The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) in collaboration with Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) conducted an Investor Forum in Matara recently at the Grand Navro Hotel, Matara.
The forum was organized to raise awareness on investor protection and emphasize the importance of investor education regarding the investment opportunities available in the stock market. Attracting over 200 participants, the forum offered valuable insights to both potential and existing investors in the region.
The attendees received an introduction to investing, including the investment process and the pros and cons of stock market investments, from Mr. Bimal Ganesha, an executive at the CSE Matara Branch.
Educating investors on the role of the SEC in the market, as well as diving into the intricacies of investor protection, Manager – External Relations, SEC, Mr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, addressed the gathering as well.
Following this, Ms. Shanika Ramanayake, Senior Executive – Digital Products at the Colombo Stock Exchange, conducted a session to raise awareness about the CSE Mobile App.
Furthermore, an analysis of the sectoral performance and market opportunities was presented by the Chief Investment Officer of JB Securities (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Sashika Wickramaratne.
Conducting an Introduction to Unit Trust Investment, the Manager of Personal Wealth Management, NDB Wealth, Mr. Dasaka Samaraweera addressed the attendees as well.
Bringing the forum to a close, an interactive panel discussion was held with the participation of Mr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Mr. Sashika Wickramaratne and Senior Vice President of Marketing, CSE, Mr. Niroshan Wijesundere, providing an opportunity for participants to clarify any doubts from the panelists.
The participants were also given the opportunity to meet Investment Advisors from stock brokerage firms as well as representatives of Unit Trust Management Companies.
The SEC and CSE have planned more investor forums for the year 2024 in locations such as Colombo and Ambalantota, in order to create awareness about investor education and protection whilst emphasizing the importance of financial literacy.