Dhammika interested in more healthcare business
View(s):Dhammika Perera, Sri Lanka’s biggest entrepreneur/businessman, increased his presence in the healthcare sector, buying a larger stake in Nawaloka Hospitals (NHL) and raising his total holding to 24 per cent on Thursday. He told the Business Times that he’s interested in this sector and that he’s open to more deals such as this, triggering speculation in the stock market as to whether his interest would extend to opening a hospital chain in his organisation. Some 305.9 million Nawaloka shares were traded in three crossings at Rs 4 on Thursday early noon.
The NSB held 17.7894 million NHL shares as at last September and top market investor, Dr. S Senthilverl who held 309.5 million NHL shares or nearly 22 per cent, sold some 13.6 per cent to Mr. Perera, according to a stock market disclosure. Earlier on February 23, Dr. Senthilverl, a Director of Nawaloka Hospitals sold Rs.20 million Nawaloka Hospitals shares at Rs.3.80 per share to Mr. Perera who had also purchased the EPF’s stake of 1.76 per cent last week. “I bought some shares last month,” Mr. Perera said. The hospital is controlled by its Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa with 32.83 per cent and Nawaloka Construction Company with 31.34 per cent. (DEC)