Finance

Sri Lanka insurance premiums to rise after frequent floods; NITF hit: Fitch

Wednesday September 13, 2017 5:58 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s re-insurance premiums on flood cover is likely to rise after a spate of unusual rainfall and insurers has to re-look at prices, Fitch, a rating agency said, while a state insurer had lost money on a blanket public cover.

Floods in May 2016 and May 2017 had resulted in 21 billion rupees of claims being paid, most of which was re-insured abroad.

"Changing weather patterns have increased the frequency and severity of errant rainfall, raising long-term risks for insurers and highlighting the need for more rigorous pricing and assessment of such risks in Sri Lanka’s highly competitive non-life sector," Fitch Rating said in a statement.

The credit profiles of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited (AA+(lka)/Stable), HNB General Insurance Limited (A(lka)/Stable) and Continental Insurance Lanka Limited (A(lka)/Stable) – are likely to remain intact despite these challenges, the rating agency said.

Sri Lanka’s National Insurance Trust Fund, a state entity to which 30 percent of re-insurance has to be ceded has estimated claims from May 2017 floods to be around 4.0 billion rupees, down from 17 billion rupees a year earlier.

Fitch said the net cost on non-life insurers due to the May 2016 floods to have been around 500 to 600 million rupees after re-insurance.

Since April 2016 the NITF has provided a natural disaster cover of 10 billion rupees for the government to compensate households, small business and relief work from April 2016. Claims were 3.8 billion rupees.

From 2017-2018 it was increased to 15 billion rupees. But a delay in government procurement process has prevented the re-insurance being purchased in time for May 2917 floods.

The cover had generated a 600 million rupee loss for NITF.

NITF had enough capital to absorb 2.2 billion rupees of flood related losses in 2016 and 3.1 billion for 2017 with a risk based capital ratio of 558 percent.

But capital could be hurt through dividend payments, Fitch warned. In in 2016 the NITF had paid 3.2 billion rupees to the state and in 3.0 billion in 2015.

Fitch: Reinsurance Keeps Sri Lankan Insurers Afloat Amid Floods

Fitch Ratings-Colombo/Hong Kong-10 September 2017: Most Sri Lankan non-life insurers should be able to absorb near-term volatility and the effects of adverse weather-related events given extensive use of reinsurance, says Fitch Ratings.

However, frequent occurrence of major catastrophic floods could affect insurers’ capital, especially that of state-owned local reinsurer, National Insurance Trust Fund Board (NITF, AA-(lka)/Stable).

Changing weather patterns have increased the frequency and severity of errant rainfall, raising long-term risks for insurers and highlighting the need for more rigorous pricing and assessment of such risks in Sri Lanka’s highly competitive non-life sector.

Reinsurance premiums paid by primary insurers are also likely to increase. The credit profiles of Sri Lanka’s non-life insurers – Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited (AA+(lka)/Stable), HNB General Insurance Limited (A(lka)/Stable) and Continental Insurance Lanka Limited (A(lka)/Stable) – are likely to remain intact despite these challenges.

Sri Lanka experienced back-to-back floods and landslides in May 2016 and May 2017.

NITF estimates claims of around LKR4 billion from the May 2017 floods, which mainly affected suburban and rural areas, significantly lower than claims of around LKR17 billion from the May 2016 floods, which predominantly affected industrial areas, with a handful of large commercial claims accounting for a large share of the total.

However, despite these large claims, we estimate the net impact on non-life insurers due to the May 2016 floods to have been around LKR0.5 billion-0.6 billion, mainly from retention and reinstatement costs.

These costs were likely to have added around 70bp to non-life insurers’ loss ratios in 2016. The floods, which left hundreds dead, damaged homes and disrupted businesses, were the country’s worst natural catastrophe since the 2004 south-Asian tsunami.

Local regulations require 30% of all non-life reinsurance be ceded to NITF, with the balance ceded to the international reinsurance market. NITF’s reinsurance portfolio is protected via retrocession cover, which has helped contain losses from the record-high flood-related primary insurer claims.

NITF has provided the Sri Lankan government with natural disaster cover since April 2016 – the National Natural Disaster Insurance Scheme (NNDIS) – which covers all households, small businesses and relief work stemming from natural disasters.

Cover was increased to LKR15 billion for 2017-2018, from LKR10 billion, with total claims of around LKR3.8 billion in 2016 and LKR1.6 billion in 2017.

NITF recovered LKR2.6 billion in 2016 via NNDIS’s reinsurance cover that was in place for 2016-2017; that is, after a deductible of LKR0.5 billion, which was retained by the company, as well as NITF’s share of claims on NNDIS’s reinsurance cover.

However, a delay in government approval meant NITF’s reinsurance cover for NNDIS for 2017-2018 only came into effect after the May 2017 floods, resulting in a LKR600 million loss, as the deductible (company retention) was raised to LKR1 billion.

NITF, as a state-owned entity, must go through a state procurement committee to obtain reinsurance, which can be time consuming.

NITF has satisfactory capital buffers to absorb flood-related net losses of LKR2.2 billion for 2016 and LKR3.1 billion for 2017, with a high regulatory risk-based capital ratio of 558% at end-March 2017. However, capitalisation could come under pressure if NITF continues paying high dividends to the government. NITF paid LKR3.2 billion in 2016 and LKR3 billion in 2015, which accounted for 103% and 70% of profit, respectively.

Sri Lanka’s non-life insurers have low retention in the non-motor segment, with over 80% of the fire class, which typically covers flood-related policies, being reinsured.

Fire class accounted for around 2% of total non-life net written premiums (NWP) in 2016. Insurers also provide flood protection for the motor class (75% of NWP in 2016), but motor-related claims were smaller than under the fire class.

Natural catastrophe losses, such as floods, are covered under reinsurance treaties and excess-of-loss reinsurance covers.

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Weather and Climate

Water levels rising in Sri Lanka Kalu, Nilwala river basins: Irrigation Department

Sri Lanka Navy assisting in rescue operations (Pic courtesy SL Navy)

Monday June 3, 2024 2:17 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Department has issued warnings that water levels in the Kalu and Nilwala river basins are rising and major flooding is possible due to the continuous rain. People living in close proximity are advised to take precautions.

“There is a high possibility of slowly increasing prevailing flood lowline areas of Kiriella, Millaniya, Ingiriya, Horana, Dodangoda, Bulathsinhala, Palinda Nuwara and Madurawala D/S divisions of Ratnapura and Kalutara Districts, up to next 48 hours,” it said issuing a warning.

“In addition, flood situation prevailing at upstream lowline areas of Ratnapura district will further be prevailing with a slight decrease.

“The residents and vehicle drivers running through those area are requested to pay high attention in this regard.

“Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take adequate precautions in this regard.”

The island is in the midst of south western monsoon.

DMC reported that 11,864 people belonging to 3,727 families have been affected due to the weather in Rathnapura, Kegalle, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Moneragala, and Trincomalee districts.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department stated that showers are expected on most parts of the island today.(Colombo/June3/2024)

Politics

UNP gen secy defends call for postponing Sri Lanka poll, claims opposition silent

The UNP party headquarters in Pitakotte/EconomyNext

Monday June 3, 2024 1:59 pm

ECONOMYNEXT — United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara has defended his call for postponing Sri Lanka’s presidential election by two years, claiming that his proposal was not undemocratic nor unconstitutional.

Speaking to reporters at the UNP headquarters Monday June 03 morning, Bandara also claimed that neither opposition leader Sajith Premadasa nor National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake have spoken against his proposal.

“I have made no statement that’s undemocratic. My statement was in line with provisions of the constitution,” the former UNP parliamentarian said.

He quoted Section 86 of Chapter XIII of the constitution which says: “The President may, subject to the provisions of Article 85, submit to the People by Referendum any matter which in the opinion of the President is of national importance.”

Sections 87.1, 87.2 also elaborates on the matter and describes the parliament’s role, said Bandara.

“I spoke of a referendum and parliament’s duty. Neither of this is antidemocratic or unconstitutional. As per the constitution, priority should be given to ensuring people’s right to life,” he said.

“Some parties may be against what I proposed. They may criticse me. But what I ask them is to come to one position as political parties and make a statement on whether they’re ready to continue the ongoing economic programme,” he added.

Bandara claimed that, though thee has been much criticism of his proposal for a postponement of the presidential election, President Wickremesinghe’s rivals Premadasa and Dissanayake have yet to remark on the matter.

“I suggested that [Premadasa] make this proposal in parliament and for [Dissanayake] to second it. But I don’t see that either Premadasa nor Dissanayake is opposed to it. To date, I have not seen nor heard either of them utter a word against this. I believe they have no objection to my proposal which was made for the betterment of the country,” he said. (Colombo/Jun03/2024)

Accidents

300 of 100,000 trees in Colombo considered high risk: state minister

Monday June 3, 2024 1:05 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Trees in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo are being monitored by the municipal council, Army and Civil Defense Force as the severe weather conditions continue, State Minister for Defense Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

“Within the Colombo Municipal Council city limits, there are 100,000 trees. Of these, around 300 are considered high risk,” Tennakoon told reporters at a media conference to raise awareness about the current disaster management situation.

Not all trees required to be cut down he said. “We can trim some of the branches and retain them.”

The problem was that buildings in the vicinity of the tree had cut branches on one side, causing it to become unbalanced, the minister said.

New laws would be brought in so provincial/municipal institutions could strengthen enforcement of building codes.

“We don’t have a single institution that can issue a warning about a tree. Not one to tell us what trees can or cannot be planted near a road.

“Trees should be suitable for the area. Some trees have roots that spread and damage roads, buildings. When the roots can’t go deep, they tend to topple over.

“Now Environment Day is coming up, and anyone can go plant a tree by the road. We have to take a decision about this. We have to enforce laws strongly in future.” (Colombo/June3/2024)