Amana starts first Sri Lankan commercial bank under Islamic law

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Amana Bank on Friday said it will next week start the operations of the island nation's first sharia-compliant commercial bank with the opening of 14 branches across the country.

The bank in a statement said it from Monday will offer a range of products including trade and treasury services.

Over the last 10 years, Amana developed its insurance and investment divisions as it prepared to become a bank.

Analysts estimate the island nation's Islamic finance industry has the potential to become a $1.5 billion business, given appropriate tax and other laws approved by Sri Lankan government based on sharia, the Islamic legal system.

Muslims make up about 8 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million people, but Islamic financial products are also popular among non-Muslims due to their interest-free nature.

Amana's insurance arm, Amana Takaful has already been listed on the island nation's stock exchange .

In February, the bank's shareholding amounted to 3.4 billion Sri Lanka rupees ($31.1 million).

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad accounts for 20 percent of Amana's strategic investments, while AB Bank, Bangladesh, has a stake of 15 percent and Saudi Arabia'a Islamic Development Bank has 10 percent. ($1 = 109.450 Sri Lanka Rupees) (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Bryson Hull)

(Source: Arab News, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)By Md Rasooldeen, Arab News, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Feb. 06--RIYADH -- The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has taken a 10-percent stake in the first commercial Islamic bank in Sri Lanka, which is to be opened shortly in the island, a senior official from the Amana Bank Limited in Colombo told Arab News Saturday.

Amana Bank Limited, which obtained the provisional approval license from the central bank last year to become a bank, has got the green light from the island's Finance Ministry to operate as a commercial bank in the country.

According to the official, the new bank will start operations in the course of this year.

"Amana Bank will be Sri Lanka's first licensed commercial Islamic bank to conduct all its business operations in complete harmony with the principles of Islamic banking," he said.

Islamic banking is an emerging alternative to the interest-based banking practice and is gaining popularity across the world's communities.

The bank's shareholding amounts to 3.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees and constitutes both strategic and retail shareholders with the capital raised by a private placement of shares.

Its key shareholders are Bank Islam, Malaysia Berhad with a 20 percent stake, AB Bank, Bangladesh with 15 percent, Islamic Development Bank, (IDB) Saudi Arabia with 10 percent, and Sri Lankan tea exporter Akbar Brothers with 10 percent.

The bank has engaged KPMG Sri Lanka as its financial advisers to the capital raising.

Amana Bank will acquire the assets and liabilities of Amana Investments through an asset purchase agreement.

With the end of the ethnic conflict in all parts of Sri Lanka analysts predict good business for the newly set up bank.

Incorporated in 1997, Amana Investments Limited (AIL), being the investment and financing arm of the group, offers a range of Shariah-compliant financial solutions to its customers. Since its inception, Amãna has emerged as robust trendsetter in Sri Lanka's financial services sector and shown remarkable growth in business.

Its entire range of products are interest-free and structured on the principles of Shariah equity and fairness and available to all persons, irrespective of their ethnicity. All products are approved by its Ulema Supervisory Council and subject to regular Shariah audits

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Copyright (c) 2011, Arab News, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Soon - First Islamic Bank in Sri Lanka

The Amana Group was recently given a Letter of Provisional Approval by the Central Bank (CB) to establish a licensed commercial bank named Amana Bank Ltd, and is taking steps to set up the ‘first truly’ Islamic commercial bank in the country, the group said in a press statement.

It said upon achieving certain conditions listed in the Letter of Provisional Approval such as the raising of a minimum capital requirement of Rs. 2.5 billion, Amana Bank expects to receive a banking licence from the CB that will enable it to begin commercial banking operations.

The group said Amana Bank plans to use its position as the first Islamic bank in the country to attract Sharia-compliant investment flows from the Middle East and the Far East. Subject to Malaysian and Sri Lankan regulatory clearances, Amana Bank hopes to utilize the technical expertise and specialized Islamic banking know-how of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), which currently holds a 10% stake in AIL, to design and deliver a new range of Islamic banking services, which includes current accounts, foreign exchange transactions, inward and outward remittances, export financing, guarantees, performance bonds, bid bonds, Corporate Treasury placements, private banking, wealth management, long term housing finance, infrastructure financing, agricultural finance, and leasing.

The statement said Amana Bank also plans to actively participate in the government’s ‘Re-awakening of the East’ programme by expanding its branch network in the Eastern Province beyond the currently existing five and offering appropriate Islamic banking solutions to facilitate the resurgence of the Eastern Province’s infrastructure and economy.

The Amana Group has established itself as the pioneer in providing Islamic financial services, from merchant banking to insurance, to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Incorporated in 1997, Amana Investments Limited (AIL), being the investment and financing arm of the Group, offers a range of Sharia-compliant financial solutions to its customers.

Link:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090329/FinancialTimes/ft325.html