Provisional Help

Oct 25, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Seylan Bank's profits in the September 2011 quarter rose 26.



8 percent to 396 million rupees from a year earlier, helped by lower loan loss provisions, interim accounts showed. The group reported earnings of 5.

63 rupees for the quarter. Nine month earnings were 1.63 rupees due mainly to one-off voluntary retirement compensation.

Group interest income fell 12.68 percent to 4.66 billion rupees, and interest expenses fell 11.5 percent to 2.03 billion rupees making net interest income fall at a faster 13.

75 percent to 2.0 billion rupees.

But loan loss provisions were a 62.

9 million rupee write-back against a 177 million provision last year.

Provisions for fall in value of investments were also lower at 277 million rupees against 415 million rupees a year earlier.

The Central Bank had given an exemption in applying a progressive discount forced sale value of immovable property relating to non performing facilities of Golden Key and Ceylinco Homes International, the bank said.

Group performing loans grew 15.5 percent to 88.2 billion rupees during the nine months to September 2011.

Non-performing loans fell 9.0 percent to 23.3 billion rupees. Deposits rose 5