All Blogs
Abandoned Property
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said it has issued new instructions to banks to put assets unclaimed by customers for a long period to an account in the Central Bank. All licensed commercial banks holding any abandoned property are required to inform the banking regulator each year and transfer such monies […]
Loss Transfer
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Citibank Sri Lanka has transferred billions of rupees of losses from a defaulted derivative deal with a state-run oil retailer to a foreign unit and the local branch has retained its ‘AAA(lka)’ rating, Fitch Ratings said. At end-December 2008, the top 20 loans had accounted for 93.1 percent of total […]
Rating Retained
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed HSBC Sri Lanka’s long term national Long-term rating at ‘AAA(lka)’ with a ‘stable’ outlook, on the strength of its parents ‘AA/negative outlook’ rating. HSBC Sri Lanka is a branch of Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Hong Kong’s largest banking group and is wholly-owned by HSBC […]
Savings Rating
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings has confirmed the ‘AAA(lka)’ rating of state-run National Savings Bank (NSB), with a ‘stable’ outlook. “The rating reflects NSB’s state ownership, systemic importance, the low risk nature of most of its asset base and explicit guarantee from the Government of Sri Lanka on its deposits,” Fitch […]
Sri Lanka tea trade warns labour action will hit exports
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Action by labour unions on Sri Lanka’s tea estates to disrupt the movement of teas could hamper exports and threatens the industry and entire economy, the Colombo Tea Traders™ Association (CTTA) warned. It would also worsen the current cash-flow problems of plantation companies, the CTTA warned and result in serious […]
Jailed Journalist
OTTAWA, September 2, 2009 (AFP) – Canada is “deeply concerned” by Sri Lanka’s sentencing of a journalist to 20 years of hard labor, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Wednesday. “The government of Canada is deeply concerned by the sentencing of J.S. Tissainayagam to 20 years in prison for violating Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism […]
”’ adjusts to life in the IT sector
KATHMANDU, September 3, 2009 (AFP) – As a child, she was worshipped as a “living goddess” in Nepal after she proved her bravery in an ancient ritual by not crying at the sight of a sacrificed buffalo.But now Rashmila Shakya, 29, meets friends in cafes, listens to Bollywood music — and is building a promising […]
Kiwi Oram stumped by his hat-trick feat
September 3, 2009 (AFP) – New Zealand’s Jacob Oram said Thursday he was unaware he had taken a hat-trick during the thrilling three-run win over Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international. Oram’s three wickets in three balls, but in separate overs, was missed by almost everyone at the Premadasa stadium on Wednesday night, including Oram’s […]
Sri Lanka non-state sector to bear adjustment burden under IMF deal
Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Workers in Sri Lanka’s private sector and their workplaces will bear the brunt of an adjustment to stabilize the economy under an International Monetary Fund backed program, economists have said.Under an IMF stand-by loan, Sri Lanka is planning a 7.0 budget deficit and 5.0 percent deficit over two years.Officials are […]
Sri Lanka tightens rules on forex dealers
Sept 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has tightened rules on foreign exchange dealing issuing a direction that specifies qualifications and experience of dealing room personnel, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said.The new rules comes soon after Nations Trust Bank, a licensed commercial bank, reported 800 million in forex losses following trades which the bank […]