Category: Economy and Markets
First Capital Treasuries announces Rs750mn debenture issue
Jan 23, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Treasuries, the Primary Dealer arm and a subsidiary of First Capital Holdings has announced that it intends to issue listed, rated, subordinated, unsecured, redeemable debentures with a principal value of LKR 750Mn maturing in five years. Following interest payment options will be payable semi-annually; Type A – 12.75% […]
Sri Lanka SMEs call for deadline extension
Jan 22, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Industries (COSMI) said that the landmark loan moratorium for SMEs offered by the government in December 2019 is on track to revive SMEs but the stipulated reporting deadline is ‘too tight’. “We praise the government for its determined action last December to […]
Fitch revises outlook on 5 banks to negative; downgrades PLC; affirms HNB
Jan 22, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook to Negative from Stable on the Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) and National Long-Term Ratings of the following Sri Lanka-based banks and has affirmed their ratings: Bank of Ceylon (BOC), National Savings Bank (NSB) and DFCC Bank PLC (DFCC) Fitch has also revised the […]
Tax changes included in proposed Inland Revenue Amendment Bill
Jan 22, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry announced the list of tax changes introduced in the proposed Inland Revenue Amendment Bill which is to be presented to Parliament for approval. Related: Cabinet nod to amend Inland Revenue Act The complete list of proposed tax amendments: (i). Interest Income (a) Interest paid up to […]
Viraj Dayaratne appointed as Chairman of SEC
Jan 22, 2020 (LBO) – Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne PC has been appointed as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC). The appointment was done by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mahinda Rajapaksa. Other new members of the SEC appointed are Ernst & Young former Country Managing […]
‘s inflation increased to 6.2-pct in December
Jan 22, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index increased to 6.2 percent in December 2019 from 4.1 percent in November 2019. According to the Central Bank, this was driven by monthly increase of prices of items in the Food category along with […]
Five forensic audits completed at a cost of Rs275mn: Central Bank
Jan 21, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank says that out of the six forensic audits initiated, five forensic audits have been completed so far at a cost of 275 million rupees. Issuing a statement, the Central Bank said the procurement process of the sixth forensic audit is currently underway. The procurement of the […]
‘s forensic audit report
Jan 21, 2020 (LBO) – Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Karu Jayasuriya has decided that it is appropriate to table the forensic audit report on the issue of Treasury Bonds issued by the Central Bank. Making a statement, the Speaker said that it will also address the fundamental right of access to information […]
Cabinet nod to amend Inland Revenue Act; to be presented to Parliament
Jan 21, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers have approved the proposal to amend the Inland Revenue Act to reflect new tax proposals introduced by the government. The proposal has been made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Finance Minister to fulfill a promise made by the government to […]
Startup XpressJobs receives Rs100mn investment from Emerging Media
Jan 20, 2020 (LBO) – Emerging Media, a location-based digital advertising company has invested 100 million rupees in XpressJobs in exchange for a 25 percent stake of the company. The company said in a statement that Emerging Media’s tie with XpressJobs aims to further expand the company’s operational capabilities and also greatly increase visibility for […]
Debt moratorium for SMEs, credit negative for banks, unlikely to support economic recovery
Jan 20, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s debt moratorium for SMEs is credit negative for Sri Lankan banks and the sovereign because it risks increasing SMEs’ risk appetite and relaxing their attitude toward debt repayments, Moody’s Investors Service said. In an analysis, the service said that this move, in turn, will undermine banks’ asset quality […]
Trade deficit narrows marginally in Nov with imports, exports declining
Jan 17, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit contracted marginally in November 2019 (year-on-year), with both imports and exports declining, the latest Central Bank data showed. The deficit in the trade account declined in November to US dollars 762 million, from US dollars 785 million in November 2018. The trade deficit contracted by US […]