Category: Banking and Finance

July 09, 2008 (LBO) – In a far sighted move that puts the country firmly on a higher growth path Sri Lanka’s central bank Governor Nivard Cabraal has ruled out state directed bank lending as a long term policy.“As a policy we have resisted that (directed lending) because we think that the bank should have […]

July 09, 2009 (LBO) – Foreign banks operating in Sri Lanka had maintained or improved profitability in 2008, despite adverse conditions, a report by Fitch Ratings said.Though risk management was good, Fitch said counterparty settlement risks were not studied enough on hedging deals. But the banks are expected to get support from head offices to […]

July 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank said it has been named the island’s ‘Best Bank’ by Hong Kong based ˜FinanceAsia,’ a regional financial publication. The publication’s latest rankings are based on financial performance for the 2008/9 period, the bank said in a statement. The evaluation includes criteria such as capital adequacy, liquidity […]

July 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s commercial banks are likely to experience a slowdown in growth and profitability pressures from fresh asset quality problems, Fitch Ratings said. The rating agency said that it believes that if the policy environment improves, the banks’ balance sheets will be able to absorb the stress over the next […]

July 5, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s registered finance companies will have to be listed by June 30, 2011 as part of a prudential regulation framework promoted by the Central Bank, a media report said.The Sunday Island newspaper quoted Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal as saying that out of 34 registered finance companies only eight […]

July 05, 2009 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka said it has confirmed the Commercial Leasing Company (CLC) national rating at ‘A-(lka)’, with a stable outlook. Ficth said in a statement CLC’s rating reflects its fairly strong financial profile, good asset quality and implied support assumed to be available from its parent, Lanka ORIX Leasing Company […]

July 4, 2009 (LBO) – W A Wijewardena, widely regarded as one of the top economists the country has ever produced, retired from his post as deputy governor of Sri Lanka’s central bank Friday, after a 36 year career in public service. He has also chaired other task forces including one on the adoption of […]

July 03, 2009 (LBO) – HSBC’s Sri Lanka unit is looking to finance a private container port to be built as part of an expansion of Colombo port, and post-war reconstruction projects in the island, a top official said. “We are looking to support investors bidding for the Colombo port expansion,” Nick Nicolaou, head of […]

July 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings said it has confirmed the ‘AA-(lka)’ national long-term rating of Sampath Bank, as well as its individual and support ratings at ‘D/E’ and ‘5’, with a stable outlook. Furthermore, the bank’s credit decisions became more centralised since early-2009, and its recoveries were strengthened by reallocating experienced […]

July 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings Lanka said it upgraded Seylan Merchant Leasing (SML) national long-term rating to ‘BBB-(lka)’ from ‘BB +(lka)’ on the acquisition of a 84.5 percent stake by People’s Leasing Company (PLC). PLC’s purchase consideration amounted to 441.4 million rupees for the 84.5 percent stake in SML and was […]

July 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s registered finance companies would be required to list on the Colombo Stock Exchange as part of an enhanced regulatory framework of the financial sector, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Cabraal said the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, the Institute of […]

June 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank said it was merging a fully owned subsidiary dealing in government securities. Samapth Surakum Limited is a primary dealer in government securities licensed by the Central Bank. A series of separate primary dealers were set up a few years ago under a Central Bank to intensify […]