'A Share for Everyone, A Unit for Everyone' Launched at Monaragala and Batticaloa Investor Forums

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), together with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has launched its 'A Share for Everyone, A Unit for Everyone' (Samata Kotasak, Samata Ekakayak) initiative at the investor forums in Monaragala and Batticaloa last week as part of an ongoing island-wide initiative to broaden investor participation.

The forums were held in Monaragala on 16 July at the Silanrich Hotel and in Batticaloa on 18 July at the FG Golden River Hotel.

The forums attracted over 500 participants across both locations.

The “A Share for Everyone, A Unit for Everyone” concept, developed by the Chairman of the SEC, Sen. Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara, aims to promote a shared commitment to creating wealth and value within a fair, efficient, orderly, and transparent capital market by ensuring broad and accessible participation for all.

Under this initiative, the SEC and CSE will conduct investor forums across the country to enhance investor education and awareness, while encouraging greater investor participation beyond the Western Province.

Leveraging the CSE’s nationwide presence and growing interest in the equity market, the programme will provide investors with increased access to the Sri Lankan capital market through both stockbroking firms and unit trust management companies.

The initiative will also offer forum participants the opportunity to receive investment coupons sponsored by the SEC and CSE, which can be used to support their equity investments.

The Investor Forums opened with presentations by senior economists from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, including Mr. N. B. Janagan and Mr. Kasunka Herath, who provided a high-level overview of the country's macroeconomic landscape.

The session also featured presentations by representatives of leading stockbroking firms, including Mr. Atchuthan Srirangan, Vice President – Corporate Finance & Advisory at First Capital Holdings PLC, and Mr. Kapila Pathirage, Director – Sales at HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, offering participants an overview of the capital market and its investment opportunities

Representatives from the unit trust industry conducted an introductory seminar on the operation and benefits of unit trusts.

Speakers included Mr. Kumudu Kekirideniya, Manager – Business Development at Softlogic Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd, and Mr. Mohamed Ashfer, Business Development Officer at Softlogic Asset Management, who introduced participants to the fundamentals of unit trust investing.

Both forums concluded with the highlight panel discussion and Q&A segment, which brought the diverse perspectives of the speakers and members of the SEC & CSE together to explore Sri Lankan equities.

Panellists included the forums speakers as well as Executive – Vice President of the CSE Mr. Niroshan Wijesundere, as well as Senior Manager of External Relations of the SEC Ms. Sheena Goonaratna and SEC’s Manager of External Relations Mr. Nimal Kumarasinghe.

During the investor forums, prospective investors were able to meet representatives from stockbroker firms and unit trusts to open accounts, with the first four-hundred participants being eligible to receive investment coupons gifted by the SEC and CSE.

The forums were conducted amidst a remarkable six-year growth in the capital market which saw the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) rise from 4,846 points in May 2020 to 22,310.80 points by the end of May 2026.

This represents a growth of 360% and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 28.98% - with capital gains remaining tax-free.