Category: Banking and Finance

Mar 25, 2011 (LBO) – Fresh capital will soon be given to the remaining Sri Lankan finance companies that got into trouble two years ago, prompting intervention by the banking regulator, senior central bank officials said. “It has taken over two years but was much quicker than the liquidation process.” Strategic investors have been found […]

Mar 22, 2011 (LBO) – Senkadagala Finance, a closely-held registered finance company, was allowed to trade on Colombo’s Stock Exchange on March 22, but there were no deals despite offers going up to ten times its net asset value, dealers said. The CSE is shortly to bring minimum ‘free float’ limits for listed companies to […]

Mar 21, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned Senkadagala Finance Company’s (SFC) proposed senior unsecured redeemable listed debentures of up to a billion rupees a ‘BBB+(lka)’ rating. The company was established in 1968 by the Balasuriya family, who owns 90 percent of SFC’s equity. The agency has simultaneously confirmed SFC’s National Long-Term rating […]

Mar 19, 2011 (LBO) – Top organizations representing Sri Lanka’s lawyers and accountants have brought together experts in Islamic finance to broaden understanding of one of the faster growing niches in the financial sector. The program will introduce the concept deal with equity investments, accounting for Islamic finance, corporate governance, the regulatory framework, legal and […]

Mar 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank said it is accepting application for loans which has repayment periods of up to 10 years under a small and medium enterprise loan scheme funded by a World Bank credit line. Commercial Bank of Ceylon is one of seven participating banks in the credit line, which […]

Mar 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan bank customers have been warned by the Information and Communications Technology Agency to be wary of financial fraud by hackers using fake websites of the branches of foreign banks in the island. Its services range from responding to and investigating information security breaches, to preventing security breaches by […]

Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – Customers of Sri Lankan banks will be able to get cash over-the-counter quicker from April 01, following technical upgrades to speed up processes, the island’s central cheque clearing house said. LankaClear, Sri Lanka’s central clearing house, already provides next day credit for cheques with the use of electronic clearing (cheque […]

Mar 13, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is expected to order commercial banks to limit use of bank guarantees to apply for shares in initial public offers to ensure small investors a fairer share, a report said. A minimum of 10 percent of an issue will be made available for allotment to Unit […]

Mar 10, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank said it plans to set up 40 branches this year, including some in the former north-east war zone, hire more staff and look for mergers as margins get thinner. Sampath Bank chairman I W Senanayake said they opened 40 new branches in 2010 alone, adding to […]

Mar 10, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s banking regulator is examining bonuses and compensation packages of bankers to see if they are excessive with the aim of limiting them if necessary, a central bank report said. “Directions on integrated risk management and Pillar II of Basel II which relate to additional prudential requirements following the […]

Mar 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings said it had confirmed a ‘BB-(lka)’ rating of Edirisinghe Trust Investment Ltd’s (ETI), a registered finance company, with a ‘stable’ outlook. “ETI’s rating reflects its relatively weak core equity position and large exposure to real estate investments,” the rating agency said. “It also takes into account […]

Mar 07, 2011 (LBO) – South Asian financial sector professionals should share experiences and build networks to provide support in future in handling financial risks, a central bank official told a meeting in Sri Lanka. “Highly competitive global financial markets have created unprecedented levels of volatility which in turn has highlighted importance of proper risk […]