Category: Industry
Bank Outlook
Jan 27, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka commercial bank loans may grow 25 percent in 2012 with more lending to small enterprises and retail customers as banks searched for better margins, Fitch Ratings Lanka said. Fitch said in report on Sri Lankan banks better risk management was needed especially for bank who are lending to […]
Terminal Tales
Jan 27, 2012 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority wants to raise its stake in a new container terminal being built in Colombo and can use funds expected from the joint venture concession holder, an official said. The listed Aitken Spence group has said it was selling its entire 30 percent stake in the […]
Travel Card
Jan 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s HSBC has launched a credit card for frequent international travellers which can be used to buy discounted air tickets, hotel rooms and use airport lounges, the bank said. Branded ‘HSBC Visa Signature’ the card offers discounts on Cathay Pacific Airways, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Malaysia Airline, Qatar Airways, […]
Parting Gift
Jan 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence group said it booked a gain of 630 million rupees by selling a 30 percent stake in a container terminal project to China Merchant Holdings International. Aitken Spence bid for the terminal project with China Merchants coming in as 55 percent partner, but it pulled out […]
Online Payment
Jan 26, 2012 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is to start trials of an electronic cargo payment system at Colombo port in a tie-up with state-owned Bank of Ceylon next week, officials said. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Priyath Wickrama said a lot of port activities were being converted to semi-automated systems […]
Sailor Boys
Jan 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will sign an agreement with Italy authorities allowing Sri Lankan certified seafarers to work on Italian flagged vessels, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. A memorandum of understanding to be signed with the Italy’s maritime administration will recognize certificates of competency issued by Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s cabinet of […]
Asset Base
Jan 25, 2012 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed Sri Lanka’s Vallibel Finance’s (VFL) national long-term rating at ‘BB-(lka)’ with a stable outlook. “VFL’s rating factors in its small but growing asset base, healthy profitability and modest asset quality,” the rating agency said in a statement. “The rating is constrained by VFL’s modest capitalisation which […]
Sri Lanka Nov 2011 exports up 12-pct
Jan 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s export earnings in November 2011 rose 11.6 percent to 879.3 million US dollars from a year ago, driven mainly by industrial and machinery exports, the central bank said. Imports in the import-dependent island shot up 78 percent in November 2011 to 1,980.5 million dollars from the previous year […]
Tablet Rise
TAIPEI, Jan 25 (AsiaPulse) – Tablet computers will contribute enormously to the worldwide semiconductor market by 2015 as different platforms compete to interest consumers, according to market intelligence firm Gartner Inc. Gartner forecasted that tablet semiconductor revenue will amount to US$20 billion (NT$604.5 billion) in 2015, compared with US$6 billion in 2011, ranking fourth behind […]
Sri Lanka high rise to be managed by Hyatt: minister
Jan 25, 2012 (LBO) – State-run Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation will lead a consortium to invest and finish a half built high rise which the leisure group Hyatt has agreed to manage, economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa said. State-run Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and the state managed Employees Provident Fund and Employees Trust Fund […]
Asset Quality
Jan 25, 2012 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has upgraded the long- and short-term financial institution ratings of Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) to BBB and P2 from BBB- and P3 with a stable outlook on the long-term rating. The rating agency has also upgraded the long-term rating of CDB’s 250 million rupee unsubordinated unsecured […]
Sri Lanka ExpoAir resumes Jaffna flights
Jan 24, 2012 (LBO) – ExpoAir, a domestic aviation company in Sri Lanka, has decided to resume regular flights from the capital Colombo to the former northern war zone of Jaffna, targeting mainly business travellers. The company will operate twice daily flights using a new Cessna Grand Caravan 12-seater aircraft covering the distance in one […]