Business
BOC’s AT1 Capital Perpetual Bonds snapped up on opening day
Bank of Ceylon successfully raised Rs. 10 billion through the issuance of Basel III Compliant, Unlisted, Rated, Unsecured, Subordinated, Perpetual, Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Capital bonds with a non-viability full and permanent write down at an issue price of Rs. 100 each on 1st December, 2020.
The initial issue of Rs. 3 billion was oversubscribed by more than three times on its opening day and the bank decided to close it on the same day.
Commenting on the issuance, the bank’s General Manager, D.P.K. Gunasekera said that this was the bank’s second AT 1 capital perpetual bond issue during this year and the oversubscription of this issuance highlights the strong confidence the investors have placed on all aspects of the bank’s performance. He also thanked the bank’s customers and investors for their confidence shown in the strength, stability and growth prospects of the bank.
Being a domestic systemically important bank that has an innate responsibility towards maintaining the financial stability and economic development of Sri Lanka the Bank looks forward to utilize these funds towards financially boosting the priority sectors of the country whilst strengthening the Tier 1 capital and enhancing the Single Borrower exposure limit encouraging entrepreneurship and investment within the country. This will largely benefit retail to large scale private and public sector enterprises to improve their businesses and eventually contribute towards the country’s overall economic performance.
The AT 1 capital perpetual bonds are not listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and are confined to qualified investors. The bonds are irredeemable and may be callable by the Bank at its discretion at any time after 5 years from the date of issue subject to approval of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
The bonds carry a floating interest rate of Weighted Average 12 months Net Treasury Bill rate + 1.50% p.a. with a floor rate of 9.00% p.a. The bonds are rated AA (hyb) by ICRA Lanka Ltd.
This bond issue was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
The managers and the registrars for the issuance was the Investment Banking Division of Bank of Ceylon.
Bank of Ceylon has a legacy of enriching the lives of Sri Lankans for over eight decades. With well over Rs. 2 Trillion in assets, BOC is the owner of the highest asset base owned by a single business entity of Sri Lankan origin.
–BoC
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
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