Category: Banking and Finance

All pensioners are in for a New Year bonus, with a ten percent hike in pensions from January 1 2004, the Government announced in its budget on Wednesday.rn ldblquote This is the largest increase granted to pensioners during the past ten years. This increase will cost the Government Rs.2.5 bn dblquote , Finance Minister Choksy […]

Central Bank cut its 2004 GDP growth forecast to six percent from an earlier 6.5 per cent after factoring in current uncertainties in the peace process and the political front.Projections for 2004 however, still remain above the 2003 economic growth target of 5.5 per cent.rn rnThe Central Bank said if the political spat found a […]

Sri Lanka is in the top three alongside Thailand and the Maldives as a tourist hotspot for long-haul travel, but still needs a vital mix of peace, competitive rates and new infrastructure to give it that edge. Right up until last year, an average 300,000 tourists visited the island.This year numbers were expected to reach […]

The upcoming Exchange Management Act adds muscle to the Finance Minister, and puts stiff financial penalties on wilful defaulters.Currently in gazette form pending parliamentary approval, the law allows locals to take out up to Rs.10,000 when leaving the country.rn rnSri Lankans are now legally allowed to hold foreign exchange in overseas bank accounts, without disclosing […]

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd., has recorded a pre-tax profit (before the special Value Added Tax on Profit) of Rs 1.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, a growth of Rs. 276.5 million or 20.9 per cent over the corresponding period last year.The special Value Added Tax calculated on the basis of 10 […]

The countrys top multilateral donors warned that economic and political stability are key to get aid following.Sri Lankas top multilateral and bilateral donors have warned that promised record aid flows could fall sharply unless the government stuck to the peace process and carried out key economic reforms.rn rnLenders to the country pledged a mammoth US$ […]

A cultural similarity in the insurance market was a big draw when Life Insurance Corporation of India re-entered the local market.The companys earlier operations were taken over by the government with nationalization of the industry in the sixties.rn rnThe company also had a lot of money left locally to service its existing customers after nationalization, […]

Air Sahara will begin charter flights to Colombo from New Delhi on Friday, becoming the first domestic carrier to fly out of India. This follows a recent decision to deregulate Indo-Lanka travel after the last meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries.rn rnTravel Director of Air Saharas local agent Jetwing, Sunil Pieris, says […]

MasterCard International on Thursday came out with a credit card primarily designed for Sri Lankas burgeoning teenage market.Hatton National Bank, its local partner hopes teenagers would make use of this opportunity to learn basic banking habits of accountability, responsibility, ownership and financial discipline.rn rnAptly named lquote Hot Shots, the card is targeting teens over 15 […]

Hatton National Bank Ltd said on Thursday nine-month group profits nearly tripled as it notched gains from its bond portfolio and saw a pick up in credit demand. Group post-tax profits jumped 229 percent to Rs.1.192 bn for the nine months ending September 30, 2003, from Rs. 368.532 mn during the corresponding period.rn rnRevenues during […]

Hatton National Bank, had its long-term national rating, down graded to SL A- by Fitch Ratings Lanka on Thursday.This decision comes after HNB was put on a ratings watch in July, to allow Fitch to do a review on the banks capital.rn rnldblquote The rating reflects the banks weaker capital position, due to a relatively […]

Tourism officials played down government claims of 2000 tourists cancelling bookings, after political chaos and reports of beefed up security.ldblquote So far we have had some 2000 tourists cancel their bookings and more cancellations pouring in dblquote , Cabinet spokesperson Professor G L Peiris told reporters on Thursday.rn rnPeiriss comments come, just two days after […]