SEC proposes ‘investment portfolio for everyone’ in Budget 2026

• Shares plans to regulate personal financial planners

Prof. Hareendra Dissabandara

By Nishel Fernando

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) is proposing a landmark initiative to introduce a ‘portfolio for everyone’ as part of Budget 2026, in collaboration with the Colombo Stock Exchange and government.

This was revealed by SEC Chairman Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara yesterday at the Colombo launch of the Unit Trust Association of Sri Lanka’s (UTASL) new ‘Dhana Wadana’ unit trust investor awareness campaign. The proposal, tentatively named ‘A Share for Everyone’ or ‘A Unit for Everyone’, aims to provide a small, introductory investment portfolio of stocks or unit trusts, valued around Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000, to Sri Lankan families. 

According to Prof. Dissabandara, this would be a targeted initiative to boost capital market literacy and participation among middle and 

lower-income groups.

Prof. Dissabandara stressed that the proposal has been submitted to the government with the expectation that Budget 2026 would grant “high priority to capital market development”.

“The capital market is the most viable tool for equitable wealth creation. It is essential to driving Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate to a target of 8-9 percent,” he said.

In a significant related announcement, Prof. Dissabandara revealed that the SEC plans to bring the personal financial management profession under its regulatory framework.

He identified the near-total lack of personal financial planning in the country—which he described as “zero”—as a fundamental barrier to the development and promotion of the capital markets.

“Personal financial planning is the key to investment and without a clear financial plan, individuals fail to transition from basic saving to long-term wealth creation through investment,” said 

Prof. Dissabandara.

The new regulations would aim to professionalise the field, creating a class of certified financial planners, similar to those in countries like Australia and New Zealand, who can provide regulated, reliable advice to the public. The announcements were made during the UTASL event, which aims to help Sri Lankans understand how unit trusts can play a vital role in growing 

their wealth.