notice each campaign needs before it launches.

s.15(2)(m)

Registry checkPlanned

Checks an organizer against the public register, which the draft says is updated every 30 days and published online.

s.13

Audit-ready recordsPlanned

Donation ledgers, receipts and campaign statements that feed the annual audit, report and returns.

s.15(2)(k), s.15(2)(l)

Renewal and change remindersPlanned

Reminders to renew 30 days before expiry and to report changes of name, address or governing board.

s.14, s.15(2)(j)

Guidance for informal groupsPlanned

Step-by-step help to register once the forms and fees are published.

s.8, s.9

Questions people ask

Is the draft Act in force?+−

No. It is a draft Bill. Reports in September 2026 say the Government agreed to pause its submission to Parliament after a meeting on 31 August, and that it may return with minor changes. The final text could differ from what this tool uses.

Is this legal advice?+−

No. The Finder reads the draft text and a civil society summary and gives a plain-language checklist. For decisions about your organization, ask a Sri Lankan lawyer.

What counts as crowdfunding?+−

The draft defines it as funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people. It does not say how many. An open online campaign is the clearest case.s.23

Do individuals need to register?+−

As drafted, the group category needs not less than five persons. Individuals and smaller groups are not named. If you raise money for a registered organization, that organization carries the duties.s.2(1)(g)

What about donations from abroad?+−

The draft sets no separate approval for NGOs receiving foreign donations. Foreign funding still matters: it brings some bodies into scope, and registered NGOs must follow Central Bank directions. The draft does not define foreign funds.s.2(1)(c), s.2(1)(j), s.15(2)(h)

Does this cover Sathkara itself?+−

The Finder looks at organizations that fundraise. A platform's own position depends on its legal form and activities, and is not assessed here.

Sources and limits

  • Draft Non-governmental Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act, L.D.-O. 6/2026, text dated 2 April 2026.
  • Brief context and summary on the July draft VSSO Bill, 9 July 2026, prepared for the CSO-NGO Collective by Ermiza Tegal, Attorney at Law.
  • Sri Lanka Brief, 5 September 2026: Draft NGO Act (2026), implications for the right to association and freedom of expression.
  • Clause numbers follow the draft text above. Later drafts may renumber clauses or change duties.

Sathkara Compliance Finder. Information only, not legal advice. Last reviewed 20 October 2026.

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