A guest article from the Financial Consumer Relations Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has launched its first Guideline on Credit Card Operations (No. 01 of 2026), turning the principles of the Financial Consumer Protection Regulation (FCPR) into practical safeguards for everyday card users.

Credit cards offer convenience and flexibility, but interest calculations, fees, billing cycles, repayment obligations, and credit limits can be hard to understand. The new guideline addresses this by requiring providers to be more transparent and consistent in how they offer and manage cards.

Key measures include:

• stronger disclosure requirements
• clearer interest calculation practices
• safeguards against automatic credit limit increases
• higher standards for responsible credit card issuance

Together, these measures help consumers make more informed decisions and require financial institutions to place customer interests first. By building trust between consumers and financial institutions, the guideline supports a fairer, more transparent, and inclusive financial system and shows the CBSL’s commitment to keeping consumer protection in step with financial sector growth and innovation.

Learn more about the CBSL’s consumer protection journey and its recent market conduct supervision webinar.