Patience!!

The Central Bank on Thursday responded to the public debate on Pramuka Savings & Development Banks crisis, by saying it will reveal all as the weeks go on.In a lengthy six-page statement, the monetary authorities gave a brief description of its actions since Pramukas licence was cancelled in December 18, 2002.rn rnDespite several warning letters, […]

Double Decker

Peoples Leasing is planning to securitise a further Rs. 500 mn of its bus lease portfolio to ease its maturity mismatch.The new issue comes after the company successfully placed Rs.500 mn last month. rn rnPeoples Leasing has become one of the top five players in the local leasing industry within a short period of six […]

Riding High

DFCC Bank on Thursday secured a SL AA national rating from Fitch Ratings for its implied long-term unsecured senior debt. SL AA long-term rating denotes a very low expectation of credit risk. The rating indicates a very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events, Fitch […]

Crossfire

Rising tension in the Middle East is buing holes in the Sri Lankan tea industry as prices plummet and stocks accumulate at auctions. Low grown teas are seeing the brunt of the Middle Easte crisis, with prices on average dropping by Rs. 20.00 in two weeks. In addition, a backlog over 15 million kilos of […]

Wrong Number

Policy makers agreed to come forth with a revised date plan to issue external gateway licences, decided at a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday. rnrnTelecom operators on January 24, united to lobby against the draft External Gateway Operator (EGO) licence citing shortcomings including the lack of access tariffs. rn rnA lack of an interconnection framework also […]

Structural Support

Sri Lanka is to receive up to US$ 400 mn, which amounts to 100 percent of its SDR quotas, under the International Monetary Fund quote s Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility.rn rnThe long-term loan package is linked to the government quote s three-year economic reform programme spelt out in the Regaining Sri Lanka paper and […]

Timber Scams

Local regulators are taking a hard look at a rise timber investment companies to prevent the public from depositing funds in unlicenced institutions.The move comes after Central Bank on Tuesday for the first time in history, named 27 companies for mobilising public funds without regulatory approval.rn rnAmong the warning list were a few companies that […]

Four Musketeers

A deal finalised on Wednesday will transfer Rohan Pereras 54 percent holding in Pramuka Merchant to a four-man consortium.The paperwork is being processed, say the new shareholders, who plan to hold an emergency meeting in early February.rn rnSources estimate that the consortium put in over Rs. 5 million for the stake and expect a name […]

Rich Dividends

The NAMAL Income Fund (NIF) has declared its second dividend of Rs. 0.75 per unit for the six months ending Dec.31, 2002.With this distribution investors have enjoyed a gross dividend of Rs 1.50 per unit for 2002. The fund paid Rs 0.75 per unit in July 2002, NAMAL said in a statement Wednesday.rn rnDuring the […]

Milk Money

The LTTE and government meetings are drawing up strategies to milk the world donor community to the maximum at the June donor conference.rn rnThe Cabinet spokesperson Prof. G L Peiris refused to put a quantum, but the government is looking at raising around US$ 600 million in medium term funds for national development projects.rn rnProf. […]

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