Category: Banking and Finance

The banking sector is planning to pass on a small percentage of their costs to customers, when the proposed 10 percent VAT comes into effect from January.rn rnUnder the budget proposal, VAT is slapped on the aggregate net profit and employee related expenses of all banks and financial institutions. The financial sector was also denied […]

Tapping into a market segment with huge growth potential, Sampath Bank on Monday launched, ldblquote Sampath Profession dblquote , an account targeted at the busy young professionals with monthly earnings topping Rs.20,000. rn rnDesigned to act as a fund manager for busy professionals, the account is tied up with a host of banking products to […]

Central Bank quote s supervisors completed preliminary investigations on Pramuka Bank, as depositors awaited a final decision from the Monetary Board on the suspended bank.rn rnMeanwhile Pramuka Merchant Corporation, an affiliate financial firm, of the bank also stopped repaying its maturing bondholders.rn rnEmployees say that the bank has invested their provident funds in the bank […]

Hatton National Bank will sell its Sampath Bank Holdings within days after the regulators gave the green light on Friday. rn rnThe Central Bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission gave the nod for a private sale to go ahead.rn rnSampath Bank, which has obtained a restraining order against the sale of shares by HNB […]

Complicated organization structures are making financial statements difficult to understand.Estimating the underlying risk is also becoming difficult not only for shareholders but for company directors as well.rn rnExperts on corporate governance speaking at a Institute of Charted Secretaries and Administrators seminar, said that directors should seek professional help when the underlying risk is not clear.rn […]

Ministers, heads of government institutions and financial controllers will be held accountable for submitting state sector accounts on time.Commerce Minister Ravi Karunanayake says they will get a 3-month time frame to submit the accounts to parliament.rn rnThe Minister was addressing the graduation ceremony of the Association of Charted Certified Accountants. rn rnTwenty three Sri Lankan […]

The Central Bank said Friday it decide on future of the troubled Pramuka Savings & Development Bank and announce the decision next week.rn rnPramuka Bank quote s activities were suspended for 60 days on October 25, for its weak financial position and repeatedly violating Central Bank directives.rn rnThe Central Bank said it was “hampered by […]

The government plans to tinker with the Employees Provident Fund Act to set up a new contributory pension scheme for public sector employees.The new pension scheme will kick in from January 1, 2003, with new recruits to the public cadre contributing eight percent of their salaries and the government forking the balance 12 percent.rn rnThe […]

The government firmed up plans announced in its 2002 budget through its latest fiscal forecast on Wednesday.rn rnThe retail and wholesale trade will be slapped with Value Added Tax while the scope of the Withholding Tax was expanded.rn rnHowever, landing VAT on financial services and the continuation of the port and airport development levy came […]

People’s Bank has engaged an international consultant B D O Binder to draft the terms of reference to get its privatisation on the road.rn rnBinder has already submitted a first draft of the terms of reference or TOR, which will be used to engage a consultant to draft an information memorandum.rn rnThe memorandum will be […]

Government plans to ease restrictions on capital transactions to increase private investments by local companies.rn rnSweeping exchange liberalizations including allowing non-nationals to invest in government and corporate debt will be announced within days.rn rnAmendments to the Exchange Control Act are expected to be announced in the budget followed by an official gazette notification.rn rnThe planned […]

Investments in and out of the country will get a boost with the relaxation of exchange control laws soon.rn rnExchange controllers say the liberalization will help government efforts to increase investments by local and foreign companies.rn rnldblquote Until the legislation comes through, as a temporary measure we are trying to liberalize some items under existing […]