The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) officially opened its Bandarawela Branch to the public, further strengthening its islandwide presence. The branch was inaugurated by the Chairman of the CSE, Mr. Dilshan Wirasekara and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara in the presence of Senior officials representing both public and private sectors.
With this opening, the CSE proudly announces its presence across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka, with branches now established in Matara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Panadura, and Bandarawela.
Similar to CSE’s other branches, the Bandarawela branch will facilitate a range of services including CDS account opening, access to stockbroker firms, investor educational workshops, and personalized guidance for navigating the stock market or clarifying their investment-related queries.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Dilshan Wirasekara stated, “With the opening of the Bandarawela branch, the CSE brings the capital market closer to the people, enabling greater accessibility and empowering individuals across the Uva Province to take informed steps in their financial planning and investment journeys.”
“We are not here to compete with banks and finance companies, but to supplement the services they offer by introducing a new dimension to financial decision-making—by offering an alternative avenue of investment for your savings through the stock market, enabling you to grow your wealth.”
Mr. Wirasekara also emphasised the CSE’s role as a facilitator of capital raising, especially for SMEs. “SMEs are the backbone of our economy, and the Empower Board is a dedicated space for small and medium-sized enterprises to raise capital and scale their operations. We cordially invite business owners in the region to engage with us and explore the opportunities the CSE has to offer for expansion and long-term growth.”
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara explained “The SEC is a government institution that serves as the regulatory body of Sri Lanka’s capital market. It is responsible for protecting the rights of investors, ensuring market fairness, efficiency and transparency, reducing systemic risk, and developing the capital market. These are the four core responsibilities we uphold in safeguarding the integrity and progress of Sri Lanka’s capital market.”
To mark the occasion, the CSE also hosted an Investor Forum for professionals and the local business community at the Bandarawela Hotel later that evening. Presentations were delivered on investor protection by Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara, Chairman of the SEC, and on the macro-economic outlook and market opportunities by Mr. Kapila Pathirage, Director – Sales, HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd. A panel discussion followed, featuring the Chairmans of the CSE and SEC, and Mr. Kapila Pathirage, moderated by CSE CEO Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike.
