Category: Industry
Financial Stability
May 28, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said, The Finance Company, a firm that is being bailed out under regulatory supervision is stable and expressed confidence that it will return to profits. The Central Bank said The Finance has increased its deposits by 5.36 percent and its lending portfolio by 11 percent in […]
Farm Lending
May 28, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said banks should lend more to agriculture and slammed lenders for financing too much trade and consumption activities. He said only about 3.0 percent of total credit is given to the tea sector, about 0.5 percent to fisheries. “Instead money goes to consumption […]
Cloud Computing
May 27, 2012 (LBO) – Adopting ‘cloud’ technology where computers are knitted together to process and deliver services as demand fluctuates, can help Sri Lankan business and the state to serve customers faster and more cheaply, officials said. Sri Lanka’s government is also pushing the use of information communications technology to provide services to the […]
Fast Growth
May 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka DFCC Vardhana Bank’s profits in the March 2012 quarter rose 161 percent to 150 million rupees from a year earlier, helped by higher business volumes and provision reversals, interim accounts showed. The bank’s gross non-performing loan ratio grew to 4.54 percent by end March from 4.35 percent in […]
Sri Lanka textile maker eyes acquisition, new energy sources
May 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Textured Jersey Plc, said it wants aquire another plant in South Asia to expand production and is looking to move away from furnace oil after a tariff increase, though operating profits increased with falling cotton prices. “Acquisition of operational facilities, which may now be available at a reasonable […]
Malaysia budget carrier Air Asia profits up 4-pct, demand strong
May 25, 2012 (LBO) – Makaysia’s AirAsia, a low cost carrier said profits for the March 2012 rose 4 percent to 167.97 million Ringgit, with revenues growing 11 percent to 1.17 billion rigging. “We have defied industry trends again by achieving a 4 percent growth in net operating profit,” chief executive Tony Fernandes said in […]
Sri Lanka state carrier adds A320 to fleet
May 25, 2012 (LBO) – State-run SriLankan Airlines said it had taken delivery of an Airbus A320 increasing the type to eight aircraft and the fleet to 21 and two floatplanes for domestic services. The airline has seven A330s and six A340s, and two De Havilland Twin Otters. The new A320 will set 20 business […]
Boat Park
May 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeking foreign investors to build its first marina on the south coast as boating enthusiasts are drawn to the island amid a post-war tourism boom, officials said. Sarath Kumara De Silva, chairman of the Cey-Nor Foundation, a state-owned boat building outfit, said a marina is planned in […]
Sri Lanka Cricket recall Mendis, Fernando for Pakistan series
May 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka on Thursday recalled seamer Dilhara Fernando, all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep to the one-day squad for next month’s home series against Pakistan. Twenty20 squad: Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith […]
’s Aviva may exit Sri Lanka, South Korea: report
May 24, 2012 (LBO) – British insurer Aviva plc, plans to sell-off its Sri Lankan and South Korean businesses, as part of a broader retreat from sub-scale Asian markets, a report said Thursday, valuing the deal at around 150 million dollars. Aviva, Britain’s second-biggest insurer, announced plans last week to sell underperforming businesses globally, a […]
On the Mat
May 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s securities watchdog has suspended the chief executive of Taprobane Securities Private Limited, pending a probe related to a controversial share transaction between a stat bank and a troubled finance company. In a directive to the chairman and board of directors of Taprobane Securities on May 23, the Securities […]
Close Tab
May 24, 2012 (LBO)- Fitch Ratings agency on Thursday cut Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank’s credit outlook to negative, from stable, but its underlying rating was confirmed at ‘AA(lka)’. NDB’s subordinated debentures were also confirmed at ‘AA-(lka)’. Fitch said the cut reflects NDB’s increased risk profile in terms of its decreasing capitalisation alongside aggressive loan […]