Category: Banking and Finance

Feb 26, 2012 (LBO) – Loans from commercial banks to private borrowers fell to 9.9 billion rupees in December 2012 from 24.1 billion rupees a month earlier while credit to the state soared by 76.1 billion rupees, official data shows. In February the government raised 153 million dollars from a floating rate dollar bond sold […]

Feb 22, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank will provide a 3.2 billion rupee long-term loan to the state to finance the rebuilding of 37.5 kilometres of priority roads in the central part of the island, the state information office said.The loan will be used to re-build road sections of 33.50 to 44.0 […]

Feb 22, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank will look at “the need for raising” shareholder ceilings imposed on banks, a media report said, quoting Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal.Several state entities have also bought stock in private banks, exceeding the limit. Reuters, a news agency quoted Cabraal as saying on the sidelines of […]

Feb 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank will provide a loan of 6.779 million sterling pounds equivalent in dollars as part financing to construct 210 steel bridges, the state information office said.The cabinet of ministers had given the nod to enter into the loan contract at the rate of 6.0 percent above […]

Feb 19, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s The Finance Company Plc’s lost 510 million rupees in the December 2012 quarter up from a loss of 17 million rupees a year earlier, while nine month losses were 1.26 billion rupees, interim accounts showed. The firm reported earnings of 3.18 rupees for the quarter. In the nine […]

Feb 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s DFCC Bank group’s fell 15 percent to 795 million rupees in the December 2012 quarter from a year earlier, dragged down by lower fee income, interim accounts showed. A dividend that came from Commercial Bank of Ceylon in which the group has a large stake in the December […]

Feb 08, 2013 (LBO) – A 15-strong mob who stormed into a branch of state-run Bank of Ceylon has left two injured, Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said, calling for extra security for other entities connected to the island.A mob armed with knives, clubs, and iron rods had stormed the Bank of Ceylon branch at Poonamallee […]

Feb 08, 2013 (LBO) – An ‘AAA(lka)’ rating of Sri Lanka’s Standard Chartered Bank has been confirmed by Fitch Ratings, with a stable outlook, based on it being part of a lender that has a higher international rating.Fitch says an appeal on a 27 billion rupee fine, which is higher than its equity, imposed by […]

Feb 06, 2013 (LBO) – HSBC has appointed Patrick Gallagher as chief executive for Sri Lanka and Maldives replacing Nick Nicolaou. The new appointment will take effect from April 30, 2013, subject to regulatory approval, the firm said in a statement. Martin Tricaud, currently managing director, global head of multinationals, global banking and markets, will […]

Feb 06, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank said it will sell up to 2.0 billion rupees in 5-year debt unsecured debt yielding as much as 15.5 percent a year, which will be free of withholding tax under new budget proposals. The bank is selling unsecured, subordinated debt which can be used to boost […]

Feb 05, 2013 (LBO) – International Finance Corporation, a unit of the World Bank has injected 75 million US dollars (9.6 billion rupees) as a subordinated loan to Commercial Bank of Ceylon which will boost its debt capital. The money will come as a 10 year loan from IFC Capitalization Fund, an asset management company […]

Jan 02, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) and World Bank arm International Finance Corporation is boosting credit access to small businesses by making it easier to offer movable assets as collateral. “This initiative will make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs with few fixed assets to obtain the financing they […]