CSE educates Polonnaruwa entrepreneurs...
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in association with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) recently engaged the business and investor community in Polonnaruwa to educate participants on stock market investments and listing on the stock exchange through the Empower Board.
The investor forum marked the 18th event of the regional investor forum series titled ‘Kotas Welenda Pola: Nagarayen Nagarayate’ organized to create awareness on stock market investment while the Empower Board Forum was the 8thregional event organized to create awareness on the Empower Board, CSE’S platform for SMES to list on the stock market.
The investor forum drew an encouraging response from the community based in the region and was attended by present and prospective investors.
Content discussed at the event included an introduction to investing in the stock market, an investment outlook of key sectors represented by companies listed on the CSE and a broad discussion on investing in the stock market through a Q&A session and panel discussion.
Senior Investment Advisor at Softlogic Stock brokers Madushanka Rathnayaka, Assistant Vice President - Research at Capital Alliance Securities Mahesh Udugampala and CSE Anuradhapura Branch Manager Tharaka Amarasena spoke at the event while Director
Surveillance at SEC Prabash Wanigathunge and CSE Kandy Branch Manager Dhananjaya Abeysiriwardana joined in as panelists during the discussion segment. Representatives from Asha Securities and LOLC Securities were present at the event.
The Empower Board Forum drew the interest of the business community in Polonnaruwa and was attended by leading entrepreneurs in the region representing industries and sectors such as agriculture, hotels, healthcare, trading, livestock and other sectors. The highlight of the event was the insights shared by Executive Director of Raigam Wayamba Salterns PLC G.V.P.G Amarasinghe on the experience of listing in the stock market. Amarasinghe speaking at the event offered perspective on the journey of the company since its inception, the thought process at the time of listing the company on the stock market and thoughts on the experience of being a listed company including the benefits and the challenges.
The Empower Board listing standards and eligibility was presented by Assistant Vice President of Investment Banking at CT CLSA Capital Ishan Eliyapola. The speakers were joined by Director Surveillance at SEC Prabash Wanigathunge and Assistant Manager Listings at CSE Chandana Wijesundere for a discussion with the audience, which was moderated by and CSE Anuradhapura Branch Manager Tharaka Amarasena.
Representatives from Empower Board Sponsors CT CLSA Capital, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC and
NDB Investment Bank were also present at the event. The requirements and the process involved with a listing on the Empower Board have been tailored to address the context of these companies, and largely vary from the Main and Diri Savi Boards. The Empower Board aims to capture companies that could demonstrate a stated capital of between Rs. 25 million and Rs. 100 million at the point of listing. Apart from access to capital, the Empower Board also offers companies opportunities to build credibility through transparency and good governance.