Sri Lanka shares end down 0.2-pct

April 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed weaker Tuesday in lacklustre trading with turnover remaining low and interest mainly on low value speculative stocks, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index fell 0.24 percent (13.28 points) to 5,441.78, while the more liquid Milanka index fell 0.35 percent (16.94) to close at 4,888.85. […]

Mid-sea Drama

Apr 24, 2012 (LBO) – An European Union warship has rescued six Sri Lankan fishermen from Somali pirates off the coast of Tanzania, who would be flown home, the EU delegation in Colombo said. A Spanish warship Infanta Elena, which is part of an EU Naval force had boarded the fishing vessel which had been […]

State Expansion

Apr 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state workers rose 1. 1 percent to 1.232 million after falling 7.2 percent a year earlier, with central and local government employees climbing 16,812 to 986,386 though state agency workers fell, official data showed. Analysts say trimming the public sector and paying better wages would reduce the burden […]

Time Please

Apr 24, 2012 (LBO) – Two shareholders of Sri Lanka’s listed Nations Trust Bank have asked for more time to sell down their stakes to comply with a regulatory requirement, the firm said. Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings holds 29.9 percent of the company and Central Finance hold 20 percent of the company. Sri […]

‘s EAP group enters insurance broking with Omani firm

Apr 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s EAP Group and Oman-based Risk Management Services LLC is teaming up to form an insurance broking firm amid prospects for strong growth in the island, officials said. “With the war over there is a lot of opportunities for growth,” RMS assistant general manager K Krisha Murthi said. “There […]

Offshore Potential

April 24, 2012 (LBO) – Cairn India which struck gas in two offshore wells in Sri Lankan waters last year has indicated that at least one may have commercial potential so far. The company found natural gas in two of three test wells drilled in the Mannar Basin, off the island’s north-west coast, called the […]

Sri Lanka state water board makes operational profit

April 24, 2012 (LBO) – State-run National Water Supply and Drainage Board has made a 1.9 billion rupees operational profit with higher revenues and a slight decline in non-revenue distribution. The Central Bank’s annual report said Water Board has given 95,728 new connections in 2011 growing total connections 7. 1 percent to 1.4 million. Revenues […]

Sri Lanka rupee weak, money markets liquid -Update

Apr 23, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s currency weakened Monday to above 131 rupees to US dollar after opening at 129.90/130.20 levels against the US dollar in the spot market while money markets were liquid, dealers said. In late afternoon trade the rupee was quoted as low at 131. 50/70 near historic lows, after recovering […]

Sri Lanka shares end down

April 23, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed lower Monday and turnover fell back to low levels despite some enthusiasm seen last week after regulators lifted price restrictions that triggered a knee-jerk rally, brokers said. Citrus Leisure W0018 warrants were also actively traded, ending at 2.10 rupees, down 1.70 while Environmental Resources Investments close […]

Port Gains

April 23, 2012 (LBO0 – The state-owned authority which runs Sri Lanka’s ports increased operating profits last year as its spending fell and ship traffic and cargo volumes grew despite the global economic slowdown. The total cargo handled by the SLPA increased by 6.2 percent to 65.1 million metric tons in 2011 from the year […]

Chairman

Apr 23, 2012 (LBO) – Mohan Pieris, a former attorney general of Sri Lanka has been appointed chairman of Seylan Bank, a listed bank which was put under a state management following a run. Seylan Bank said he has 37 years of experience as lawyer. In 1978 he qualified as a solicitor of the supreme […]

Sri Lanka bank credit fall from peak in February

Apr 23, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s commercial banks loaned 55.3 billion rupees to private business in February 2012 higher than in January and state credit also remained strong but eased from records volumes a month earlier, official data showed. The data also contains the effects of currency depreciation after authorities allowed the rupee to […]

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