Category: Banking and Finance

Aug 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s micro finance institutions will be regulated through a three tier framework where large scale entities will be brought under the direct supervision of the Central Bank, minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. The Central Bank will set principles and standards to regulate the micro financiers. The cabinet of ministers had […]

Aug 23, 2012 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed an ‘AA(lka)’ rating of Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank but cut its outlook to stable from positive, saying its core capital build-up was weaker than expected though still above the regulatory minimum. “The Outlook revision reflects the weaker-than-expected build-up of SB’s core capitalisation relative to higher rated […]

Aug 14, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon reported profits of 2. 469 billion rupees for the June 2012 quarter up 25 percent from a year earlier with profits boosted by foreign exchange gains. The group reported earnings of 2. 96 rupees for the quarter. In the six months to June group […]

Aug 13, 2012 (LBO) – Loans from Sri Lanka’s banking system fell to 13. 5 billion rupees in June 2012, from 41.8 billion a month earlier with state credit no longer pressuring the banking system, while private citizens’ credit remained positive, official data showed. Total loans from commercial banks to private borrowers rose 19.0 billion […]

Aug 13, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s efforts to establish banking services in the former war-torn areas included ‘laundering’ soiled money held by displaced persons, Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabral told an international Defence conference in Colombo. “Banks at that time were set up in containers which were at various locations so that people […]

Aug 10, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka could use private financing to fund growing infrastructure requirements like toll roads in future given the inability of governments to meet all such funding needs, a Fitch Ratings official said. Attractive infrastructure investment opportunities in Sri Lanka could draw local and foreign capital which could help underpin future […]

Aug 09, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central bank has relaxed exchange control regulations to allow the free transfer of funds from non-resident foreign currency (NRFC) accounts, the bank releasing a statement said. The bank said funds can be freely transferred between and among NRFC accounts including foreign currency investments abroad. “Necessary direction to authorized […]

Aug 09, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central bank has relaxed exchange control regulations to allow the free transfer of funds from non-resident foreign currency (NRFC) accounts, the bank releasing a statement said. The bank said funds can be freely transferred between and among NRFC accounts including foreign currency investments abroad. “Necessary direction to authorized […]

August 07, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves stood at over seven billion dollars as at end July largely due to proceeds from the one billion sovereign bond, the central bank said. The island’s stock exchange netted in 205 million dollars during the seven month period, despite the benchmark All Share Price Index down […]

August 02, 2012 (LBO) – The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with FIUs of Mongolia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, the bank releasing a statement said. Under the MOU the countries will share financial information to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of […]

August 01, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s newest mutual fund operator, Orient Wealth Limited plans to raise about a billion rupees by attracting customers to invest in pension, children’s education and general investment products, officials said. Sri Lanka’s stock market is down by almost 19 percent since January, largely due to lack of credit while […]

July 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Union Bank group has report net profits of 27.4 million rupees for the June 2012 quarter, down 61.5 percent from a year earlier, amid rising interest rates and expenses. The bank did not separately report earnings per share at group level in quarterly accounts filed with the Colombo […]