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Sampath Bank recognised for its strengths across diverse parameters

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Nanda Fernando, Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC

Looking back at its performance, Sampath Bank noted with pride that it was able to maintain its strengths across diverse parameters, as evidenced by the variety of local and international awards won.

The Bank was able to improve its ranking on many of the corporate leaderboards it was recognised on. In addition to constantly being recognised for its financial prowess, the bank continued to improve in terms of respect from other corporate peers as well as in its perceived value, two non-financial attributes that are crucial, yet extremely challenging to achieve during ordinary times, much less in times of such adversity.

The bank also saw its asset base cross the Rs. 1 trillion mark in 2020, a feat achieved by very few players in the industry. Sampath Bank achieved this milestone in a record 33 years, becoming the youngest bank in Sri Lanka to do so.

Given the volatile market conditions experienced during the past one and a half years, these achievements are a true testament to the strength and stability of Sampath Bank, its resilience and adaptability and the confidence placed in it by investors and customers alike.

“Right from our inception, we have strived to constantly innovate, transforming the nation’s financial services landscape and delivering greater value to all our stakeholders. Helping us earn the trust of our customers and shareholders, our efforts in this regard have been instrumental in shaping our financial success. They also continue to bring us ever more awards and accolades, both at home and around the world,” said Nanda Fernando, Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC. “On behalf of all of us at Sampath Bank, I would like to thank the nation for their love, respect and support, especially during these turbulent times. We look forward to continuing to serve them and add more value to their lives in the years to come.”

Sampath Bank was rated amongst the Most Admired Companies of Sri Lanka by the International Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Daily FT. The Bank is one of only 5 companies to receive an Honorable mention at the annual Most Admired Company Awards for the financial year 2019/20. The coveted award recognises companies, both listed and unlisted, that are a cut above the rest in terms of not just their financial performance but also the value they create for their shareholders, customers, employees and the wider community in general.

The Bank continued to hold its position in the top 10 line up in the 27th edition of the LMD 100, Sri Lanka’s pioneering listed company rankings for the financial year 2019/20. Sampath Bank was placed 5th in profitability and 6th in turnover in the latest edition of the ranking.

According to LMD’s Brands Annual publication for the year 2020, Sampath Bank emerged as the ‘Most Loved Brand’ in the Banking category and was the only bank to feature among the Top 10 ‘Most Loved Brands,’ while it was also ranked 5th in the ‘Most Valuable Consumer Brands’ category, up 2 places from last year. In the list of ‘Most Respected’ Entities in Sri Lanka the bank rose 2 spots to 6th place, while it also moved up one place to 4th on the Business Today Top 30.

In terms of international recognition, Sampath Bank was acknowledged as Sri Lanka’s ‘Best Retail Bank’ and ‘Best Commercial Bank’ for the 7th consecutive year, at the World Finance Banking Awards organized by the UK based World Finance magazine, making it the only Sri Lankan bank to be recognized at this year’s edition and the only bank in the country to have received both these awards every year since 2014. The Banker Magazine also ranked it among the ‘Top 1000 World Banks,’ an adjudication made primarily based on Tier-one capital.

Recognition such as this further underscore Sampath Bank’s strong financials including steady profitability growth and healthy liquidity levels, as well as its steadfast commitment to customer service and innovation, as it looks optimistically towards the future.

Sampath Bank is a 100% local bank that has deeply rooted itself in the lives of the people of Sri Lanka. Established in 1987, the bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. It has introduced many firsts to the Sri Lankan banking sector including introducing ATMs to Sri Lanka, extended banking hours and slip-less banking to name a few. The Bank continues to steadily transform itself into a technology-driven financial services provider while upholding our traditions and values.



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‘Govt. lacks mechanism to recover USD 40 billion spirited out of SL from 2008 to 2018’

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Dr-Kalpa-Rajapaksha

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

The government doesn’t have any mechanism to recover the USD 40 billion that was siphoned out of the country illegally from 2008 to 2018 by Sri Lanka’s business elites, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya Dr. Kalpa Rajapaksha said.

“Most people think that the IMF loan is a victory for Sri Lanka without knowing its risk factors. These are exceptionally high because one of the main impacts would be for the banking sector whose liquidity is due to weaken on account of high tax impositions and certain economic reforms, Dr. Rajapaksha told The Island Financial Review.

Dr. Rajapaksha added: ‘The tax relief given during President Gotabaya Rajapaksha’s tenure triggered this issue, which cost government coffers more than Rs 450 billion. However, Sri Lanka has to carefully follow IMF recommendations taking its history into consideration. It is said that Greece and Ethiopia and several other countries absolutely failed by following IMF recommendations in the past.

‘We are in the dark as to the method of economic recovery because the government is attending to deeper, burning issues in the country, such as reduction of poverty and ending economic inequities.

‘The imposition of heavy taxes on people, especially professionals, via a wealth tax and a heritage tax by 2025 and the increasing of direct taxes, such as VAT, on low income classes, without taking into account the need for a wage hike, will iraise the poverty level and widen wealth inequalities.

‘Inflation at the global level is very high and strategies are required to increase exports and cut down the heavy import dependency of the economy. This is a prerequisite to address all economic woes.

‘The previous ruling party squandered and stole billions of dollars but the present government not having any plan to recover that money is a tragedy. Therefore, promoting neo- liberal principles is impossible under the current corruption scenario.

‘Further, the IMF has set the target of reducing the debt to GDP ratio to 0.7 per cent in 2023, along with their recommendations. Many people doubt the achievability of these aims.’

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Global banking sector instabilities affect local bourse

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By Hiran H.Senewiratne

CSE trading got off to a positive start but later turned negative yesterday due to huge selling pressure. The reasons being investor worries over a domestic debt restructuring mechanism after having secured the IMF loan and the negative global scenario when it comes to the banking sector, market analysts said.

According to analysts, during the last week strategically important banks in the global economic system went through credit default swaps, especially Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and Credit Suisse Group AG. But another leading European Corporate Bank possibly facing a credit default swap, created some ripple effects for economies like Sri Lanka, analysts said.

The All- Share Price Index went down by 134.1 points and S and P SL20 declined by 51.6 points. Turnover stood at Rs 871 million with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in NDB, which crossed 1.2 million shares to the tune of Rs 51.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 43 and Aitken Spence 772,000 shares crossed for Rs 47.1 million, its shares traded at Rs 61.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, SLT Rs 82 million (717,000 shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 52.8 million (8.2 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 50.1 million (298,000 shares traded), Tokyo Cement (Non- Voting) Rs 36.5 million (388,000 shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 33.6 million (251,000 shares traded), ALC Cables Rs 33.3 million (406,000 shares traded) and Sunshine Holdings Rs 27.2 million (633,000 shares traded). During the day 45.4 million share volumes changed hands in 15000 transactions.

The market is generating revenue from SLT over news of it being divested; moreover, there has been interest for the hotel and tourism indexes, since tourist arrivals and earnings have been attractive, an analyst said.

It is said that Treasury bond yields opened steady on Monday, while the rupee opened weaker at spot market, dealers said.

A 01.07.2025 bond was quoted at 30.75/31.00 per cent on Monday, up from 30.90/31.20 per cent on Friday. A 15.09.2027 bond was quoted at 28.00/70 per cent, up from 28.00/50 per cent from Friday. The Sri Lanka rupee opened at 322/325 against the US dollar, weaker from 320/325 a day earlier.

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Holding ‘Raid Amazones’ for second consecutive year in SL, a rare honour for her – Head of Marketing Srilankan Airlines

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Flying start to ‘Raid Amazones'

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

More than 250 female French athletes arrived in Sri Lanka for the challenging ‘Raid Amazones’ adventure event that took place last week in Kandy. They arrived in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year, which was a big achievement for the country when it comes to the tourism sector, Head of Marketing SriLankan Airlines Saminda Perera said.

“For the first time in ‘Raid Amazones’ history they selected one country for two consecutive years, which could be considered a great honour for Sri Lanka. This would enable more French tourists to arrive in Sri Lanka in the future, Perera told the media recently during the event in Kandy. ‘Raid Amazones’ will hit the streets of the fabled hill capital, Kandy, with the participation of over 250 female athletes.

‘Raid Amazones’ is a well-known annual destination adventure event originating in France, which features female athletes competing their way through a range of challenges, such as, orienteering, mountain biking, canoeing, riding, running and archery.

“Sri Lanka was chosen over rival destinations by the event’s founders due to the unparalleled warmth of its people and support on the ground to pull off a successful event. Their decision is also due to SriLankan Airlines’ tireless marketing efforts to secure the popular trail on successive occasions for Sri Lanka in its hour of need for international tourism support, Perera said.

Saminda Perera

Tourism sources added: “During the 21st edition of the trail, the participants will be able to connect with a potpourri of natural and historical highlights as they trek through the Kandyan plateau in Central Sri Lanka.

“Their journey, though, would begin from the moment that they step onboard SriLankan Airlines to fly from Paris to Colombo, on an aircraft dedicated to ‘Raid Amazones 2023’.

“Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kandy, the iconic setting of ‘Raid Amazones 2023’, is renowned for two of the most recognizable cultural symbols that define Sri Lanka.

“SriLankan Airlines partnered Raid Amazones in 2022 soon after recommencing operations to Paris.

“SriLankan Airlines, together with Connaissance de Ceylan, the official ground- handling partner of the event, will go all out to ensure that the French group experiences the best in Sri Lankan hospitality.

“This event will especially help create more awareness of Sri Lanka as an adventure travel hotspot among French travellers and the rest of Europe, where ‘Raid Amazones’ is sought-after and attracts adventure-seekers.”

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