Business

HNB reports Rs 12.2 bn PAT for the first nine months

Published

4 years ago

2021/11/15

Continues its support for business revival through debt moratoria and disbursements

A resilient business model and continued focus on sustainable growth was reaffirmed as Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) reported Rs 12.2Bn in Profit After Tax (PAT) for the nine-month period ended September 2021. HNB Group recorded Rs 13.4Bn in PAT for the period.

The loan book recorded a sound growth of 15% during the past 12 months with an increase of Rs 118Bn. The Prime Lending Rate (PLR) picked up following the upward revision in policy rates in August 2021. However, the average PLR between January to September this year was approx. 300 bps lower than the average rate which prevailed in the corresponding period of 2020. As a result, Interest Income for the nine months declined by 8.9% YoY to Rs 72.5Bn.

Similar trend in average cost of deposits combined with zealous focus on CASA which grew by Rs 52.9Bn to Rs 436.6Bn as of September led to interest expenses being lower by 19.3% YoY to Rs 37Bn. Resulting Net Interest Income exhibited a 5.2% growth to Rs 35.6Bn. The CASA mobilization efforts also facilitated total deposit growth just under 15% YoY over 12 months since September 2020.

Aruni Goonetilleke, Chairperson of HNB commented that “I am pleased to note that HNB has continued to display resolve and stability within a context of rapidly changing macro dynamics. I wish to place on record my sincere gratitude to our loyal customers for their continuing patronage, every member of Team HNB for their commitment and dedication in navigating through multiple challenges and all our stakeholders for their continuing support and trust.”

“As Sri Lanka enters a path of recovery, we believe that necessary measures are being taken to address macro concerns, create stability and a conducive environment for the banking sector to optimize their support to sustainable economic growth. HNB remains very committed to supporting our clients and to the development agenda of the Country”.

Despite periodic disruptions to business activity in 2021 owing to lockdowns, the Bank was able to grow Fee and Commission income by 22.8% YoY to Rs 6.7Bn. Cards and Trade Business demonstrated strong growth along with digital channel driven fees and commissions.

The depreciation of the Rupee relative to last year resulted in net exchange gains, largely stemming from on balance sheet positions and FCBU earning revaluations, increasing by Rs 2.8Bn over the corresponding period, a substantial portion of which is reflected in ‘Other Operating Income’.

Consistent focus on credit quality enabled HNB to improve its Gross NPA ratio to 3.92% by September 2021 compared to 4.31% as at end Dec 2020. Stage III loans as a percentage of total loans also improved by 43 bps over nine months to 2.97%. The Bank made an impairment of Rs 11.2Bn for the nine months, including a significant management overlay, considering the uncertainties stemming from the COVID 19 pandemic. The impairment charge also included an additional provision due to the sovereign downgrade by Moody’s from Caa1 to Caa2. Accordingly, the Stage III Provision coverage ratio improved from 48.4% in December to 54.2% by September 2021.

Commenting on HNB’s performance MD/CEO Jonathan Alles stated that “the banking sector of Sri Lanka has demonstrated resilience over a prolonged period of extreme uncertainty. As a domestic systemically important bank, HNB has been in the forefront recording superior asset quality, capital and liquidity levels while delivering sound and sustainable returns.”

“The pandemic has also proven the need to be agile and future ready. Our continuous focus on business transformation has been a key factor which has enabled us to stay ahead. During the year we have enhanced the capabilities of our digital platforms and this would continue to be a key focus area as we proceed our journey to enhance value delivered to all our stakeholders”.

Alles further stated that “since the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 we have continued to support our customers through debt moratoria, and extended concessionary rate financing and grants. Despite the impact of lockdowns, we are pleased to note that majority of our customers have shown signs of recovery. With economic activity returning to near normalcy, we hope that most of the sectors would be operating close to capacity levels and customers would commence repayment to reduce their debt burden. This would in turn enable us to focus on more needy sectors of the economy”.

The Bank’s Cost to Income ratio improved by over 225 bps to 37.84% although Operating Expenses rose by 7.8% YoY to Rs 18Bn due to total Operating Income exhibiting strong growth of 14.2% to Rs 47.5Bn.

Profit Before taxes (PBT) rose by 43% YoY to Rs 14.7Bn. The total effective tax rate reduced from 40.84% for the Nine months ending 2020 to 33.17% as 24% in lieu of 28% was applicable as the Corporate Tax rate for the current period as well as for the deferred tax component. The resulting PAT of Rs 12.2Bn generated a ROA of 1.23%.

Strong growth in the third quarter fueled nine-month gross loan growth of 10.7% to Rs 901.7Bn. HNB also continues to be a preferred Bank for clients with Rs 52.9Bn CASA mobilized during the period, which boosted the deposit base by 9.5% to Rs 1.06 Trillion. The CASA ratio improved by over 150 bps since December 2020 to 41.2%. Total assets expanded by 4.7% to Rs 1.35 Trillion. Tier I Capital Adequacy ratio remained strong at 14.43% against the regulatory requirement of 8.50%, while the Total Capital Adequacy ratio improved further in 2020 to 18.22% due to the Rs 7Bn Basel III compliant debenture issue in the third quarter.

HNB Group Companies were also profitable during the nine-month period, complementing the Group PBT and PAT of Rs 16.4Bn and 13.4Bn respectively while profit attributable to the shareholders rose to Rs 13Bn. Group assets grew by 4.6% since 2020 to Rs 1.43 Trillion by end September 2021.

HNB is rated AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings and has been ranked among the Top 1000 Banks in the World over five consecutive years by the acclaimed UK based “The Banker Magazine”. HNB was once again reco.

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Business

Sri Lanka’s 2026 economic growth predicted to be around 4-5 percent

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/10

Thilina Walpola

Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; ‘Growth prospects okay’

Sri Lanka’s economic growth for 2026 will be around 4-5 percent, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.

The Governor indicated the estimated economic growth while announcing the Central Bank’s policy agenda for this year, last Thursday.

‘The Central Bank’s 2026 growth estimation is higher than the growth prediction of the IMF and the World Bank and is achievable, the Governor told the media while announcing the Central Bank’s policy agenda for 2026.

Dr. Weerasinghe added: ‘The Central Bank will introduce a benchmark intra-day reference exchange rate this year to ensure transparency in the foreign exchange market.

‘The absence of a reference exchange rate has held back the expansion of the Sri Lankan forex market and discouraged the trading of rupee-denominated derivatives Governor said.

‘The Central Bank last year carried out the necessary preliminary work to implement the benchmark spot exchange rate.

‘The benchmark intra-day reference exchange rate will be introduced in 2026 to foster a transparent foreign exchange market.

‘This benchmark will guide market participants, help reduce volatility and promote more competitive pricing on a given date, thereby enabling the introduction of more innovative products in the foreign exchange market.

‘Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange market has limited derivatives like currency swaps and options aiming to deepen markets and attract inflows.

‘However, these instruments failed after a lack of reliable reference exchange rate amid concerns over excessive speculation, rupee over-appreciation risks and interventions distorting clean floating rates.’

Meanwhile, currency dealers welcomed the move and said it will help to deepen the market.

“This will expand the market with more products and promote rupee-denominated derivatives, a currency dealer from a local bank said.

“It is something the market wanted to fix in derivative prices. This is a pricing mechanism for the rupee, he added.

By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️

Business

Sevalanka Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation support flood-affected communities in Biyagama, Sri Lanka

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/10

Thilina Walpola

With funding support from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), the Sevalanka Foundation has launched a humanitarian relief programme to support flood-affected communities in Biyagama. The initiative focuses on restoring access to safe water, healthcare services, and essential public facilities during the critical recovery period following the Cyclone Ditwah.

Working closely with the Divisional Secretariat, the program prioritizes the cleaning and rehabilitation of contaminated dug and tube wells, helping address the urgent post-flood challenge of access to safe water. This intervention will also support the cleaning and reopening of essential public spaces, including schools, and Grama Niladhari (GN) offices, enabling authorities and communities to resume daily activities safely. The Sevalanka Foundation and TCCF, as part of the initial response, have also donated water pumps to the Divisional Secretariat to support immediate water extraction and clean-up efforts.

In addition, as the second main component of the project, and based on the guidance of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), support is being provided to MOH-operated healthcare facilities to restore access to emergency and essential medical services. This support includes sanitization, debris removal, hazard stabilization, and the provision of emergency medical supplies such essential medicines and hygiene products. Medical camps staffed by doctors and senior nurses will be conducted through MOH offices to provide prioritized groups of persons with health, nutrition and hygiene related relief items.

Business

Bourse radiates optimism as UK grants tariff-free concession to local apparel exports

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/10

Thilina Walpola

CSE activities were extremely bullish yesterday mainly due to the UK government’s announcement on tariff free access for local apparel sector exports into the UK coupled with Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe’s positive outlook on the economy this year.

Amid those developments the turnover level also improved and the All Share Price Index moved up to the 23500 mark during the trading day.

The All Share Price Index went up by 127.17 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 56.75 points. Turnover stood at Rs 8.5 billion with 18 crossings.

Top seven crossings were: LOLC Holdings two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 1.18 billion; its shares traded at Rs 575, Renuka Agri 45 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 594 million; its share price was Rs 13.20, Sampath Bank 1.4 million shares crossed for Rs 215 million and its shares traded at Rs 154.35, Renuka Holdings 1.5 million shares crossed for Rs 75 million; its shares traded at Rs 50, Hayleys 200,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 41.3 million; its shares traded at Rs 207, Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) 400,000 shares crossed for Rs 37.8 million; its shares sold at Rs 50 and NTB 100,000 shares crossed for Rs 326 million; its shares sold at Rs 326.

In the retail market top seven companies that contributed to the turnover were; LOLC Rs 340 million (591,000 shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 310 million (two million shares traded), Renuka Agri Foods Rs 275 million (19.4 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 238 million (2.3 million shares traded), Overseas Realty Rs 215 million (4.9 million shares traded), CIC Holdings (Non Voting) Rs 180 million (6.3 million shares traded) and Wealth Trust Equity Rs 132 million (8.2 million shares traded). During the day 269.3 million share volumes changed hands in 47852 transactions.

It is said the banking and financial sectors performed well, especially Sampath Bank, while a top diversified company, LOLC Holdings, also performed well.

Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 309.15/30 to the US dollar in the spot market relatively flat from Rs 309.10/50 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields opened higher.

The telegraphic transfer rates for the dollar were 305.8500 buying, 312.8500 selling; the British pound was 409.7568 buying, and 421.1186 selling, and the euro was 354.0809 buying, 365.4441 selling.

By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️