CSE - SLFEB encourage personal financial planning for skilled migrant workers

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) together with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) recently conducted awareness programmes for skilled migrant workers from across the island, on the “potential value of the market and the importance of personal financial planning”.

The seminars were held at the SLFEB regional training centres in Bogawanthalawa and Athurugiriya targeting more than 500 applicants about to pursue new employment opportunities in South Korea.

For many of the participants the programme offered them an opportunity to clarify any misconceptions they had about the capital market, according to a CSE media release. “This programme gave me a broad understanding of the CSE. I was able to clear up a number of mistaken beliefs and negative information that I had gathered about the Stock Market,” G.K Hasini (22), from Galle said.

“Through this programme I learned the correct method of engaging with the stock market. Because we have heard of so many people who had bad experiences. But today I learned that if one invests wisely in the Stock Market, there are good gains to be achieved,” Asanka Pushpakumara (30), Ratnapura said.

The objective of the programme was to encourage migrant workers to channel their funds back to the country via the Stock Market either directly or through Unit Trusts.

For H.W D. D Hansamali (21), from Angoda, the programme was an eye-opener as it educated her on the various avenues of investment accessible through the stock market. “I learned from this programme that there are a number of alternative investment opportunities available. I was also informed that the Stock Market is the ideal means of protecting my savings against inflation,” she said.

I.T Hettiarachchi (24), from Galle, noted that the programme stimulated her interest in the stock market and encouraged her to do more research in the area of investing. “This was a basic introduction to the stock market. I am now convinced that after a little more research I must invest in the capital market, because this will provide the best returns on my money. I also learned about Unit Trusts and the returns I can achieve through this method of investing,” she said.

“I will certainly consider doing more research about the market and investing the earnings I make while overseas,” K.M Karunaratne (28), Warallagama said.