Open Loans

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has lifted a 5.0 percent limit on margin loans by saying a correction in stock prices showed that the danger of an asset price bubble has passed. The central bank said declining earnings multiples of firms and lower utilization of margin credit showed that banks were […]

Top Marks

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been named Sri Lanka’s ˜Bank of the Year’ by the UK-based ˜The Banker’ Magazine, the eighth time it won the award. The award is decided on the strength of strong performance in key indicators and saw competition from banks in 147 countries this year, […]

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals top 800,000 by Dec 19

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka greeted its 800,000th tourist on December 19, with arrivals up 33. 1 percent from the 654,476 in the 12-months to December 2009, the island’s tourist promotion office said. Sri Lanka is expecting 2.5 million visitors by 2016. The 800,000th tourist arrived from flight from UK, and was welcomed […]

Sri Lanka targets Russia with specialty teas

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – A specialty tea contest held in Russia recently would help Sri Lankan exporters promote Ceylon teas in the biggest market for the island’s main agricultural export, officials said. ‘Blind tasting’ of the teas was done by a panel of 12 tea tasters with 66 entries being sent to Russia for […]

Lessons

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has to re-build an independent public service and restore rule of law to give freedom to citizens, a commission of inquiry on lessons learnt and reconciliation following the end of a 30-year civil war has said. “A democracy must assure a fair system of governance under the Rule […]

Sri Lanka approves US$1.8bn in tourism projects

Dec 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism development office has approved 1. 8 billion dollars of investment proposals to build hotels deputy economic development minister Lakshman Abeywardene said. A ‘one stop unit’ at the tourism development office which was set up in November 2010 had received 189 applications by October 2011 of which 73 […]

India probes stock price-rigging

NEW DELHI, Asia Pulse (LBO) – India’s market watchdog is probing the role of at least 25 newly-listed firms, which includes the holding company, certain brokers and merchant bankers. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is also probing the possibility of cartelisation among the company promoters, brokers and merchant bankers for rigging the […]

‘s Jetwing managed hotel opens in Laos

Dec 17, 2011 (LBO) – Xiengthong Palace, a hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos, managed by Jetwing a Sri Lanka based group has officially opened targeting luxury travel, a media report said. The Island newspaper said the hotel, which had a soft opening in October and its architecture conformed to the style of the ancient city, […]

‘s Colombo night race first night-in pictures

Dec 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Colombo night race flagged off Friday in practice runs and trials as fans lined the streets to watch as drivers became familiar with the track and sought places for Saturday.

Sri Lanka to promote tea brand in key markets

Dec 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will register its ‘Ceylon tea’ brand and seven growing regions in 25 key markets next year, using intellectual property law to protect its main agricultural export, officials said. Registration under the GI law, although costly, provides protection for the trade marks and prevents the names being false used […]

Sri Lanka policy rates kept steady, market rates up: CB

Dec 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s active polity rate at which cash is injected to the market would be maintained at 8.50 percent, the Central Bank said, as defence of a dollar peg pushed market rates up. The central banks said the trade deficit was higher this year. The central bank said there would […]

Sri Lanka money rates spike

Dec 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s overnight money rates spiked Friday amid liquidity shortages from peg defence and seasonal demand, prompting a 10 billion rupee cash auction by monetary authorities, dealers said. Overnight gilt backed repos rose as much as 8.35 percent and eased to 7.75/8.00 percent levels after a cash injection through a […]

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