Islamic Banking

Feb 02, 2011 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has given a commercial banking license to Amana Bank, a statement said. Islamic banking is an emerging alternative to the interest-based banking practice and is gaining popularity across the world’s communities. “Amana Bank will be Sri Lanka’s first licensed commercial […]

Sri Lanka shares end up 0.99-pct

Feb 02, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up Wednesday with active trading seen in the food and beverage sector as well as in index heavy stocks like John Keells Holding, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,262. 26, up 0.99 percent (71.49 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid […]

Sri Lanka Treasuries yields ease

Feb 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bills yields eased at Tuesday’s auction with the government raising 21. 5 billion rupees after offering 11 billion rupees in bills for roll-over. The 3-month yield fell one basis point to 7. 00 percent, the 6-month yield also fell one basis point to 7. 09 percent and […]

Sri Lanka journalists protest arson attack on website

Feb 01, 2011 (AFP) – Dozens of Sri Lankan journalists took to the capital’s streets Tuesday to condemn an arson attack on a popular independent website and protest against assaults on press freedom in the country. Reporters, photographers and employees of privately-run media joined a demonstration in central Colombo a day after the arson attack […]

South Asian scheme launched to fight poaching

NEW DELHI, January 31, 2011 (AFP) – Eight South Asian countries have launched a regional scheme to share information on poaching and wildlife trafficking in a bid to protect dwindling populations of tigers and other rare animals. After talks in Bhutan at the weekend, the countries launched the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), according […]

Fashion Fortunes

Feb 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan fashion retailer Odel’s December 2010 quarter net profit rose 35 percent to 76 million rupees from a year ago with inventory levels and borrowings also up sharply, a statement said. Sales in the quarter, usually the best because of Christmas shopping and the peak tourism season, rose 26 […]

Branching Out

Feb 01, 2011 (LBO) – The London School of Commerce (LSC) Group of Colleges has opened a branch in Sri Lanka offering graduate and post-graduate courses, a statement said. The branch, called the British School of Commerce (BSC), will offer courses for both Sri Lankan and overseas students. The courses include business administration, information technology, […]

Leasing Strength

Feb 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings has today confirmed Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing Company’s long term rating of ‘A(lka)’ with a stable outlook on its potential support from its parent, state-run People’s Bank which is rated ‘AA-(lka)’. Fitch said PLC carries out the incremental leasing business of People’s Bank’s leasing business which […]

Upgraded

Feb 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing Finance (PLF), a unit of Peoples Leasing Company by one notch to ‘BBB(lka)’ with a stable outlook, on expected support from its ‘A(lka)’ parent which owns 93 percent of the firm. Fitch said support from the parent was now “more likely” than in the past as […]

Cement Rating

Feb 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) Ltd has been rated ‘A’ by Ram Ratings on its strong market position and balance sheet against its dependency on the cyclicality of construction and government price controls. The long term rating has a ‘stable’ outlook. The firm’s short term credit has been rate […]

Sri Lanka shares end up 0.2-pct

Feb 01, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up Tuesday with active retail trading in the small and mid-cap stocks, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,190. 77, up 0.22 percent (15.90 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 7,121. 28, down 0.18 percent (12.99 points) according […]

Sri Lanka spends Rs11bn to sterilize liquidity

Jan 31, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has spent about 11 billion rupees last year to sterilize excess liquidity generated mainly from external sources, and existing excess liquidity is not a threat at the moment, officials said. A large stock of foreign reserves, significantly higher than the local monetary base, can make seigniorage […]

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