Category: Industry
Sri Lanka SME credit support scheme has limited effect on banks: Fitch Ratings
Jan 29, 2020 (LBO) – A scheme for Sri Lankan banks to provide special credit support to SMEs this year should not have a material effect on banks’ credit profiles, Fitch Ratings says. “We believe that the scheme will prolong the resolution of non-performing loans only until end-2020, and delay capital repayments this year, but […]
SL presents USD16Bn opportunity for pvt sector to invest in sustainable development: SC Bank
Jan 29, 2020 (LBO) – Opportunity2030: The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost USD 10 trillion (USD 9.668 trillion) opportunity for private-sector investors across all emerging markets, with Sri Lanka representing USD16.2 billion of that total. The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and […]
Asian Hotels (AHPL) reports a revenue decline of 21% in the December quarter
January 28, 2020 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange listed Asian Hotels and Properties (AHPL) reported a profit of Rs43mn for the December quarter, while revenue was off a disappointing 21% year over year. AHPL is a listed subsidiary of John Keells Holdings (JKH) that owns two large city hotels in Colombo (Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon […]
John Keells Hotels (KHL) reports a quarterly loss of Rs398mn
January 28, 2020 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange listed John Keells Hotels (KHL) reported a loss of Rs389mn in the quarter ended last December. Nine month cumulative losses came in at Rs1.3bn, as the company slowly rebounds from a drastic downturn caused buy 2019’s Easter Sunday terror attacks. One a positive note, revenue was down […]
Ravi Wijeratne slips away from taking over MTD Walkers
Jan 28, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lankan businessman, Ravindranath Srilal Wijeratne, alias Ravi Wijeratne has slipped away from taking over MTD Walkers. According to MTD Walkers, the agreed transaction will not be pursued, as there has been no positive development on the transaction. As the completion date stipulated in the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement […]
Sri Lanka suspends On Arrival Visa for Chinese tourists after first patient detected
Jan 28, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has suspended issuing on-arrival visas for Chinese tourists after detecting the first patient with coronavirus in the country. During an inspection tour at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that Chinese tourists who want to visit Sri Lanka will now have to make an application […]
Sri Lanka vehicle registration in Dec 2019 subdued
Jan 28, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s total car registrations recorded 2,057 units in December 2019 marginally up from 2,030 units in November but down from 2,669 units 12 months ago, a new report shows. Data compiled by JB Securities equities research shows in the overall segment Toyota is the market leader with a 64.2 […]
Norwegian Ambassador opens Sri Lanka’s first floating solar plant
Jan 27, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s first-ever floating solar plant with a capacity of 42KW located at the Kilinochchi campus of the Jaffna University was opened by the Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal. The project is a result of the research collaboration since 2017 between the University of Jaffna and the Western Norway University […]
Opinion: How technology shapes apparel sector supply chains: Shifting to nearshoring and reshoring
Nipuni Perera Advances in technology have made nearshoring – the practice of shifting production operations to a nearby country closer to the end market – and reshoring – bringing back offshore production back to the home country – more viable for apparel manufacturers, compared to offshoring production to far-away, developing countries. For instance, ‘SewBots’ – […]
‘s National Rating at AA+; withdraws rating
Jan 27, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has affirmed and withdrawn Sri Lanka-based National Savings Bank’s (NSB) National Long-Term Rating of ‘AA+(lka)’ with a Negative Outlook. Fitch has chosen to withdraw the rating for commercial reasons. KEY RATING DRIVERS NSB’s National Long-Term Rating reflects Fitch’s expectation of extraordinary state support stemming from its policy mandate […]
National action committee on Coronavirus meets today
Jan 27, 2020 (LBO) – A committee comprising of 22 highly qualified medical experts appointed by the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus in Sri Lanka is due to meet today. The National Action Committee (NAC) was appointed by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi on the instructions given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. […]
SriLankan Airlines facilitates return of Sri Lankan students in China
Jan 26, 2020 (LBO) – Acting swiftly on the instructions of the President in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic, SriLankan Airlines has taken steps to facilitate the return home of Sri Lankan students who are currently in China. The national carrier said it is immediately providing a 50 percent discount to students who wish […]