Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.9-pct

July 02, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s shares closed 0.89 percent higher on Wednesday amid strong foreign buying into Hemas Holdings, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 56.51 points higher at 6,432.52, up 0.89 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 34.38 points higher at 3,577.94, up 0.97 percent. Turnover was 2.43 billion […]

Japan leads loan commitments to Sri Lanka up to April 2014

July 02, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has signed up 678.2 million US dollars in foreign loans in the first four months of 2014 and Japan led the tables giving 342.8 million US dollars for a new bridge to the capital, official data showed. Outstanding foreign debt not counting rupee denominated Treasuries owned by foreigner […]

Sri Lanka budget deficit 3.5-pct of GDP up to April

July 02, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s has recorded a budget deficit of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product up to April 2014, and the Treasury said it was expecting to meet a full-year target of 5.2 percent. Tax on interest fell 20 percent as interest rates fell in the economy. The tax revenues were […]

Sri Lanka shares close lower

July 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s shares closed 0.04 percent lower on Tuesday boosting turnover to an eight-week high amid strong foreign buying mainly into John Keells Holdings, brokers said. Foreign investors sold 1.01 billion rupees worth shares. Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 10.60 rupees lower at 1,053.30 rupees and oil palm firm Shalimar (Malay) […]

Acquisition

July 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s TKS Finance Limited said it was acquiring Asian Finance Limited under a financial sector consolidation initiated by the regulator.The company said its shareholder planned to inject more capital to the merged entity. It would have a branches in Colombo, Ratnapura, Matara, Negombo, Nugegoda, Kandy, Kiribathgoda, Kurunegala, Galle, Ambalangoda […]

Merger Plans

July 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said ‘almost all’ banks and finance companies have submitted plans to merge or acquire others in a regulatory driven push to consolidate and reduce the number of financial institutions in the country.“These plans will now be reviewed by the Central Bank with a view to facilitating […]

‘s CEB loses Rs18.6bn up to April

July 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board has lost 18. 9 billion rupees in the first four months of 2014, amid higher thermal generation, a finance ministry report said. CEB started operating a second coal plant and a third 300 MegaWatt generator is expected to begin testing later this year. The […]

Sri Lanka delays digging up suspected Muslim mass grave

COLOMBO, July 1, 2014 (AFP) – A magistrate has postponed Tuesday’s scheduled start of an operation to exhume a suspected mass war grave on Sri Lanka’s east coast after police said they needed more preparation time, an official said.Authorities had been due to begin excavating part of a beach in Kalavanchikudy district after a resident […]

Sri Lanka shares close up 0.2-pct

June 30, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s shares closed 0.24 percent higher on Monday boosting turnover to a six-week high amid strong foreign participation, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 15.13 points higher at 6,378.62, up 0.24 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 13.58 points higher at 3,534.43, up 0.39 percent. Turnover […]

New Bank

Starting Up June 30, 2014 (LBO) – Cargills Bank Plc, Sri Lanka’s newest commercial bank promoted by listed Cargills (Ceylon) Plc and CT Holdings opened for business Monday. The bank was issued a provisional license shortly before the Central Bank started a process to consolidate the banking sector. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said as […]

Credit Trend

June 30, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s credit to private business from commercial banks fell 15.7 billion rupees in April 2014, while credit to government also fell, official data showed, as inflation remained low and the exchange rate was strong. Credit to state enterprises edged up to 331.1 billion rupees in April from 330.0 billion […]

France first in New Delhi as West courts Modi

NEW DELHI, June 30, 2014 (AFP) – France Monday became the first Western power to hold talks in India with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius arrived to push defence deals and trade.The reform-minded Modi has been widely courted by Western governments since his election in May, with his […]

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