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Tuesday December 5th, 2023

Sri Lanka firms to sell dollar shares on stock exchange

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) will soon allow listed companies to sell foreign currency denominated shares as long as they have revenues in foreign exchange according rules which has been approved by the regulator.

The CSE’s new move, which was approved last week by the regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will allow Sri Lankan companies seeking to fund foreign currency to raise capital in foreign currencies a CSE official said.

“Companies which have earned over 50 percent of their revenue in foreign currencies in the last three years with a minimum revenue of 5 million US dollars are eligible to use this option,” the official said.

Non-residents and resident foreign nationals would be among those allowed to buy the shares.

At the moment companies can sell only rupee denominated shares to foreign investors, who convert the dollars at banks before giving the company.

The move comes as foreign investors are exiting rupee denominated stocks as the exchange rate is severely pressured and sovereign default risk has also been elevated by money printed to keep interest rates down.

The central bank has also said it wants “non-debt inflows”.

Though the central bank has fixed the exchange rate at around 200 rupees per dollar, the US currency is sold at around 250 rupees in the grey market due to pressure created by printed money and a confidence hit.

Sri Lanka is unable to tap international capital market for foreign currency loans as global rating agencies have downgraded its credit rating to ‘CC’ or barely above default. (Colombo/Feb19/2022)

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  1. jehan says:

    its like zimbabwe, sri lanka ruppee will suffer,as it will be not a legal accepted tender

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  1. jehan says:

    its like zimbabwe, sri lanka ruppee will suffer,as it will be not a legal accepted tender

Sri Lanka finding ways to clear 1.1mn pending cases: Justice Minister

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is taking a series of steps to speed up 1.1 million pending court cases and encourage alternative dispute solving mechanisms, Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe said.

“The delay in court cases is a serious problem,” Minister Rajapakshe told a briefing at the President’s Media Centre.

“We have already taken several steps to expedite cases.”

There were 5,680 cases in Supreme Court, 4,054 in the Court of Appeal, 6,168 in the High Court of Civil Appeal, 8,363 in the Commercial High Court, 28,000 in the High Court, 254,000 in District Courts and 791,000 in Magistrates Courts.

In 2015, only 49 percent of complaints to mediation boards were resolved. Following reforms, the ratio has been increased to 70 percent.

The value of disputes going to mediation board has been raised to one million rupees from 500,000 rupees.

To solve land problems in the post-war period, special mediation boards on property was set up in the North and the East.

Mediation boards on property will be set up in another 16 districts.

Commercial High Courts were increased to four from three.

Another Commercial High Court will be set up in the future. The consideration of cases that can go to a High Court was raised from 4 million rupees to 10 million rupees.

A commercial dispute resolution law will be introduced next January.

A small claims court has been established.

Case involving disputes below 2 million rupees can be directed to small claims court.

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Sri Lanka stocks close up as some investor interest returns

ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Monday, CSE data showed.

The All Share Price Index was up 0.22 percent, or 23.33 points, at 10,743.59.

The S&P SL20 index was up 0.68 percent, or 20.60 points, at 3,067.73.

Turnover was at 708 million. The banks sector contributed 189 million, while the food, beverage and tobacco sector contributed 176 million of this.

Sri Lanka’s stock market has seen some investor interest return after last week’s news that the country had managed an agreement on a debt restructuring deal with an official creditor committee, and foreign funds for some development projects resumed.

Top positive contributors to the ASPI in the day were Sampath Bank Plc (up at 71.50), LOLC Holdings Plc (up at 379.00), and Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc, (up at 90.90).

There was a net foreign outflow of 52 million.

Citrus Leisure Plc, which announced that its banquet hall and revolving restaurant at the Lotus Tower would launch on or around Dec 9, saw its share price rise to 6.20 rupees. (Colombo/Dec4/2023).

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Sri Lanka rupee closes broadly steady at 328.10/30 to the US dollar

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 328.10/30 to the US dollar on Monday, from 328.00/10 on Friday, dealers said.

Bond yields were stable.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2025 closed at 13.70/14.00 percent from 13.70/95 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2026 closed at 13.90/14.10 percent from 13.90/14.05 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.01.2027 closed at 14.00/14.10 percent from 14.05/10 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2028 closed at 14.20/35 percent from 14.15/25 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.05.2030 closed at 14.25/45 percent, from 14.20/45 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2032 closed at 14.05/40 percent, from 14.00/45 percent. (Colombo/Dec4/2023)

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