Sri Lanka policy rates unchanged, banks urged to narrow spreads

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank held policy interest rates at 6.5 and 8.0 percent but urged banks to narrow spreads by cutting lending rates, as credit growth continued to be slow.Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said Tuesday such market developments would help bring down interest rates to levels in line with deposit […]

Sri Lanka police arrest 49 over religious riots

ALUTGAMA, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s police arrested 49 people overnight over deadly anti-Muslim riots in a tourist region where Buddhist hardliners have set shops and homes ablaze, a senior officer said Wednesday. Both Buddhists and Muslims were arrested during a police crackdown in the southern resort towns, where two nights of violence […]

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SANTO ANDRÉ, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – Goal-scoring machine Gerd Mueller was unkindly nicknamed ‘short, fat Mueller’ during his career, now Germany’s latest hot-shot star has been dubbed ‘El Flaco’ — the Skinny One — by Argentina legend Maradona.Thomas Mueller claimed the first hat-trick of these World Cup finals in Monday’s 4-0 drubbing of Portugal […]

Cricket: Muralitharan joins Australian coaching team

SYDNEY, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lankan spin great Muthiah Muralitharan announced Wednesday he will join the Australian coaching team for their series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.The world’s leading Test wicket taker is already working with Australia’s top spinner Nathan Lyon as part of Australia’s National Cricket Centre Spin Programme, and […]

‘s insurance regulator meets AIG over exit

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – The Insurance Board of Sri Lanka is in discussions with AIG Insurance over its planned exit from the island, Chairperson Indrani Sugathadasa said.The firm is expected to submit a report to the regulator over its policies shortly. “But before the report we are having a discussion with them because we […]

Sri Lanka may encourage smaller insurers to merge: CB Governor

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s smaller insurers should merge to become larger players and which will give an assurance to customers that they will survive in the longer term, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. “I would like to see bigger and more stable insurers,” Cabraal told a forum on pensions organized by […]

Smishing Alert

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – HSBC Sri Lanka has warned that there is a text message scam seeking campaign and has asked customers or non-customers not to call back and reveal their identity, passwords or account details.“HSBC would like to remind that the Bank has not sent these text messages to customers and non-customers and […]

Fund Rating

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said an ‘A-(lka)’ national fund credit rating given to Ceylon Income Fund in Sri Lanka has been confirmed. The negative modifier in the fund’s ‘A-(lka)’ National Fund Credit Rating reflects Fitch’s view that the fund is moderately concentrated with a top-five issuer concentration of around 56% of the […]

Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.4-pct

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 0.42 percent lower with index heavy John Keells Holdings losing ground ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy statement, brokers said. Dialog Axiata closed 10 cents lower at 10.20 rupees and Sri Lanka Telecom also closed 10 cents lower at 47.90 rupees. Sampath Bank closed 3.00 […]

Sri Lanka Treasuries yields steady

June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields were steady at Wednesday auction with the 12-month yield unchanged at 7.00 percent, the state debt office said.The 3-month yield eased 01 basis point to 6.53 percent and the 6-month yield eased 01 basis point to 6.71 percent. The debt office offered 10 billion rupees in […]

Sri Lanka credit will grow faster if long-term rates fall: Deputy Central Bank Governor

June 17, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka credit growth will accelerate if longer term lending rates fall further, Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.Sri Lanka’s inflation in the past 12-months have been in the lower single digits, though inflation spiked to near 10 percent in 2012, amid steep currency depreciation. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal told […]

Fresh religious nationalist violence in Sri Lanka coastal town – Update

ALUTGAMA, June 17, 2014 (AFP) – More deadly violence flared in a Sri Lankan coastal resort where Buddhist hardliners set shops and homes alight for a second night running in defiance of a curfew, police and residents said Tuesday.Amid mounting international concern at the unrest, residents of a town which has borne the brunt said […]

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