Colombo Stock Exchange opens Bandarawela branch

Opening of CSE Bandarawela branch

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) officially opened its Bandarawela branch to the public. 

The branch was inaugurated by CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara and Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Chairman Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara in the presence of senior officials representing both public and private sectors.

With this opening, the CSE announces its presence across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka, with branches now established in Matara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Panadura and Bandarawela.

Similar to the CSE’s other branches, the Bandarawela branch will facilitate a range of services, including CDS account opening, access to stockbroker firms, investor educational workshops and personalised guidance for navigating the stock market or clarifying their investment-related queries.

Wirasekara stated, “With the opening of the Bandarawela branch, the CSE brings the capital market closer to the people, enabling greater accessibility and empowering individuals across the Uva province to take informed steps in their financial planning and investment journeys.”

“SMEs are the backbone of our economy and the Empower Board is a dedicated space for small and medium-sized enterprises to raise capital and scale their operations. We cordially invite the business owners in the region to engage with us and explore the opportunities the CSE has to offer for expansion and long-term growth,” Wirasekara emphasised.

Prof. Dissabandara explained, “The SEC is a government institution that serves as the regulatory body of Sri Lanka’s capital market. It is responsible for protecting the rights of investors, ensuring market fairness, efficiency and transparency, reducing systemic risk and developing the capital market. These are the four core responsibilities we uphold in safeguarding the integrity and progress of Sri Lanka’s capital market.”

To mark the occasion, the CSE also hosted an Investor Forum for professionals and the local business community at Bandarawela Hotel. Presentations were delivered on investor protection by Prof. Dissabandara and on the macroeconomic outlook and market opportunities by HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt.) Ltd Director Sales Kapila Pathirage. A panel discussion followed, featuring the CSE and SEC chairmen and Pathirage, moderated by CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike.