Banking

Sri Lanka Fitch downgrades PABC, confirms ratings of 04 small, mid-size banks

Monday October 17, 2016 7:21 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Fitch Ratings Lanka has downgraded Pan Asia Banking Corporation’s (PABC) National Long-Term Rating to ‘BBB-(lka)’ from ‘BBB(lka)’, saying above-industry loan growth had weakened its capitalisation.

The Outlook on PABC was revised to Stable from Negative, the rating agency said in a statement after Fitch’s periodic review of Sri Lanka’s small and mid-sized bank peer group.

The agency has also revised the Outlook on the National Long-Term Rating of Union Bank of Colombo (UB) to Positive from Stable, and affirmed its rating at ‘BB+(lka)’.

The National Long-Term Ratings on Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB), SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB) and Amana Bank PLC (Amana) have been affirmed with a Stable Outlook.

The full report follows:

Fitch Ratings-Colombo-17 October 2016: Fitch Ratings Lanka has downgraded Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC’s (PABC) National Long-Term Rating to ‘BBB-(lka)’ from ‘BBB(lka)’. The Outlook is revised to Stable from Negative. The agency has also revised the Outlook on the National Long-Term Rating of Union Bank of Colombo PLC (UB) to Positive from Stable, and affirmed its rating at ‘BB+(lka)’. The National Long-Term Ratings on Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB), SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB) and Amana Bank PLC (Amana) have been affirmed with a Stable Outlook. A full list of rating actions is at the end of this commentary.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

NATIONAL RATINGS AND SENIOR DEBT

The rating actions follow Fitch’s periodic review of Sri Lanka’s small and mid-sized bank peer group.

The banks’ operating environment has become more challenging – as signalled by the downgrade of the sovereign Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘ on 29 February 2016. Fitch expects increased volatility in operating conditions to add pressure on the banks’ credit metrics.

Fitch believes capitalisation is the main problem for the banks, due to weakening capital buffers from rapid loan-book growth and high exposure to retail and SME segments, which are more susceptible to deteriorating economic conditions. PABC and Amana are yet to meet the LKR10bn minimum capital requirement set by the regulator. Fitch believes capital-raising may also be a challenge amid increased country risk.

The downgrade of PABC’s National Long-Term Rating reflects the continued deterioration in its capitalisation following above-industry loan growth (2015: 37% versus 21% for the industry, 2014: 27.2% versus 13.7%). The rating factors in Fitch’s expectation of an equity infusion, as PABC is required to increase its minimum regulatory capital to LKR7.5bn by 1 January 2017 and LKR10bn by 1 January 2018. Fitch believes that the bank’s earnings retention alone is not likely to be sufficient to achieve the capital standards, despite improved profitability.

PABC’s regulatory NPL ratio improved to 4.4% at end-June 2016, from 5.7% at end-2014, mostly due to high loan growth, although the stock of NPLs also decreased marginally. ROA improved to 1.1%, from 0.6%, due to better revenue generation stemming from higher business volumes.

The Positive Outlook on UB’s rating reflects the structural changes taking place through a shift in the risk profile of the bank’s loan book. This stems from a higher exposure to corporates as opposed to SMEs in the past, which could support better asset quality. However, UB continued to sustain rapid loan growth of 51.5% in 2015 and 20.5% in 1H16. This could put pressure on asset-quality if not managed.

UB’s rating reflects its still-small franchise, weak profitability and higher capitalisation compared with that of its peers. The bank accounted for just 1% of sector assets in 1H16 and is among the smallest licensed commercial banks in the sector. UB’s profitability in terms of ROA has been gradually increasing (1H16: 0.67%, 2015: 0.41%), but remains low relative to peers. Fitch expects capitalisation to decline to levels more comparable with that of its peers in the medium-term, alongside rapid loan growth. Its Fitch Core Capital ratio decreased to 19.8% in 1H16, after being boosted to 35.8% at end-2014 following an LKR11.4bn capital injection from an affiliate of Texas Pacific Group (TPG). However, Fitch expects the bank to sustain stronger capitalisation in the medium-term than in the past.

UB reported a sharp decline in its gross NPL ratio to 2.90% in 1H16, from 3.55% at end-2015 and 8.25% at end-2014. This figure excludes NPLs at its subsidiary, UB Finance Company Ltd (UBF), formerly a distressed company. UBF accounted for 31.3% of the groups’ total NPLs at 1H16. UBF’s asset quality remains a significant drag on the group’s asset quality, even though it has been improving.

NTB’s ratings reflect its moderate franchise, high product concentration and declining capitalisation. The bank’s product concentration relative to peers remain high, with leasing accounting for 23% of gross loans at end-June 2016, and credit cards accounting for 11%. Fitch believes these exposures could put pressure on NTB’s asset quality. The bank’s reported gross NPL ratio improved to 2.8% at end-June 2016, from 4.2% at end-2014, due mainly to recoveries and write-offs in the leasing portfolio. The ratio of the bank’s reserves for impaired loans/gross loans stood at 1.7%, which was lower than that of its peers.

The bank’s capitalisation, as measured by the Tier 1 regulatory capital ratio, decreased to 10.7% by end-June 2016, from 13.2% at end-2015 (end-2014: 14.2%). Fitch believes capitalisation could deteriorate further amid loan growth and the absence of capital-raising activity. A sustained decline in capitalisation could put pressure on NTB’s ratings.

Fitch expects NTB’s net interest margin (NIM) to moderate in the near-term due to the rising interest-rate environment and planned increase in exposure to lower-yielding customer segments. The bank’s cost structure remains high compared with peers due to branch expansion, but we expect this to moderate with process improvements the bank has undertaken. NTB’s low cost current account savings account (CASA) improved to 31% of overall deposits by end-June 2016, from 25% at end-2013, but lags behind that of higher-rated peers.

SDB’s rating captures the bank’s high-risk appetite in terms of its substantial exposure and rapid loan growth to the retail and lower-end SME segments. Fitch believes a capital injection would support SDB’s rating, as internal capital generation is not likely to be sufficient to cushion the decline in capitalisation as a result of rapid loan book expansion. SDB’s reported gross NPL ratio decreased to 2.34% in 1H16, from 3.76% at end-2014, largely due to rapid loan growth as the stock of NPLs remained flat. Fitch expects asset quality to deteriorate as the loans season. The bank continues to benefit from above-average NIM stemming from its loan book exposures, although the contraction in its NIM has lowered SDB’s profitability.

The affirmation of Amana’s National Long-Term Rating reflects our expectation that the bank will increase its capital to meet the minimum level as directed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. In July 2015, the regulator granted approval for an extended timeline to comply with the minimum capital requirement which requires a minimum of LKR7.5bn and LKR10bn to be achieved by 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018, respectively.

Amana’s rating reflects its small and developing domestic franchise and limited operating history. It also captures Amana’s relatively high-risk appetite, primarily indicated through rapid growth in the retail and SME segments. This could put pressure on the bank’s asset quality if economic conditions deteriorate. Amana’s NPL ratio has remained at less than 1% since end-December 2015, supported by rapid loan book growth, while absolute NPLs have moved up moderately. Fitch deems the placement of Amana’s excess funds in overseas financial institutions to be less liquid than domestic government securities although tenors on these placements have been shortened. The bank has maintained a stable CASA base relative to peers, with a CASA of over 50%.

PABC’s and NTB’s senior debentures carry the same rating as their National Long-Term ratings, as they rank equal with other unsecured obligations.

SUBORDINATED DEBT

PABC’s and NTB’s old-style Basel II Sri Lanka rupee-denominated subordinated debt is rated one notch below their National Long-Term Ratings to reflect the subordination to senior unsecured creditors.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

NATIONAL RATINGS AND SENIOR DEBT

An upgrade of PABC’s rating is contingent upon the bank achieving a sustained and significant improvement in its capitalisation, alongside a moderation in risk appetite. PABC’s rating would be downgraded if loss-absorption buffers further deteriorate, either through aggressive loan book growth or greater share of unprovided NPLs.

The upgrade of UB’s rating is contingent upon the bank’s ability to manage the risk that could stem from continued high loan growth, with a sustained improvement in asset quality and better risk management. The upgrade would also depend on an improvement in UB’s still-developing franchise alongside sustainable and improved performance similar to higher-rated peers. Capital impairment risks stemming from sustained rapid loan expansion or deterioration in asset quality could put pressure on UB’s rating.

An upgrade of NTB’s rating is contingent upon the bank lowering product concentration, significantly improved capitalisation and enhanced funding stability, alongside progress in building a strong commercial banking franchise. Weaker capitalisation or an increased risk appetite, as evident through aggressive loan growth and weaker asset quality, could result in a downgrade

SDB’s rating could be downgraded if there is a continued deterioration in capitalisation, either through aggressive loan growth or greater unprovided NPLs. An upgrade would be contingent upon moderation of its risk appetite and sustainable improvements in asset quality and profitability.

Amana’s rating may be downgraded if it fails to satisfy regulatory minimum capital requirements in a timely manner. A rating upgrade is contingent upon the expansion of Amana’s franchise and improved and sustained financial profile, similar to higher-rated peers.

Senior debt ratings will move in tandem with the banks’ National Long-Term Ratings.

SUBORDINATED DEBT

Subordinated debt ratings will move in tandem with the banks’ National Long-Term Ratings.

The rating actions are as follows:

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC

National Long-Term Rating downgraded to ‘BBB-(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook, from ‘BBB(lka)’ with a Negative Outlook

Senior debenture rating downgraded to ‘BBB-(lka)’, from ‘BBB(lka)’

Subordinated debenture rating downgraded to ‘BB+(lka)’, from ‘BBB-(lka)’

Union Bank of Colombo PLC

National Long-Term Rating affirmed at ‘BB+(lka); Outlook revised to Positive from Stable

Nations Trust Bank PLC

National Long-Term Rating affirmed at ‘A(lka)’; Stable Outlook

Basel II-compliant subordinated debentures affirmed at ‘A-(lka)’

Proposed Basel II-compliant subordinated debentures affirmed at ‘A-(EXP)(lka)’

SANASA Development Bank PLC

National Long-Term Rating affirmed at ‘BB+(lka)’; Stable Outlook

Amana Bank PLC

National Long-Term Rating affirmed at ‘BB(lka)’; Stable Outlook
(COLOMBO, Oct 17, 2016)

FILED UNDER: Amana Bank,Fitch Ratings Lanka,Nations Trust Bank,Pan Asia Banking Corporation,Sanasa Development Bank,Union Bank

Markets

Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.60-pct, dragged by HNB and LOLC

Friday November 13, 2026 3:28 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Friday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.60 percent.

The ASPI was down 133.22 points at 22,024.18, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was down 1.06 percent, or 67.55 points, at 6,298.02.

The ASPI ended the week up 784.53 points from last Friday.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Dialog Axiata (up 0.40 percent at 50.20 rupees), Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (up 0.52 percent at 58.30 rupees), Aitken Spence (up 3.60 percent at 151.00 rupees), Ceylon Tobacco Company (up 1.05 percent at 1,828.50 rupees), and LOLC Finance (up 1.96 percent at 5.20 rupees).

Hatton National Bank (down 1.88 percent at 403.75 rupees), Richard Pieris and Company (down 6.21 percent at 27.20 rupees), LOLC Holdings (down 2.17 percent at 405.00 rupees), Sampath Bank (down 1.91 percent at 154.00 rupees), and Singer (Sri Lanka) (down 2.40 percent at 77.30 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 3.23 billion rupees. Capital goods led turnover with 869.21 million rupees. (Colombo/Nov13/2026)

Economy

Sri Lanka MP slams budget speech for omitting Tamil national question

Friday November 13, 2026 2:56 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – A Sri Lanka legislator has voiced strong disappointment that the President’s budget speech failed to make a single mention of the Tamil national question.

“It is very unfortunate that in His Excellency the President’s speech, there has not been a single word mentioned about the Tamil national question. Not a single word,” Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said.

“A budget speech generally, is a policy direction of the government for the next year. The budget speech is not only a statement of the country’s fiscal position or the economy’s position. It is the country’s, the government’s, plan, or what the government plans to do the following year. That’s a policy statement.”

Former presidents would at least mention the Tamil question even if it was not resolved, he said.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his speech, in his policy statement, he would mention: “The Tamil national question must be resolved,” Rasamanickam said.

Former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa also mentioned that the national ethnic question must be resolved, he added.

“Every President, every country’s Head of State, in their policy statements, have acknowledged the fact that there is an unresolved national issue, the Tamil national question, that it needs to be resolved. Various governments have proposed various mechanisms; none of them have succeeded, but at least it was mentioned.”

This year’s budget made allocations for the Office of Missing Persons, and the Office of Reparations.

“But the domestic mechanism is a mechanism that the victim community has rejected. So you all are allocating money to a mechanism where the victim community is not going to be part of.”

Last year’s budget 1 billion was allocated to be spent on the Trincomalee and Jaffna airports.

“Where was that 1 billion for the Trincomalee and Jaffna airports spent last year?”

“The trajectory of this government, Honourable Deputy Speaker, is worrying to me. It’s really worrying to me. Because if the objective is to say that there is no Tamil national question, if the objective is to say that you all have resolved any ethnic issue that this country faced, then Honourable Deputy Speaker, then I think the Tamil people will teach this government a very, very, very harsh lesson in the future.” (Colombo/Nov13/2026)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka sells extra Rs6.5bn Treasury bills after auction

Friday November 13, 2026 12:32 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 6,500 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at an average rate of 9.95 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold in the week to 85.562 billion rupees.

The issue offered 90 billion.

Total market subscription was 6.5 billion rupees.

The debt office sold a 12-month bill at 9.95 percent.

On Wednesday (11) the debt office raised 79 billion rupees of 3, 6 and 12 month bills after offering 90 billion.

The settlement date is November 13. (Colombo/Nov13/2026)

Construction and Real Estate

Access Engineering Sept quarter group net profit surges 200-pct to Rs4.75bn

Friday November 13, 2026 12:15 pm

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka’s Access Engineering PLC recorded a group net profit attributable to equity holders of Rs. 4.75 billion for the quarter ended September 30, surging 200 percent from Rs. 1.58 billion a year earlier, interim accounts showed.

Basic earnings per share rose to Rs. 4.08 for the September quarter, up from Rs. 1.58 previously.

Quarterly group revenue expanded 36 percent to Rs. 20.39 billion from Rs. 14.94 billion, underpinned by condominium property handovers — reflected in inventories dropping Rs. 7.69 billion since March to Rs. 35.71 billion — alongside strong automobile sales and steady civil engineering execution.

Cost of sales rose at a slower 27 percent to Rs. 14.34 billion, lifting gross profit by 64 percent to Rs. 6.05 billion and expanding gross margins to 29.7 percent from 24.7 percent.

Other income jumped 144 percent to Rs. 259.9 million, while administrative expenses rose 75 percent to Rs. 1.14 billion, leaving operating profit up 64 percent at Rs. 5.16 billion.

However, finance costs more than doubled, rising 107 percent to Rs. 1.18 billion on elevated group borrowings of Rs. 43.74 billion, partly offset by finance income climbing 302 percent to Rs. 42.2 million.

Share of results from equity-accounted investees rose 122 percent to Rs. 26.7 million, pushing pre-tax profit up 56 percent to Rs. 4.05 billion.

Income tax swung to a net reversal of Rs. 186.6 million from an expense of Rs. 804.1 million, boosted by deferred tax assets on unrelieved losses from a 100 percent enhanced capital allowance claimed by 60 percent-owned radiopharmaceutical subsidiary Access Medical Tracers (Private) Limited.

Total period profit rose 136 percent to Rs. 4.24 billion, with non-controlling interest declining 24 percent to Rs. 164.9 million following last year’s buyout of minority shareholders in Harbour Village (Private) Limited.

No separate exchange gain or loss was itemized in quarterly earnings, though foreign currency translation via associates recorded a Rs. 17.4 million loss in other comprehensive income, alongside USD 16.6 million in corporate guarantees.

Notes also flagged an expected Rs. 1.45 billion recovery from the terminated South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub project, a Rs. 225 million post-quarter legal settlement already provided for, and a Supreme Court appeal over a 2011/12 PAYE tax ruling.

Group assets stood at Rs. 132.4 billion as of September 30, with net asset value per share at Rs. 46.70, as the Employees’ Provident Fund raised its stake to 5.69 percent.

Access Engineering shares closed at 80.00 rupees at the end of September and are currently trading around 85.80 rupees. (Colombo/Nov13/2026)

Economy

Sri Lanka private sector says timely implementation of Budget 2027 key

Friday November 13, 2026 11:43 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Private sector body, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, said it was encouraged by the broad direction of Budget 2027, noting that it reinforces Sri Lanka’s commitment to economic transformation while maintaining policy continuity, macroeconomic stability, and fiscal discipline.

“This continuity is particularly important as the country seeks to transition from economic stabilisation to a more durable, investment-led growth trajectory.”

The chamber also noted several areas where the Budget could have placed greater emphasis to strengthen the country’s growth prospects.

“In particular, there is a need for a stronger focus on attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), accelerating factor market reforms, particularly in land and labour, and fast-tracking public procurement reforms to improve the efficiency and speed of project implementation.

“More targeted and actionable proposals could have been introduced to unlock the potential of sectors with significant growth opportunities, including tourism, agriculture, IT/BPO and logistics.”

The chamber said the budget contains positive measures aimed at enhancing competitiveness, and external sector resilience, while presenting opportunities for focus on sectors that can accelerate growth.

“A number of the key structural reforms identified in last year’s Budget have been carried forward and strengthened, providing greater certainty and predictability to businesses and investors.

“These include the continued implementation of the Trade National Single Window (TNSW), the phased removal of para-tariffs, the rollout of the Digital ID framework, efforts to expand market access through new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the strengthening of one-stop-shop investment facilitation mechanisms, progress on Customs reforms, the expansion of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), enhanced financing support for SMEs, and reforms relating to the management of State-Owned Enterprises.”

The CCC said that more than 20 proposals submitted by it have been reflected in Budget 2027.

These include measures to strengthen investor facilitation through the establishment of a professionally managed investment promotion agency; continued efforts to improve trade facilitation and export competitiveness; the Government’s consideration of a successor programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF); accelerated progress on key legislative reforms; the expansion of digital government services; and the promotion of cashless payments and broader digital adoption. The Budget has also captured several priorities relating to energy security, including the accelerated deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and investments in fuel storage infrastructure, initiatives to optimize underutilized agricultural land, measures to support the expansion of the digital economy and the IT/BPO sector, and tax reforms to support exporters, including the acceptance of newly VAT-registered exporters as eligible exporters.

“The inclusion of these priorities reflects the value of sustained public-private dialogue and demonstrates increasing alignment between national policy objectives and the needs of a competitive, export-oriented economy.

“The priority now must be effective and timely implementation to translate policy commitments into investment, competitiveness, exports and sustainable growth.” (Colombo/Nov13/2026)