Category: Banking and Finance

Peoples Bank says it will consider lowering interest rates on some Rs. 12 billion outstanding from the Ceylon Electricity Board, if a proposed debt-restructuring plan seeking payment guarantees for part of the loan goes through.The debt restructuring plan covers a Rs.7 billion medium term loan, to be eventually settled by tapping into CEBs monthly collections.rn […]

Commercial Banks Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network disbursed a record Rs 300 million over the three-day weekend in December, the bank said this week. Commercial Banks Chief Manager – Operations Palitha Perera said 87,000 cash withdrawals and 55,000 non cash transactions were recorded over the December 6-8 weekend from the Banks 153 ATMs.rn rnThe banks […]

The first test run of the Central Banks Scripless Securities Settlement System (SSSS) went thought without a hitch on Tuesday.The first set of firms participating in the test routed routine transactions through the system, parallel to their present manual trading process.rn rnThree more groups will test the system in the coming weeks, facilitating a pre […]

Central Bank Governor A S Jayawardene says it is a prudential requirement, which increases transparency and accountability.rn rnSo far a handful of local banks have gone public with their credit ratings from Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd.rn rnOf the few, Citibank NAs local arm and National Savings Bank sports a SL AAA rating from Fitch. Citibank […]

In a statement late Friday, the Sri Lanka Accounting & Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (SLAAMB) says the Ceylon Theatres Group failed to consolidate Lanka Ceramics financial statements during the financial years ending March 31, 2002 and 2003.rn rnThe auditors have qualified their report in this respect, SLAAMB says. rn rnldblquote Users of the financial statements […]

The Asian Development Bank has come forward with a US$ 20 mn loan to uplift the living standards of people in the Eastern Province.The loan, for the North East Coastal Community Development Project, will help conflict-affected coastal communities in the three eastern districts – Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara – improve livelihoods on a sustainable basis […]

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the UK introduced their environment and social sustainability reporting awards to the country recently.ACCA says both listed and unlisted companies can submit their annual reports for the first awards starting next year.rn rnThe awards system comes on the back of growing pressure from stakeholders for greater disclosure in […]

A four-member team from Sri Lanka Insurance Corp.s technical partner ING, started work this week to give the former state insurance giant a facelift.The team will initially give tech support for re-insurance, product development, actuarial services and IT, SLIC Director Damien Fernando told Lanka Business Online.rn rnldblquote They started work on Monday and will be […]

The Seylan Merchant Bank (SMB) Group has reported a three fold growth in pre-tax profits for the third quarter ending Sept. 2003.Consolidated pre-tax profit at Rs 33 million, was up 363 per cent for the period ended September 30, 2003, from Rs 7 million in the corresponding period last year.rn rnThe Groups Net Income also […]

Ceylinco Life, has achieved record-breaking results in the first nine months of 2003, with a healthy 32 percent growth in premium income.The firm said this week, that premium income had reached Rs.2.24 bn as at September 30, 2003, reflecting a substantial 32 percent growth over the corresponding period last year.rn rnThis was made possible by […]

The Mahapola Trust Fund is matching numbers with US lottery solutions provider, GTECH to spin off its own sweepstakes operation next year.Betting Rs. 400 mn on the operation, the Fund will get full ownership and a minimum Rs.500 mn retutn on investments, its Director General, Shamila Perera told Lanka Business Online. rnrnFor its part, GETCH […]

Attempts through the budget to force leasing companies to pay tax could make leasing unattractive and uncompetitive according to the industry.Government in its budget 2004 announced that leased assets would be taxed at their market value when being transferred to the lessee or the party obtaining the lease.rn rnLeasing industry says taxing transfers will result […]