Category: Banking and Finance

Feb 01, 2013 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing and Finance, the country’s largest non-bank lender fell 35.8 percent to 534 million rupees in the December 2012 quarter from a year earlier interim accounts show. Deposits from customers rose 42 percent to 12.3 billion rupees. The group reported earnings of 32 cents per […]

January 31, 2012 (LBO) – Rising banking system leverage in Asia-Pacific is increasing rating pressure for banks in the region, Fitch Ratings said. Strong credit growth across the region, particularly in China, is driving the region’s credit-to-GDP up towards its 1998-1999 peak. Credit growth in APAC has accelerated since 2007 due to underlying economic growth […]

Jan 19, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Vallibel Finance Ltd has been rated ‘BB+’ with a stable outlook by RAM Ratings Lanka. “Vallibel’s ratings are moderated by the increasing trend in new non-performing loans (NPLs) in recent times, coupled with its unseasoned loan portfolio, given aggressive loan Growth,” RAM Ratings Lanka said. “The ratings are, […]

Jan 16, 2013 (LBO) – Razik Zarook a lawyer and a former chairman the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, has assumed duties as chairman of state-run Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s largest commercial lender by assets.Zarook had enrolled in the Bar in 1969 and had run the CWE under then trade and shipping minister Lalith Athulathmudali, Bank […]

Jan 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s commercial banks loaned 24.1 billion rupees to business in November 2012, with the state also borrowing another 18.8 billion rupees, official data showed. A balance of payments crisis is triggered in the monetary system by injecting large volumes of central bank credit (printed money) in the banking system […]

Jan 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Amana Bank, which operates on Islamic financial principles said it has expanded its branches in the Eastern province, a former war zone to six.The new branch was opened in Nintavur, adding to Kattankudy, Kalmunai, Oddamavadi, Sammanthurai and Akkaraipattu. “We want to have a strong presence in the Eastern […]

Jan 08, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Bank of Ceylon, the country’s largest commercial bank by assets is aiming for a trillion rupees in deposits, newly appointed general manager D M Gunasekara said.Gunasekara had been with the Bank of Ceylon for 29 years and had worked in corporate, retail, international and off-shore operations of […]

Jan 07, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s LOLC Micro Credit Ltd, said it had syndicated a 55.5 million US dollar from a number of foreign development agencies. FMO (Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V.), of the Netherlands had lead arranged the deal. FMO is a 20 percent shareholder of LOLC Micro Credit. FMO (Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor […]

Jan 02, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Bank of Ceylon has loaned nearly 140 billion rupees to customers in former war zones in the North and East and default rates are very low, a top official said.“We are happy to say NPAs (non-performing assets) since the war, in the North and the East taken […]

Jan 01, 2013 (LBO) – Gamini Wickramasinghe, who is stepping down as chairman of Sri Lanka’s Bank of Ceylon said dealing with loan applicants who expected patronage was among the biggest challenges in managing a state entity. “A lot of people expect to get loans from a state bank and think it is easy if […]

Dec 13, 2012 (LBO) – A rights activist who was a chief executive of a top financial firm has questioned what action Sri Lanka’s banks will take following an apparent breaching of banking secrecy involving accounts of the island’s chief justice. The full letter is produced below: 10th December 2012 Open Letter to; Anil Amarasuriya […]

Dec 12, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s financial regulators will monitor banks connected to conglomerates closely in the future as firms and the financial sector becomes bigger in the future, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. “I know many of you are not only looking at the banking sector but you have other businesses as […]