Category: Banking and Finance
Sampath Group pre-tax profit exceeds Rs10Bn for first half of 2018
(PRESS RELEASE) – Sampath Bank’s Group pretax profit for the first half of the year exceeded Rs 10.3 Bn (28.2% growth) while Sampath Bank recorded a pre-tax profit of Rs 9.9 Bn for the same period. This registered a YoY growth of 28.1% in comparison to the first half of 2017. Profit after tax of […]
LOLC Finance, Mobitel to offer Digital Loans to customers via mCash
Reinforcing its market leadership and strengthening its partner base, Mobitel has joined hands with LOLC Finance PLC to offer Digital Loans for the first time ever in Sri Lanka via its mCash platform. This initiative is a break-through method of providing a loan via one’s mobile device. Digital Finance Loans is a ground-breaking product for […]
Sri Lanka keeps rates unchanged
Aug 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has decided to keep policy rates unchanged with the aim of stabilising inflation at mid-single digit levels in the medium term, thereby contributing to a high and sustainable growth trajectory of the island economy. “In arriving at its decision, the Board carefully considered the current and expected domestic […]
Finance Min calls for new regulatory body for Microfinance industry
Aug 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister said that he is proposing the establishment of a new microfinance regulatory authority together with mandatory registration for the companies and amendments to the Act. “This is a national tragedy. It needs to be addressed in layers,” Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance told reporters in Colombo, Thursday […]
Sri Lanka inflation up 5.4-pct in July
Aug 01, 2018 (LBO) – The year on year inflation as measured by CCPI is 5.4 percent in July 2018 while inflation calculated for June was 4.4 percent, data shows. The CCPI for all items for the month of July 2018 was 125.8 and it records an increase of 0.4 index points that is 0.29 percentage […]
‘s DFCC Bank bottom line
July 30, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s DFCC Bank, the banking arm of the DFCC Group reported a drop in profit for the second quarter amidst a challenging business environment. The drop in profit was due to higher impairment provisions, as well as a one-off gain from the disposal of shares of Commercial Bank during […]
‘s affirms ratings of BOC, HNB & Sampath; maintains negative outlook
July 26, 2018 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed the local currency deposit ratings of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Hatton National Bank Ltd. (HNB) and Sampath Bank PLC at B1/NP.The foreign currency issuer rating and deposit ratings of these banks are also affirmed at B1 and B2/NP respectively. Moody’s has also affirmed the Baseline Credit […]
Glass ceiling obliterated, Shemara Wikramanayake to become CEO of global investment bank Macquarie
July 26, 2018 (LBO) – Shemara Wikramanayake is set to take over as CEO of global investment bank Macquarie in November of 2018. Ms. Wikramanayake was born born in the UK and spent time schooling in Sri Lanka.Her father was a Sri Lankan medical doctor. Macquarie is a globally diversified financial group employing more than […]
Central Bank decides to cancel licence of Standard Credit Finance Limited
July 25, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to cancel the Licence issued to Standard Credit Finance Limited with effect from today. Accordingly, Standard Credit Finance Limited is not permitted to engage in Finance Business under the Finance Business Act.Further, the Director of the Department of Supervision […]
Opinion : Financial reporting and the impact on capital market development
By Nandika Buddhipala Introduction The origination of financial reporting can be closely connected to the requirement to collect and record data which evolved into a stage where the capacity of the human brain was not sufficient to accommodate and memorize the evolving volume of data and transactions. Interestingly the existence of record keeping can be […]
Union Bank (UBC) continues to stagnate 4 years after historic TPG investment
July 25, 2018 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange listed Union Bank of Colombo (UBC) reported lacklustre results for the quarter ended June 2018. These results have been a continuation of the slow performance the company has displayed over the last several years. Although showing decent growth in revenue, operating income, and profit after tax, the […]
USD 100Mn World Bank aid to modernize the education system in Sri Lanka
Jul 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka signed a US 100 million dollas credit agreement with the World Bank to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen and modernize the general education system in the country, the Finance Ministry said. The General Education Modernization Project (GEM)will modernize and diversify the curriculum of general education in keeping with the transformation […]