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CBSL says interest waiver on loans and leases could undermine stability of fiscal system
‘Moratorium related to payment of installments on capital borrowed ‘
by Suresh Perera
Notwithstanding protests over charging interest on repayment of loans and leases based on the one-year Covid-19 related moratorium, a senior Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) official said there’s no question of reversing the decision as neither banks nor other financial institutions can afford to absorb the negative impact of a waiver on interest on the capital, particularly at a time of an economic crunch.
“With the country facing a financial crisis largely due to the fallout of the pandemic, the government cannot be expected to offer further relief by reducing the interest component on the due repayments”, he stressed.
In terms of a Central Bank directive, all banks have been authorized to levy seven percent interest per annum on the total outstanding of loans and leases up to March 31, 2021, while finance companies can charge 11.5 percent.
Under the moratorium, credit facilities and leasing arrangements secured by key economic sectors hit by the outbreak of coronavirus were initially given a six-month grace period on repayments with effect from April 1, 2020. It was later extended by another six months as the worsening pandemic situation continued to cripple economic activity.
“The grace period related to payment of installments on the capital borrowed to fund loan and leasing facilities. Where the interest payments were concerned, a rate was agreed upon after a discussion with the stakeholders”, the official noted.
How can financial institutions, particularly finance companies, run their day-to-day operations and honor their commitments towards investors if there’s no return on borrowings?, he queried.
This can be done only if there is a situation where they don’t have to pay interest on investor holdings, he pointed out. “If they were to offer a return to one segment, while being denied their due revenue from the other, mounting losses are bound to push them towards insolvency”.
Financial institutions have to also absorb the cost of funds, as for example, a customer who has to repay a loan installment of Rs.10 million per month, holds back a repayment of Rs. 120 million during the one-year moratorium, the official explained.
With 50% of their funds disbursed as loans, the cash flow of these institutions have taken a big hit”, he said.
Under the circumstances, it is reasonable that at least the due interest on the borrowings are settled on time to ensure the survival of the financial sector in these difficult times, he said.
The tourism industry is still tottering. In this scenario, their loan installments are unlikely to roll in even after the grace period ends on March 31, 2021, he remarked.
He said that in the event of a natural disaster, the government can be expected to disburse funds to provide relief. However, a bail out on the interest payable by borrowers is too much to demand at a time of an economic downturn.
“We have received a plethora of complaints on this matter, and certainly understand that there are difficulties, but a perfect solution to please everybody is difficult to find”.
“Levying 11.5 percent interest on the total capital outstanding is unacceptable”, protested D. Nalaka Lankapurage, secretary of the All Ceylon Vehicle Leasing and Installment Payers Collective (ACVLIPC).
“We don’t mind paying reasonable interest on the monthly premium, but when it comes to the total capital outstanding, the commitment is too much to bear as business is slack across the board”, he complained.
With interest calculated on the basis of the total capital outstanding, even small-time borrowers are asked to pay Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 per month, which is next to impossible with business at a low ebb, he noted.
“Financial institutions even decline to give us a breakdown of the payments. When they demand, we are expected to duly pocket out with no questions asked”, Lankapurage asserted.
Many of these institutions have made billions of rupees in profits over the years. Can’t they offer us a degree of relief even at a time the pandemic has ripped apart life and livelihoods in the country?, he asked.
“We admit that financial establishments cannot give loans gratis. All what we are asking for is a reasonable rate of interest on the monthly premium; not on the total capital outstanding”, he continued.
Lankapurage said that those who have leased vehicles have to also shoulder the added burden of paying insurance and meeting running costs.
Members of the ACVLIPC staged a protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat recently against what they termed a “rip-off by banks and other financial institutions”.
A memorandum addressed to the President, which set out their grievances, was handed over to a Presidential Secretariat official during the agitation.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
