CSE rings bell for gender equality

World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough opens the market by ringing the trading bell in the presence of (from left) Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike, International Finance Corporation Country Officer Sri Lanka Victor Navaranjan Antonypillai, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Ambassador to the Maldives Bryce Hutcheson, Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, Sri Lanka Institute of Directors Senior Deputy Chairman Preethi Jayawardena, Australian High Commission Sri Lanka Foreign Affairs and Trade Department Development Cooperation Sri Lanka and the Maldives Counsellor Charlotte Blundell and Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka Development Cooperation Section Second Secretary Tasuku Watanabe
Pic by Kithsiri De Mel

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday rang the trading floor bell in a bid to highlight the need for achieving gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. 
With stock exchanges around the world joining the UN Global Compact and Global Compact Local Networks from March 3 to 11, 2017, the CSE rang the bell in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) to not only stress the importance of gender equality, but also highlight the role of the private sector in creating opportunities for further leadership opportunities for women.

The CSE was amongst 40 stock exchanges around the world to pledge commitment.
Speaking at the ceremony that was graced by top officials of the World Bank (WB), IFC Sri Lanka Office and UN, among other top private sector representatives, CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka stressed that the active participation of women in all areas of business is central to boost commercial and community-based development. 
“One of the objectives of today’s event is to focus on increasing accessibility of capital market services to female entrepreneurs of all ages. Society needs women across the country to come forward and play an active role in managing their investment and this must be assisted,” said Kulatilaka.
It was shared that the CSE has taken steps to pursue gender equality-driven changes both within the organisation and capital market.