Category: Banking and Finance
ADB gives Rs.110Mn grant for SL to combat COVID-19
Mar 14, 2020 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated a $ 600,000 grant from the Health System Enhancement Project to the Government of Sri Lanka to finance preventive and response efforts to fight a potential novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country. The global public health emergency, which has now been characterised […]
New Rules to Accelerate NPL Recognition by Sri Lankan FLCs
Mar 14, 2020 (LBO) – Tighter regulation in Sri Lanka on classification and measurement of credit facilities for finance and leasing companies (FLCs) will accelerate recognition of bad loans in 2020-2022, which is likely to exert pressure on FLCs’ capitalisation due to the knock-on effects on their profitability, Fitch Ratings says. Nonetheless, the more stringent […]
Identify right model to develop the country: President tells researchers
Mar 13, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requested the heads of research organizations to find ways and means to uplift a small country like Sri Lanka with a comparatively small population and an economy. Since the current global economy is based on knowledge, ours should be developed centered around our workforce that can be […]
SEC to take measures to support stock market
Mar 12, 2020 (LBO) – The Members of the Commission of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) convened a special meeting Thursday to assess the current situation in the stock market and determine what regulatory relief and assistance was needed to manage the impact arising from the global stock market downturn due […]
CSE recovers ASPI and S&P making gains during trading
Mar 12, 2020 (LBO) – The Colombo bourse recovered some of its losses after Wednesdays panic selling which led to the indices falling to an 8 year low, a market report said. Positive sentiments set by global markets on renewed hopes of government stimulus and recovery in oil prices led to price gains. Price gains […]
Fitch Ratings to review Sri Lanka national ratings assigned to tier 2 debt
Mar 11, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings will review the National Ratings assigned to the issues of Tier 2 debt of Sri Lankan banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) following the publication of its updated Bank Rating Criteria on 28 February 2020. Fitch’s ratings approach for the ratings of subordinated debt of NBFIs follows the […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down
Mar 11, 2020 (LBO) – Following global markets, the Colombo Bourse took an expected beating Tuesday with both indices tumbling heavily during the initial ten minutes of trading. With the S&P SL20 index succumbing to a 5% drop at the initial hour, a trading halt was imposed for half an hour. Although, the initial panic […]
Women in the workforce and why it matters for Sri Lanka: World Bank
To mark this year’s International Women’s day, we’re discussing how Sri Lanka can benefit from more women joining the workforce and what can be done to improve their job prospects and remain at work. World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Dr. Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough was featured in a “Spotlight Series” interview with […]
COVID-19 Outbreak to have significant economic impact on developing Asia: ADB
Mar 10, 2020 (LBO) – The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will have a significant impact on developing Asian economies through numerous channels, including sharp declines in domestic demand, lower tourism and business travel, trade and production linkages, supply disruptions, and health effects, according to a new analysis by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The […]
COVID-19 outbreak likely to affect Sri Lanka’s economic performance : Central Bank
Mar 05, 2020 (LBO) – The exact impact on the Sri Lankan Economy would depend on the extent of the global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, its persistence and policy responses of major economies and trading partners, the Central Bank said. “Sri Lanka’s economic links with China could be directly affected as significant volumes of […]
Policy interest rates of Central Bank of Sri Lanka to remain unchanged
Mar 05, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 04 March 2020, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 6.50 percent and 7.50 percent, respectively, and […]
Sri Lanka Finance companies face added regulatory pressure
Mar 03, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s finance and leasing sector will face added pressure for consolidation as deadlines for the implementation of tougher capitalisation requirements approach in 2021, says Fitch Ratings. We view further consolidation of the sector as positive for financial sector stability in Sri Lanka, but the process could be impeded by […]