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CSE and SEC host exclusive forum to deepen institutional engagement in Sri Lanka’s capital market

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6 months ago

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(L-R) Shiran Fernando, Chief Economic Policy Advisor, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Prof. Anil J. Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Senior Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara, Chairman of the SEC; Dr. Naveen Gunawardane, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Lynear Wealth Management; and Dimuthu Abeyesekera, Chairman of CSE.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) in collaboration with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) successfully convened an exclusive forum for institutional fund managers themed “Be a Part of the Capital Market’s Growth Story – One Vision for A Resilient Market” recently.

The forum, directed towards the nation’s foremost institutional fund managers, was a high-level platform for the collaboration in exploring and capitalizing on opportunities that the Sri Lankan capital market offers.

The forum serves to underscore the steadfast commitment of SEC and CSE to facilitate the long-term creation of value and to bolster institutional engagement in rising capital market growth. The proceedings were marked by the presence of several senior experts from the public and financial sectors, including Prof. Anil J. Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Senior Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara, Chairman of the SEC; Dimuthu Abeyesekera, Chairman of the CSE; Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of CSE; and Dr. Naveen Gunawardane, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lynear Wealth Management.

A high-level panel discussion formed the principal component of the programme moderated by Mr. Shiran Fernando, Chief Economic Policy Advisor of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The panel discussed the future of allocations into equity amidst the ongoing financial climate, the role of digital democracy in maintaining the government’s policies of good governance, the SEC’s new strategic plan “12 Pillars One Vision for a Resilient Market” as well as questions from the investment fund managers, such as the role of the EPF and ETF moving forward. The robust exchange afforded fund managers the opportunity to examine long-term investment paradigms and the growth of the capital market.

Prof. Anil J. Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, in his keynote address, articulated the government’s perspective on the favourable investment culture that has arisen in the country through the stabilization of inflation at 5%, assuring the forum that “Our Government’s key role is that of a facilitator rather than being a part of the politicization. Giving the freedom and autonomy for all these agencies to come out with your expertise and competencies.” To that end, the Minister stated that the government’s pre-existing guidelines on the capital market aimed at creating a level playing field, enforce rule of law, and bring new enactments to enhance investor confidence.

During the panel discussion Central Bank Governor, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, touching on Dr. Gunawardane’s presentation, spoke of how the ongoing commitment to fiscal discipline has and will continue to produce a sustained positive current account balance. He added, “We have generated domestic savings which is more than enough for investment needs in the country. This is a new situation.” He compared the current macro-economic environment to past decades, which were marked by current account deficits and constrained domestic savings. Furthermore, the Governor stated that stable inflation in a low interest environment would encourage investors seeking returns to look beyond just the banking sector.

Asked at the panel discussion about the SEC’s landmark strategic plan titled “12 Pillars One Vision for a Resilient Market” Senior Prof. D.B.P.H Dissabandara, Chairman of the SEC, reiterated its applicability to institutional investment funds – specifically the consolidation of funds, both domestic and international. He noted the SEC’s dual role as both regulator and facilitator and cited the SEC’s success in creating a level playing field and ensuring transparency in the capital markets. Lauding the Central Bank, he noted that the state of the economy has transitioned from “the state of rescue to recovery. The next phase is growth – and you cannot grow without capital. Thus, we must consider the investment avenues and consider which segments of the economy we wish to prioritize, which requires centralized decision-making.”

Dimuthu Abeyesekera, Chairman of CSE, noted the underrepresentation of the population in the capital market was a barrier to growth, with Sri Lanka’s 50,000 active investors amounting to only 0.2% of the total population. He explained that outreach beyond the Western Province is necessary, as account openings outside the province currently represent only 39% of the total openings. CSE has already established ten branches outside Colombo, with branches in all nine provinces and aims to create twenty-five branches – a branch per district. By the year end, the CSE will open four more branches in Kegalle, Galle, Maharagama and Gampaha. Such outreach targets potential investors who have traditionally relied on the banking sector for returns and, due to low interest rates, may seek alternative investment avenues. These investors, Mr. Abeyesekera noted, are vulnerable without a trusted market facilitator. “We, the CSE, must fill that gap. We are regulated by the SEC and are a legalized entity. Outside the Western Province, there are no investment opportunities apart from the banking sector.”

Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of CSE, contextualized the forum’s role, outlined the history of share trading in Sri Lanka, and highlighted the role the CSE plays as it commemorates its 40th anniversary. Acknowledging the noteworthy progress made over the years, he also highlighted the challenges of the future – namely, expanding the breadth and depth of the market. He emphasized the efforts to address these challenges, ranging from financial literacy drives, improving market infrastructure, and creation of new capital instruments. Noting the dominance of both domestic institutional and retail investors, he observed that the low interest regime has renewed investor interest in the capital market. Addressing the audience, he said “Institutional Funds play a catalytic role in the overall development and broadening of the market by providing professional portfolio management services with due diligence, integrity and financial acumen required, while also contributing to liquidity and activity in the secondary market.”

Finally, in his presentation, which primed the panel discussion, Dr. Naveen Gunawardane, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lynear Wealth Management, spoke on the paradigm shift in equities. In his in-depth analysis he explored how the transformed macro-economic environment, resulting from the government’s financial discipline, would compel institutional funds to reconsider sole reliance on the debt market if they wished to achieve their target returns. Dr. Gunawardane noted “If the country can run a primary surplus which in turn can lead to more stable interest rates, then it is going to force all of us to reconsider our asset allocation. The fundamental question we, as institutional investors, must ask ourselves is; can you meet your target return through fixed income alone? In this new macro-economic environment, you may find that you cannot.” Dr. Gunawardane noted at the forum that institutional investors with pre-existing equity investments should consider increasing their allocations while those without should seriously consider initiating them if the underlying assumption was that the government would continue with the Central Bank Act and the Public Finance Management Act beyond the end of the IMF program.

The forum is part of a broader initiative to engage the wider investor market in the healthy growth currently underway in the capital market, and to empower institutional investors to exercise judicious allocation decisions that support both growth and portfolio diversification. Both the SEC and CSE are committed to sustaining this effort through continuous engagement and the convening of similar strategic forums across the country.


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Cargills adopts Crow Island Beach in partnership with Clean Ocean Force Lanka

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8 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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Cargills Food and Beverage Ltd. through its brands KIST and Knuckles, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Clean Ocean Force Lanka (COF) to adopt Crow Island Beach for one year, reinforcing its commitment to long-term coastal conservation in Sri Lanka.

This pioneering initiative is designed to protect and preserve the coastal environment through several key measures, including the removal of plastic and other pollutants from the beach and surrounding coastal area. As part of the adoption programme, the beach will be maintained daily with the support of dedicated beach caretakers, while also supporting their livelihoods by providing meaningful income opportunities.

Marking the partnership and in celebration of World Recycling Day, a coastal clean-up programme was conducted at Crow Island Beach to remove plastic and other manmade pollutants. Volunteers from Cargills, Clean Ocean Force Lanka, the Interact Club of Colombo, the Colombo Municipal Council and the Women’s Force of COF Negombo (Sri Vimukthi Association) participated in the clean-up with support from the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the Sri Lanka Police Environmental Division and the Ministry of Local Government and Environment as well as the Crow Island Beach Park Society.

Jerome Fernando, Chairman & Co-founder of Clean Ocean Force Lanka said that, “Marine & Coast Conservation demands a unified front. Our unique Public-Private-People Partnership model is the cornerstone of our mission, and today, we are thrilled to welcome Cargills (Ceylon) PLC as a vital partner in this journey adopting the Crow Island Beach for the next one year. This collaboration will not only amplify our efforts to eliminate plastic and manmade pollutants from our beaches, but also reinforce our commitment to empowering marginalized communities through sustainable livelihood opportunities. Cargills’ deep-rooted dedication to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing perfectly aligns with our vision.”

Jagath Gunasekara, General Manager of MEPA added, “The Marine Environment Protection Authority consistently promotes active private sector engagement in marine and coastal conservation, as well as pollution control initiatives. This approach aligns closely with our Beach Caretaker Programme. We are pleased to collaborate with Cargills (Ceylon) PLC in the adoption of Crow Island Beach through our long-standing partnership with Clean Ocean Force Lanka.”

During the event, Knuckles also launched Sri Lanka’s first tethered bottle cap, introducing a packaging innovation aimed at improving plastic waste management and supporting recycling efforts. The tethered cap is designed to remain attached to the bottle after opening, reducing the likelihood of caps being discarded separately. Bottle caps are among the most commonly littered plastic items globally and frequently enter landfills and waterways due to their small size and low collection rates.

Speaking on the initiative, Arjuna Kumarasinghe, Managing Director of Cargills Food & Beverage Ltd., said, “Cargills has always believed in taking responsibility for the communities and environments around us. By adopting Crow Island Beach, we’re able to work closely with our partners and local volunteers to protect this part of our coastline. Launching the tethered bottle cap is another way we’re addressing plastic waste and making recycling easier for everyone.”

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CBSL adopts cautious stance in the face of economic uncertainties

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8 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; focus on inflation stabilization

The Central Bank is keeping its overnight policy rates unchanged, adopting a cautious stance amid uncertainty over the inflationary impact of energy prices due to the Middle East crisis.

‘We maintained the overnight policy rate at 7.75 percent, considering low inflation and a restrained approach on the fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe said.

The Governor made these remarks yesterday at a press briefing held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo to announce the monthly monetary policy stance.

Dr Weerasinghe added: ‘Inflation is now expected to reach the Central Bank’s target of 5 percent in the second quarter of 2026, after Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by about 35 percent this month.

‘However, spillovers from the ongoing conflict could weigh on domestic economic activity in the period ahead should the conflict be prolonged.

‘The rates were steady since last May as the nation recovers from a 2022 financial crisis driven by a severe dollar shortage.

‘Supported by a US$ 2.9 billion programme with the IMF, Sri Lanka posted a strong economic recovery last year, growing by 5 percent and now targeting growth between 4 percent and 5 per cent in 2026.

‘What stands out is that they see space for inflation to rise because of energy prices but still stay contained.

‘From now to June, underlying economic momentum has the space to keep pace despite the disruption because domestic liquidity and credit has been quite substantial as well.

‘An IMF team will arrive in Colombo on Friday for the combined fifth and sixth reviews of the bailout.

‘Furthermore, Gross Official Reserves increased to US$ 7.3 billion at end February 2026 and the Central Bank purchased a substantial amount of foreign exchange from the market in the first two months of the year.

‘However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses risks to Sri Lanka’s external sector outlook, particularly through energy, tourism, trade and remittance flows, although the overall magnitude of the impact remains uncertain.

‘While the Sri Lanka rupee remained relatively stable in early 2026, some depreciation pressures were observed following the onset of the Middle East conflict, similar to the exchange rates of regional peers.

‘Meanwhile, the Monetary Policy Board remains prepared to implement appropriate policy measures to ensure that inflation stabilizes around the target, while supporting the economy to reach its potential.’

By Hiran H Senewiratne

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Dialog Unveils Dialog Play Mini with Netflix and Apple TV

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8 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has announced the latest upgrade to its smart entertainment lineup with the Dialog Play Mini, featuring seamless access to global streaming platforms including Netflix, Apple TV and YouTube, alongside the Dialog Play entertainment ecosystem for a unified viewing experience. Previously known as the ViU Mini, the device has now been reintroduced as the Dialog Play Mini, reflecting the evolution of Dialog’s digital entertainment platform under the Dialog Play brand.

The Dialog Play Mini transforms any television into a smart 4K entertainment hub by enabling hybrid multi-platform streaming across leading global and local content platforms, delivering a smoother, more intuitive viewing experience. Whether enjoying Netflix originals, Apple TV exclusives, or local favorites, households can now experience world-class entertainment in one compact device.

The Dialog Play Mini brings a streamlined, user-friendly experience to any home setup. Its single numeric-keypad remote controls both the TV and the device, offering simplicity and convenience for everyday viewing. With multiple connectivity options including Wi-Fi, hotspot, LAN, or wingle, the device ensures uninterrupted entertainment even in areas without smart TVs or advanced broadband setups.

Bridging the gap between entry-level set-top boxes and premium Android TV devices, the Dialog Play Mini offers a plug-and-play smart experience. Supported by Dialog’s nationwide service network, local warranty, and after-sales care, it delivers a reliable, feature-rich entertainment experience for Sri Lankan homes.

“With Dialog Play Mini, entertainment becomes more directly accessible for every Sri Lankan home – with or without a Smart TV,” said Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC. “By bringing Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, and Dialog Play together in one compact 4K-ready device, we’re redefining home entertainment through simplicity, innovation, and the power of connectivity.”

The Dialog Play Mini is now available at Dialog Experience Centers and authorized retailers islandwide. To purchase online, please visit

https://dialog.lk/dialog-play-mini

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