Business
CSE capital-raising in 2021 reaches record high of Rs. 124 billion
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
A buoyant CSE in 2021 saw capital- raising increasing to a record Rs. 124 billion. The previous highest, in a 10-year time span was in 2018, amounting to Rs. 105 billion, CSE chairman Dumith Fernando said.
“Last year, of the capital raised, a record Rs. 84.4 billion was via debt and Rs. 39.4 billion in equity. The CSE also saw 28 new listings, including 14 debt IPOs and 13 equity IPOs, Fernando told the media while announcing the CSE’s achievements in 2021 and its proposed plans to be implemented in 2022. The event was held at Hotel Taj Samudra last week.
Fernando said that in 2021, the market had its best year, in terms of ASPI gaining 80.5 per cent and the S&P SL20 improving by 60.5 per cent. Market capitalization also reached a 10-year high of 36.7 per cent of GDP or Rs. 5.5 trillion from 19.7 per cent in 2020 or Rs. 2.96 trillion and 34.5 per cent in 2010 or Rs. 2.2 trillion.
“With proactive efforts by both the CSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), especially digitization initiatives, the Colombo stock market saw active local investor participation, the CSE chairman said.
The active investor base rose to 63,000 as opposed to the target of 50,000, while the number of new accounts was 37,000, higher from 2020 but fell short of the target of 50,000, he added. Fernando also said the CSE more than doubled turnover to Rs. 4.9 billion per day.
Amid those developments, CSE trading activities were positive throughout the day and at certain times the index reached the 200 level. Most of the blue- chip counters witnessed fresh buying interest and prices in most of them appreciated during the day, stock market analysts said.
Both indices moved upwards. The All- Share Price Index went up by 125 points and S and P SL20 rose by 63.5 points. Turnover stood at Rs 7.1 billion with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in TJ Lanka, which crossed 2.5 million shares to the tune of Rs 139 million and its shares traded at Rs 52 and LOLC Finance 3.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 111 million, its shares traded at Rs 28.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, Vallibel One Rs 582 million (six million shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 557 million (1.4 million shares traded), Softlogic Capital Rs 454 million (3.5 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 318 million (18.7 million shares traded), Chevron Lubricants Rs 263 million (2.1 million shares traded), Central Finance Rs 254 million (2.3 million shares traded) and Hayleys Rs 240 million (1.6 million shares traded). During the day 256 million share volumes changed hands in 61000 transactions.
Yesterday the US dollar was quoted at Rs 202.45, which was the Central Bank controlled price. However, in the open market the dollar rate exceeded the Rs 250 level, sources said.
Business
President briefs Sri Lankan delegation leaving for tariff related discussions in Washington
A Sri Lankan delegation is set to participate in discussions in Washington, D.C., focusing on tariff-related matters, following an invitation extended by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the second in-person meeting aimed at ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two nations.
This initiative builds on several prior virtual interactions held between the USTR and Sri Lankan officials, and underscores a commitment to deepening economic ties. The upcoming talks are anticipated to explore avenues for enhancing trade cooperation and securing favourable outcomes for Sri Lanka, in light of current economic priorities.
Ahead of the visit, a high-level meeting was convened today under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to ensure the country’s interests are well represented. The discussion focused on aligning the delegation’s approach with Sri Lanka’s broader economic strategy, ensuring the best possible outcomes from the upcoming discussions.
Key participants at the meeting included Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development K.M.M. Siriwardana; Nirmal Vigneshwaran, representing the Attorney General’s Department; and Dharshana Perera from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details of the discussions in Washington are expected to be made available following the conclusion of the meetings.
[PMD]
Sri Lanka’s largest tourism exhibition, “Tourism Renaissance 2025” (Sancharaka Udawa 2025), was inaugurated on Friday (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), this event brings together key stakeholders across the tourism industry. It offers a valuable platform for small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as individuals aspiring to enter the tourism sector, to connect with market opportunities and showcase their products and services.
The two-day exhibition, which ends on Saturday [24], features 250 trade stalls and includes participation from a wide range of sectors such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, service providers and educational institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the government has declared 2025 the “Year of Tourism Renaissance,” with plans to generate USD 5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector by the end of the year.
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, SLAITO Chairman Nalin Jayasundara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and a distinguished group of invitees including the Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”
The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.
“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”
By Ifham Nizam
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