Category: Industry
Building Bubble
An ambitious feasibility study covering 13 key projects in the South has just been completed, with consultant Programme Development International keen on vying for the project. The Hambantota infrastructure project is a large-scale development effort that identifies several independent profit centres to be set up in the Hambantota and Moneragala region.rn rnIncluded in the US$ […]
PERC Help
Peoples Bank plans to sell off its merchant banking unit through the governments privatisation arm endash the Public Enterprise Reform Commission.Chairman Lal Nanayakkara told Lanka Business Online that firm dates have not been set to dispose its 39 percent stake in Peoples Merchant Bank.But a decision has been taken to sell it off through PERC, […]
Travel Claim
A top travel agent has claimed Rs 90 mn from Pramuka Bank for damages suffered as a result of the banks closure last year.Superlink Chief Ranjith Silva says he is awaiting a reply from the bank for the letter of demand sent late last month.rn rnThe travel agency says it got into severe difficulties due […]
House Hunt
Nivasie Developers on Wednesday released plans to build 95 upper end homes in its Ja Ela site under phase two of its Nivasiepura housing project. Following the trends in the industry, Marketing Manager Panduka Weerasingha says the concept at the Nest is designed to offer a planed and private neighborhood.rn rnSetting it apart however, Weerasingha […]
Lease of Life
Kandy Hotels Company is finalising its lease agreement with leisure magnate Adrian Zechas Aman Resorts, to take over management of its Queens and Suisse Hotels. The company began talks with the leisure chain last year, for the much needed funding to upgrade the properties, modelling it on the well-known luxury resorts.rn rnKandy Hotels owns a […]
Show & Tell
In a bid to lower lending rates further, the government is asking banks to publish a breakdown of their loan volumes by interest rates.ldblquote Commercial banks are being directed to publish a breakdown of their lending rates by the interest charged, dblquote Industries Policy Minister G L Pieris told a media briefing this week.rn rnldblquote […]
Sweet Music
Telecom operator Suntel has posted a 451 percent growth in net profits for the first six months of this year, largely aided by a gradual drop in interest rates.The countrys second wireless operator said its net profits topped Rs.193 mn as against Rs. 35 mn reported in 2002.rn rnBut revenues dipped 2.7 percent to Rs. […]
Spruced Up
Hoteliers in once conflict areas of the north and east can apply for low cost funding of up to Rs. 50 mn to refurbish properties damaged at the height of war.rnrn ldblquote We are processing the applications, but five hotels in the East have already received the low interest loans dblquote , Tourism Minister Gamini […]
Auditing Auditors
A top-level committee to evaluate the role of auditors has suggested that accounting firms not take up any non-audit services and also opt for compulsory rotation every three years.The committee comprising members from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Sri Lanka Accounting & Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, the Central Bank, the Auditor Generals Dept., bankers […]
Laying Bricks
State housing finance giant HDFC plans to start offering pawning services to allow customers to take out housing loans.Loans linked to its pawning schemes will be priced at 15 percent, significantly lower than the market average of 18 percent.rn rn”Customers will be only allowed to use the funds for housing loans and not for private […]
Safe Bet
Mercantile Leasing Ltd has raised Rs. 102.2 mn from the market by securitising its future cash flows.The four-year paper was priced at two percent above the one-year treasury bill rate and snapped up by a fund management company.rn rnThe issue was structured and placed jointly by Capital Alliance Ltd and National Wealth Corp.rn rnDeutsche Bank […]
Buzzing Out
Dialog GSM will double its network capacity in the Western Province by the year end when its 1800 GHz network is fully deployed. The network being installed at a cost of US$ 10 million, will give Dialog the urgently needed capacity to service its over 500,000 strong customer base in Colombo and make room for […]