Vision
To provide a relief arrangement for the aggrieved public for the repayment of loans involving immovable property.
Mission
Provision of legal protection and relief for the debtors to enable them to get back their immovable property such as agricultural land, housing property placed as security for a loan obtained on a Mortgage, Deed of Conditional Transfer, or Deed of transfer executed solely in respect of a loan transaction, by making payment in installment with a low rate of interest.
Objective
To assist parties to arrive at a settlement on the repayment of loans on Mortgage Bonds, Deeds of Conditional Transfer and Deeds of transfer executed solely for a loan transaction in respect of immovable property.
This Department was established under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance No. 39 of 1941 with the objective of introducing of relief to help the public to get over their indebtedness caused by loans obtained on the security of deeds on conditional transfer of immovable property such as land, paddy fields, estates, houses, unsecured loans obtained on documents such as promissory notes, Cheque, along with such secured loans.
In addition thereto, the Amendment Act No.29 of 1999 enables the Board to intervene in respect of transfer deeds executed purely for a loan transaction, resulting in further expansion of its relief support.
The Debt Conciliation Board consists of five (05) members, appointed by the Minister one of whom shall be nominated by the Minister to be Chairman of the Board. No fee is charged for the applications submitted to the Board and the proceedings before the Board are free of any stamp duty. A very small amount is charged as Gazette and notice fees, and as such an immense service is afforded to the average persons suffering under indebtedness. It is a great relief to the public that it is not compulsory for the applicants to be represented by a lawyer.
The proceedings before this Board are different from those before an ordinary court of law. The settlement arrived at between the parties is not an agreement imposed by the Boards but one arrived at voluntarily by the parties, before the Debt Conciliation Board. However, the Board has the power to reduce the unreasonable rates of interest charged or in case of failure on the part of the parties to accept the just suggestions made by the Board to issue a certificate under the Ordinance to the debtors. Further, if the creditors fail to appear before the Board at the final hearing in response to the notice issued, an expert hearing is held after which a certificate is issued to the debtor. However, only if the Board is satisfied that the creditor has intentionally failed to attend the inquiry to be held after notice is issued through registered post and the Grama Niladhari. On such occasions, the benefit of the issue of such a certificate will accrue to the debtor. If this certificate is produced to a court before which a trial is being held on the same matter, that court is empowered under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance to allow a period subject to a maximum of 10 years for the settlement of the loan and reduce the interest to the minimum rate and not to recover any costs from the debtor.
No 35A,
Dr N.M Perera Mawatha,
Colombo 08.
+94 112 697 910/ +94 112 697 911
+94 112 697 911
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| Application For Relief Under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance |  |
| Instructions to Complete the Application | |
| Functions of the Department of Debt Conciliation Board | |