Weak Quarter

Aug 15, 2013 (LBO) - Profits at Sri Lanka's Sampath Bank fell 48 percent to 651 million rupees amid higher charges for losses on gold-backed loans, interim accounts showed. Core capital adequacy fell to 10.

51 percent of risk weighted assets by Jun from 11.87 percent in December and total capital adequacy fell to 12.

64 percent down from 13.75 percent.

The group reported earnings of 3.89 rupees per share. In the six months to June earnings were 10.

18 rupees on total profits of 1.7 billion rupees, which were down 39 percent.

The stock closed at 196.10, down 10 cents Wednesday.

Interest income rose 36 percent to 10.7 billion rupees, interest expenses rose at a faster 44.5 percent to 6.9 billion rupees and net interest income grew 23.5 percent to 3.8 billion rupees.

Loans and advances continued to grow at 11.7 percent to 237 billion rupees in the six months to June, while deposits grew 9.

4 percent to 265 billion rupees.

Gross non-performing loans rose to 2.53 percent of loan by June 2013 from 2.

07 percent in December.

The bank had made an 828 million rupee charge for general loan losses, compared with a reversal of 199 million rupees a year earlier for t