Category: Economy and Markets
Foreign institutional bond selling spikes amid CBSL rate cuts
August 24, 2019 (LBO) – The 2018-2019 foreign exodus from Sri Lanka’s government bond markets has picked up speed in recent weeks with total net outflows for the 2018-2019 period now totalling over Rs200bn (US$1.1bn). In the last week alone foreign institutions withdrew a net US$72mn from Sri Lanka’s treasury bond markets amid a second […]
Central Bank to announce timeline for banks to reduce market lending rates
Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank with the expectation of reducing all market lending rates in line with the reduction already observed in deposit interest rates, will announce specific timelines and measures shortly in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The Central Bank said that it will monitor the developments in market lending rates […]
Rupee depreciation pressure experienced during past few days to be short-lived: Central Bank
Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank expects the rupee depreciation pressure experienced during the past few days, to be short-lived. The Sri Lankan rupee appreciated against the US dollar by 2.4 percent so far during the year, although some depreciation pressure was experienced recently. The Central Bank said the depreciation pressure, mainly […]
Central Bank decides to reduce SDFR & SLFR by 50bps; SRR unchanged
Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) by 50 basis points to 7.00 percent and 8.00 percent, respectively. Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) unchanged. The Board said it arrived at this decision following a careful […]
‘s Basel III sub-debt final A+(lka)
Aug 22, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned Hatton National Bank’s proposed Sri Lanka rupee-denominated Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures a final National Long-Term Rating of ‘A+(lka)’. The rating agency said the final rating is the same as the expected rating assigned on 5 March 2019 and follows the receipt of documents conforming to […]
Ceylinco Life reports 6-month net income of Rs.14.7Bn
Aug 21, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ceylinco Life reported a six month net income of 14.7 billion rupees with a premium income up 5.7 percent to 8.8 billion rupees. The company’s investment income grew 16 percent to 5.9 billion rupees while benefits and claims paid grew by 11.7 percent to 5 billion rupees. Ceylinco […]
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Aug 21, 2019 (LBO) – Consumer-durables retailer Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC’s National Long-Term Rating has been revised to negative from stable, a statement said. Issuing a statement Fitch Ratings said the negative outlook reflects the challenges Singer may face in reducing its leverage, defined as net adjusted debt/EBITDAR, to below 5.5x – the level at […]
Sri Lanka headline inflation marginally increased in July
Aug 22, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased marginally to 2.2 percent in July from 2.1 percent in June. According to Central Bank data, this was due to the monthly price increases of items in both Food and Non-food categories. […]
Sri Lanka unveils modern hi-tech TVET facility with South Korean backing
Aug 21, 2019 (LBO) – Backed by the global industrial giant South Korea, Sri Lanka launched its most modern national hi-tech training facility to-date on Wednesday. As it unveiled its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facility in a Colombo suburb, Sri Lanka also said that its skills development work has shown results so […]
SEC files action against several individuals for market manipulation
Aug 20, 2019 (LBO) – Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has filed an action before the Fort Magistrate’s Court against several individuals for market manipulation. The full statement is reproduced below. SEC FILES ACTION FOR MARKET MANIPULATION The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) on 25th July 2019 filed action […]
SLASSCOM and Norway sign collaboration agreement on ICT and entrepreneurship
Aug 20, 2019 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entered into a two-year agreement to foster collaboration in the ICT industry. The newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Trine Jøranli Eskedal and Ranil Rajapakse, chairman SLASSCOM signed the agreement. The […]
Samurai Bond to support reserves to maintain around USD8Bn throughout 2019: FC
Aug 20, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s First Capital Research believes that the raising of 500 million dollars via Samurai Bonds is likely to support to maintain reserves around the 8 billion dollar mark throughout the rest of this year. As per the Governor of Central Bank, the government will soon issue Request for Proposals […]