SEC and CSE continue drive to broad base stock market

Investors and members of the public at the Kegalle Investor Forum conducted at Hotel Heshani – Kegalle

Stock-Brokering firms conduct interviews with Trainee Investment Advisor applicants at the Badulla Recruitment Drive

Galle Investor Forum panel discussion 

Ratnapura Investor Forum panel discussion 

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recently conducted more investor forums in Galle, Badulla, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Kegalle and Kuliyapitiya. 
These events aim to raise awareness on investor protection, educate the public on how to invest in the stock market, and leverage on the opportunities present in the capital market. The forums attracted over 800 participants collectively, providing valuable insights to both potential and existing investors in the said regions. 
Each forum also featured a senior SEC representative who provided an overview of the SEC’s role in the equity market, investor protection, and the conduct expected from investors and traders. Suneth Perera, Acting Director – Supervision, SEC, spoke at the forums in Galle and Badulla, while Nimal Kumarasinghe, Manager – External Relations, SEC, spoke at the forums in Ratnapura, Gampaha, Kegalle and Kulipitiya. 
Potential investors and first-time investors were also provided with anopportunity to learn about Unit Trust Investments and their potential for higher returns through the rising capital market. Speakers at the forums included Naleen Sadesh, Portfolio Manager – Investments, Asset Trust Management (Pvt) Ltd at the Galle and Badulla investor forums; Suresha Fernando, Fund Manager and Hansini Aravinda Snr., Financial Analyst of CT Smith Asset Management Ltd at the Gampaha forum; and Dilan Jayakody Senior Business Development Manager of JB Financial (Pvt) Ltd at forums in Ratnapura, Kegalle and Kuliyapitiya. 
The forums also featured in-depth analyses of sectoral performance and market opportunities by leading stock brokering firms, which highlighted the opportunities provided by the low-interest rate environment that made the capital market more attractive than traditional investment options with declining returns. 
Speakers at the forums included  Kaveena Nanayakkara – Snr. Research Analyst of NDB Securities (Pvt) Ltd at the Galle, Badulla and Kuliyapitiya Investor Forums; Kapila Pathirage, Director – Sales, HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd at the Ratnapura Investor Forum; Iranga Fernando, Research Analyst at Bartleet Religare Securities (Pvt) Ltd at the Gampaha forum; and Chamath Wickrama Arachchi, Research Analyst at Asha Securities Ltd at the Kegalle investor forum.
The main feature of each of the forums wasan interactive panel discussion with the participation ofmembers of the SEC, CSE and leading stock-brokering firms. The Badulla and Gampaha forum panelists; Suneth Perera, Acting Director – Supervision, SEC; Niroshan Wijesundere, Senior Vice President – Marketing, CSE; Naleen Sadesh; and Kaveena Nanayakarra, with the Galle Forum moderated by Priyantha Heenpella and the Badulla forum moderated by Jeewan Chathuranga. 
Meanwhile, at the Gampaha Investor Forum the panel featured; Nishantha Batagalle, Manager Events – CSE, Nimal Kumarasinghe, Manager External Relations –SEC, Iranga Fernando, Research Analyst– Bartleet Religare Securities (Pvt) Ltd, Suresha Fernando, Fund Manager– CT Smith Asset Management Ltd with Srima Fernando – CSE moderating the Gampaha Investor Forum. The Ratnapura Investor Forum also featured the Gampaha SEC and CSE panellists as well as Kapila Pathirage – Director Sales, HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, Dilan Jayakody, Snr. Business Development Manager – JB Financial (Pvt) Ltd and was moderated by Lasantha Kumara - Branch Executive (Ratnapura), CSE.
The Kegalle and Kuliyapitiya investor forums panel discussions featured Nimal Kumarasinghe, Manager– External Relations, SEC; Dhananjaya Abeysiriwardana, CSE Kandy Branch Manager; Dilan Jayakody, Snr. Business Development Manager, JB Financial (Pvt) Ltd; Kaveena Nanayakkara, Snr. Research Analyst – NDB Securities (Pvt) Ltd and Chamath Wickrama Arachchi, Research Analyst, Asha Securities Ltd; with Madhawa Aramandeniya, Senior Executive – CSE Kandy Branch, moderating. 
Each event concluded with participants being presented with an opportunity to meet investment advisors of Stockbroker Firms, and interviews for investment advisor training programs offered by leading brokering firms. 
These forums and recruitment drives are part of a series of initiatives to raise investor education,financial literacy and expand the reach of the taking the capital market countrywide.