CSE, USAID hold Issuer Forum in southern region

CSE Senior Vice President, Commercial Punyamali Saparamadu, Capital Alliance Assistant Vice President of Research Niroshan De Silva, Asia Siyaka Commodities Executive Director Chamara Dissanayake, CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, and USAID’s CATALYZE PSD Inclusive Finance Director Jude Fernando 

• Event educates SMEs on the opportunities in capital-raising through listing

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) collaborated on a forum to provide small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in southern Sri Lanka with insights into opportunities to raise capital through the CSE.

Held recently at the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort and Spa, the issuer forum titled “Redefining the Trajectory of Your Business”, provided guidance on exploring effective capital-raising avenues, specifically through listing on the Empower and Diri Savi Boards, which offer dedicated listing platforms for SMEs, focusing on sectors like agribusinesses, livestock, energy generation, ICT, and tourism-related ventures. Industry experts, investment advisors, CSE representatives, and representatives of USAID’s CATALYZE Sri Lanka Private Sector Development Activity led panel discussions and interactive sessions.

USAID’s office of Economic Growth Deputy Director Dennis Wesner said: “USAID’s goal for SMEs is to unlock opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainability, paving the way for economic development that benefits everyone. Forums like this are important for educating SMEs about the available capital resources.”

CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike said: “The decision to pursue a listing on the stock exchange marks a significant milestone in the life of any company. Going public is not just about raising capital or enhancing liquidity—it’s about unlocking potential, fuelling innovation, and creating value for shareholders, employees, and society at large. It will be a transformative path which starts with a fundamental shift in mindsets.” 

Conducting a session on ‘Capital Mobilisation through the CSE’, Capital Alliance Assistant Vice President of Research Niroshan De Silva said: “Sri Lankan SMEs are the backbone of our economy, but many face challenges in accessing growth capital. Listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) provides a unique opportunity to address this very need. By going public, SMEs can tap into new sources of capital, allowing for significant expansion and innovation.” “The CSE also facilitates price discovery, providing a fair market value for existing investors. Additionally, the listing process fosters good corporate governance practices, building trust and transparency for all stakeholders. In short, a vibrant SME sector on the CSE will benefit not only the businesses themselves, but also the Sri Lankan capital market by fostering innovation, diversification, and a culture of strong corporate governance,” De Silva added. 

Apart from Bandaranaike and De Silva, the forum featured a panel discussion titled “Journey Towards Listing and Life after Listing” including PSD Inclusive Finance Director Jude Fernando, Asia Siyaka Commodities Ltd. Executive Director Chamara Dissanayake, with CSE Senior Vice President, Commercial Punyamali Saparamadu serving as the moderator.   

The Weligama session follows similar presentations held in Colombo and Jaffna. Attendees reported finding the discussion valuable for its insightful perspectives.