Invest Sri Lanka Forum in Singapore to showcase booming capital market and attract foreign investors

Sri Lanka is set to make a strong pitch to global investors this week as the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) host the Invest Sri Lanka Investor Forum in Singapore on August 12, according to a press release circulated by CSE.

With over 150 registered participants, the event aims to spotlight the nation’s resurgent capital market and capitalise on growing international confidence in its economic recovery.

The high-profile forum follows a successful event held in Colombo in March and is designed to build direct connections between Sri Lanka’s top-tier companies, government policymakers, and international fund managers. The goal is to translate the country’s positive economic momentum into long-term foreign investment.

Underscoring the government’s commitment, the forum will feature a powerful delegation of Sri Lankan officials. Keynote speakers include the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil J. Fernando and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe. They will be joined by experts like Ruchir Desai of Asia Frontier Capital Ltd and Dr. Naveen Gunawardane of LYNEAR Wealth Management, who will provide on-the-ground perspectives on the opportunities.

The event will also provide investors direct access to the leadership of 11 major listed Sri Lankan companies, offering a firsthand look at the corporate powerhouses driving the nation’s growth.

Sri Lanka’s case to investors is backed by impressive market performance and significant macroeconomic progress.

The CSE has delivered exceptional returns, with the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) soaring by 49.66 percent and the S&P SL20 index by 58.46 percent in 2024, continuing a growth trajectory that began in 2023. This performance has been accompanied by a healthy net foreign inflow of US$ 66.5 million in 2024 and a record US$ 568.61 million in capital raised.

Several key economic highlights support this growth, including an attractive valuation with the market currently trading at a competitive Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of US$ 9.20x, suggesting significant upside potential compared to regional peers. 

The nation has also achieved macroeconomic stability, earning recognition from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its commitment to fiscal discipline and reform. Furthermore, an improved credit outlook, bolstered by the recent conclusion of international debt restructuring, has reduced risk and increased investor confidence.