An incorporation act is a formal law passed by a parliament to legally create a specific organization. This unique legislative mechanism transforms a private group of individuals into a singular, recognized corporate person with its own distinct legal identity.
By bypassing the standard corporate registration route handled by a registrar of companies, this direct vote by lawmakers grants the newly formed entity specialized statutory powers. These typically include the permanent right to hold property under its own name, perpetual succession, and the explicit authority to enter contracts or sue and be sued in a court of law.
Why Legislatures Pass Individual Incorporation Acts
- Unique Status: It grants a specific non-profit, religious body, or professional institute a permanent legal identity without using standard corporate registration routes.
- Perpetual Succession: The organization can legally exist forever, regardless of changes in its leadership or membership.
- Property Rights: It explicitly allows the entity to buy, hold, sell, and inherit land or property under its official name.
- Legal Standing: It gives the organization the clear authority to sue other entities or be sued in a court of law
Download below or search the list of Incorporated Acts passed by the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1957-2026 in chronological and alphabetical order.
