Category: Banking and Finance
IFC’s $25Mn investment in NTB to help businesses continue operations amid COVID-19
In an effort to provide improved access to critical working capital for Sri Lankan businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and to help preserve jobs, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a $25 million loan to Nations Trust Bank (NTB). The financing package, which will be used by NTB to help […]
FIU imposes penalties to finance companies for violation of customer due diligence rules
Jan 11, 2021 (LBO) – Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as the regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism in the country, has imposed penalties amounting to Rs. 2.3 million in total for the period from 01.06.2020 to 31.12.2020 to enforce compliance on financial institutions. The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has […]
SL fiscal deficit to reach 11.3-pct of GDP in 2021: All clear for stronger growth in 2021
Asia Securities, a stockbroking firm says that all signs point to a strong GDP growth trajectory in 2021. The latest Economic Outlook report titled Balancing the Priorities – The New Normal forecasts a GDP growth of 5.4% for 2021, driven by improved investor sentiment and consumer demand, an accommodative monetary policy environment, and a pickup […]
Asia Securities forecasts strong growth trajectory for equities in 2021
Following a year of volatility, leading stockbroking firm Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd, notes that the road ahead for Sri Lanka’s capital markets is optimistic, with the ASPI expected to reach 7,400-7,600 in 2021. The Sri Lankan stock market marked a V-shaped recovery in 2020, seeing one of its strongest rallies to recover all losses suffered […]
Central Bank expects payment receipt facility for SL from payment providers like PayPal
Jan 04, 2021 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has already commenced discussions with international payment service providers, such as PayPal, to enable payment receipt facilities for Sri Lankan residents, Governor W D Lakshman said. Introducing the monetary and financial sector policies for 2021, Governor said that he expects positive outcomes in this regard in […]
ComBank launches Sri Lanka’s first ‘WhatsApp Banking’ facility
A simple “Hi” is all it now takes to access services at the Commercial Bank of Ceylon. Demonstrating its innovative use of new-age communications, the country’s largest private bank has pioneered a ground-breaking product on the world’s most widely-used messaging platform WhatsApp to become the first Sri Lankan bank to offer Banking Services on the […]
Sarvodaya Development Finance records a profit growth of 147-pct in 2019-20
Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF), the financial services arm of the Sarvodaya Movement, sailed through the turbulent 2019-20 financial year to report a record profit growth. The finance company, which funds the charitable and social development activities of the Sarvodaya Movement across rural Sri Lanka, recorded one of its best years […]
HNB records 15-pct YoY growth in digital remittances during COVID lockdown
Jun 29, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s HNB has reported a smooth transition to contactless remittance transactions parallel to rising demand for digital remittances and cardless withdrawals during the coronavirus lockdown. The bank recorded a 15% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in digital remittances and a 10% YoY increase in cardless withdrawals across its extensive ATM network […]
Second stage of compensation payments to The Finance Company depositors
Jun 26, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has taken measures to commence the second stage of the compensation payments to the depositors of The Finance Company PLC (TFC) with effect from 02.07.2020. In terms of this compensation mechanism Rs.600,000/- is paid per depositor basis. Accordingly, such payments will be taken place at 63 […]
Bank of Ceylon disburses loan facilities over Rs. 4bn thus far
Jun 26, 2020 (LBO) – As the Sri Lankan business community struggles to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 economic impact, the country’s premier state-owned bank, Bank of Ceylon, has reached a milestone in providing the community with a lifeline of recovery. “Businesses affected by the pandemic have been granted a moratorium for […]
SL Treasury, Central Bank should consider credit guarantees for Covid-19 distressed bank loans
By the Advocata Fellows: Liquidity injections will impact forex market and debt repayments Even though Sri Lanka’s economy has opened up, businesses are still recovering from the dual shock of the locally imposed curfew as well as the global fallback from the coronavirus. A vast majority of Sri Lankan businesses are in need of support […]
ComBank further slashes lending rates
Jun 26, 2020 (LBO) – The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced a further lending rate cut, slashing rates by up to 2 percent on all categories of loans in a continuing effort to bolster businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing affordable access to desperately-needed funds. The Bank took steps to reduce lending […]