SEC and CSE to meet entrepreneurs today in push to expand market-based funding

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Department of the Registrar of Companies, will hold an issuer forum today from 6 p.m. at Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa.

The forum, themed ‘Innovative Pathways for Businesses to Propel Economic Growth’, is part of a broader initiative to broad-base companies across the island and promote engagement with the capital market as a source of funding to catalyse mid-to-long term business growth. 

It will bring together leading industry leaders and experts to discuss key aspects of sustaining corporate enterprises, including succession planning, governance, wealth management, business continuity, and the path to listing on the Stock Exchange.

Notable speakers and industry participants include Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Chairman of the SEC Snr. Prof. D. B. P. H. Dissabandara, Officer-in-Charge of the SEC Tushara Jayaratne, Registrar General of Companies Aravindi De Silva, Chairman of the CSE Dimuthu Abeysekera, Co-Founder and Director of InsureMe Insurance Brokers PLC Indika Prematunga,  Director of CSE Ray Abeywardena, CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Chief Regulatory Officer of the CSE Nilupa Perera along with market experts including Chief Manager – Investment Banking of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC Vidushini Denipitiya, and Manager of Research at Asha Securities Ltd Chamath Wickramaarachchi. This brings together perspectives from policymakers, regulators, and listed companies to provide a comprehensive strategic guide for entrepreneurs and companies looking to use the capital market. The forum will help entrepreneurs better understand how to leverage capital market opportunities in order to overcome their funding challenges and build lasting business legacies across generations.  The forum comes at a time when the Sri Lankan capital market has been buoyant with a significant increase in volumes and investor demand. The market capitalization crossed the Rs. 8.5tn threshold in 2025 and during the course of the last year there were 25 new listings on the exchange including 6 newly listed companies, to raise debt and equity capital to fund expansion.