4.3 million mobile phones in Sri Lanka

The number of mobile phones in Sri Lanka rose by nearly a million phones (890,911) -- during a period of seven months (between end 2005 and July 2006) --- to 4.3 million by July from 3.4 million at end 2005, Central Bank (CB) figures showed last week.

The Bank revealed that the total number of phones (fixed lines, mobile phones and pay phones) by end July was 5.8 million. The number of Internet and email subscribers was 125,800 during the same period.

The number of fixed phone lines rose by 21 percent to 1.5 million by end July 2006 from 1.2 million by end 2005. This included one million (end 2005 - 954,000) from SLT by end July and 449, 169 (end 2005 – 289,933) from Suntel/Lanka Bell in the same period

Credit cards totaling 728,863 were held by Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans at the end of July 2006 up by 33,350 in the previous month, according to CB. In June the number of cards was 695,513 against 637,326 by the end of 2005.

The outstanding balance (monies due to banks from card holders) was Rs 17. 4 billion by end July against Rs 17.1 billion in June 2006 and Rs 15.0 billion by end 2005.