Category: Banking and Finance

July 04, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Citizens Development Business Finance has selected a banking technology platform developed by Polaris Software and MillenniumIT, a statement said. The IntellectTM product suite supports a wide spectrum of banking operations such as general ledger and deposits, along with specialized modules like pawning, debentures, and audit trail. “This well […]

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned DFCC Vardhana Bank’s (DVB) proposed subordinated debentures of up to a billion rupees a national rating of ‘A+(lka)’. The agency has simultaneously confirmed DVB’s National Long-Term rating at ‘AA-(lka)’ with a stable outlook, a statement said. The proposed debt issue has tenures ranging from five […]

June 27, 2011 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has reaffirmed the Construction Guarantee Fund’s (CGF) long- and short-term financial enhancement ratings at BBB+ and P2 with the long-term rating having a stable outlook. “The ratings are supported by the Fund’s very strong capitalisation and stringent underwriting standards, as well as the expected financial support from […]

June 27, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has confirmed Sinhaputhra Finance’s (SFL) national long-term rating at ‘B(lka)’ with a negative outlook. The confirmation reflects the latest improvement in SFL’s credit risk management practices and the subsequent “stabilisation” in its asset quality, although the latter still remains weaker than its peers’ average, a statement said. […]

June 23, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state run Lankaputhra Development Bank’s bad loans had increased to 66. 4 percent of gross loans from 55.9 percent a year earlier, though the bank had become more selective in new lending, a finance ministry report said. It had received capital injections from people’s tax money earlier. The […]

June 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank plans to offer more mobile phone banking services such as allowing customers to remit funds and check the status of deposited cheques. Commercial Bank’s internet banking facilities are also to be shortly offered via a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) portal, the bank said in a statement. […]

June 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Regional Development Bank has established a presence in the island’s former northern war zone by opening its first branch in Vavuniya. It aims to accelerate economic activity in the region focusing on the small and medium enterprises, agriculture sector and tourism. We are mainly looking at providing […]

June 17, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned People’s Leasing Company’s (PLC) proposed senior debentures of up to 750 million rupees a National Long-Term rating of ‘A(lka)’. “The issue is rated at the same level as PLC’s National Long-Term rating of ‘A(lka)’ which has a stable outlook,” the rating agency said in a […]

June 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon said it is starting an alternative banking services compliant with Islamic Sharia law, with a three member committee of scholars to ensure compliance. “As one of Sri Lanka’s largest private banks it is our obligation to ensure that the services the unit provides are […]

June 08, 2011 (LBO) – DFCC, a development finance institution (DFI) that also owns a commercial banking subsidiary said its credit approvals soared 117 percent in 2010 to 33 billion rupees amid lower interest rates though there was a lag in the drawdown of larger project loans. “¦[D]isbursements especially relating to larger projects tended to […]

June 07, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank plans to extend ‘gold loans’ through its branches country-wide offering higher advances and lower rates to encourage use of gold to raise funds. The bank will offer up to 80 percent of the gold value, in the form of jewellery, biscuits or bars, and an interest […]

May 31, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said 15 regulated finance companies have so far listed themselves on the Colombo Stock Exchange in response to a direction by the Central Bank and other are on the way. The Central Bank has set a deadline of June 30 for listings to be completed. The […]