First stock market road show under MS-RW “Yahapalana” regime in October

• Fresh initiative by the CSE for the first time in Zurich whilst London to get a repeat inspired by success last year

The first ever capital market road show in the new era of President Maithirpala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe “Yahapalanaya” will be held in October.

Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka told the Daily FT that the first road show will be held in Zurich on 27th October followed by in London from 29 to 30th.

The last road show in the successful series initiated under the previous regime was in New York.

Kulatilaka said a more opportune time was anticipated before rolling out the road shows and with the country having successfully and peacefully elected a new Government, the outlook was better to go out and market Sri Lanka.

In Zurich, the initiative will be more on building awareness and country image with focus on policy with key champions from the new Government whilst in London it will be a repeat of the successful effort of luring a fresh round of investments. 

Zurich event, which will be hot on the heels of important UN Human Rights Council session on Sri Lanka in late September, the focus will be on enlightening fund managers on the policy and post-war reconciliation and economic opportunity in rebuilding and reconstruction.

For both events, a big and exuberant contingent from Sri Lanka capital market will participate in addition to a high profile officials delegation. Two days have been fixed for London given the growing interest by fund managers for one-on-one meetings with listed companies and stock brokers.

Due to local and external factors, the Colombo stock market year to date has offered near negative returns but most analysts are emphatic that in the medium to long term, Sri Lanka remains attractive especially with better governance and economic reforms.