Category: Companies
Asian Hotels (AHPL) reports a profit, tourism recovery taking hold
October 29, 2019 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange listed Asian Hotels and Properties (AHPL) reported a modest profit in the quarter ended September 30th. AHPL is the subsidiary of market bellwether John Keells Holdings (JKH) which owns two large city hotels. Profits in the quarter were down 95% year over year to just Rs10mn, however […]
Sri Lanka calls for collective action to address global challenges
Oct 28, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and called for the group’s collective attention to the need to address contemporary global challenges, highlighting in particular, poverty and terrorism. He was addressing the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in […]
The Finance Company looking at a new investor
Oct 25, 2019 (LBO) – The Finance Company (TFC) is currently working with a company that has expressed its interest to invest at TFC as a shareholder through a private placement, the company today said in a stock exchange filing. “The investor is pursuing his actions to provide the proof of funds and also TFC […]
John Keells Hotels (KHL) reports losses of Rs470mn on 27% drop in revenue
October 25, 2019 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) listed John Keells Hotels PLC (KHL), the subsidiary of John Keells Holdings (JKH) which owns resort hotels in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, reported sharp losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. KHL lost Rs470mn (US$2.6mn) in the three month period with revenues down 27% […]
Otara Gunewardene resigns from Singer Sri Lanka board
Oct 25, 2019 (LBO) – Otara Gunewardene has tendered her resignation from Singer Sri Lanka board which will be effective from 31 December 2019. The company said in a stock exchange filing that she does not have any relevant interests in shares of the Company as specified in the listing rules as at date. Joined […]
Sri Lanka ranked 99th in new Doing Business Index
Oct 24, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is ranked as 99th out of 190 countries with a score of 61.8 in Doing Business 2020 report released by the World Bank. The Doing Business report presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across economies. As per the […]
Central Bank to issue license cancellation notice to The Finance Company
Oct 23, 2019 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to issue a Notice of Cancellation of the License issued to The Finance Company (TFC), with effect from today to safeguard the interests of the depositors and other creditors. Accordingly, the interest due for deposits will be paid continuously to the depositors […]
Fitch affirms Melstacorp &”; outlook stable
Oct 23, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has affirmed the National Long-Term Ratings of Sri Lanka-based conglomerate Melstacorp and its subsidiary Distilleries Company at ‘AAA(lka)’ with a stable outlook. Fitch said it rates Distilleries based on the consolidated profile of Melstacorp due to strong legal and operational linkages between the two entities, as defined in […]
Real-time online payment facility for BOI customers
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has taken another significant step forward where customers have the convenience of making their payments online directly to BOI, a statement said. This initiative is facilitated via LankaPay Online Payment Platform, a real-time and online payment platform of LankaClear. Such an initiative on […]
ICRA Lanka revises outlook on issuer rating of BoC to negative
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – ICRA Lanka Limited, subsidiary of ICRA limited, a group company of Moody’s Investors Service, has reaffirmed the issuer rating of Bank of Ceylon at [SL]AAA. The outlook on the rating is revised to negative from stable. Rationale The revision in outlook factors in BOC’s moderate capitalisation levels with steady decline […]
BOI enters into supplementary agreement with concrete poles manufacturer
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a supplementary agreement with Senaka Zenn (Private) Limited to set up a project to manufacture pre-stressed spun concrete electrical poles, piles and railway sleepers for both local and export markets. The initial investment made by the Company was 10.3 million US dollars. The Supplementary […]
Opinion: Cigarette smuggling in Sri Lanka, Hype vs. Reality
By Harini Weerasekera In the run up to elections, Sri Lanka is once again witnessing various news activities highlighting how the government is losing revenue due to increased consumption of illicit cigarettes and beedi. However, the wider government policy on tobacco control is aimed to reduce smoking rates and the related direct and indirect costs […]