Ceylon Tobacco opens trading at CSE

• CEO of multinational says “privileged to be listed on CSE”

CTC MD/CEO Felicio Ferraz ringing the opening bell. Also present from left: CTC Finance Director Stephan Matthiesen, CTC MD/CEO Felicio Ferraz and CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka

CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka presents CTC MD/CEO Felicio Ferraz with a token of appreciation. From left: CTC Marketing Director Rajiv Meewakkala, CTC Legal Director Ranjan Seneviratne, CTC Supply Chain Director Shah Mansoor Khalil, CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CTC MD/CEO Felicio Ferraz, CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, CTC Human Resources Director Samanmali Chandrasiri, CTC Finance Director Stephan Matthiesen, CTC Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director Dinesh Dharmadasa and CSE Board Member M.R. Prelis

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) opened trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) today. This event was yet another in a series of market opening ceremonies featuring the companies from the S&P SL20 index. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Felicio Ferraz, Finance Director Stephan Matthiesen, Marketing Director Rajiv Meewakkala, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director Dinesh Dharmadasa, Supply Chain Director Shah Mansoor Khalil, Human Resources Director Samanmali Chandrasiri and Legal Director Ranjan Seneviratne from CTC and Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, Director M.R. Prelis, CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike and the Senior Management from the CSE took part in the market opening ceremony. “We have a long lasting relationship with the Colombo Stock Exchange, as a listed entity for more than 60 years, since 1952. We consider being a listed company on the Colombo Stock Exchange a privilege. Being listed adds to our value, mainly in terms of governance, reporting and transparency. I would like to see other companies listing – to make (the Stock Exchange) more vibrant as one of the leading frontier markets in the region,” Ferraz said. “Investing in the stock market is a risky business, but you can get a high return if you understand what you are doing and invest in the right companies. I was happy to see, that when I arrived here in 2013, our share price was at Rs. 800 and after a year it reached Rs. 1,400. I know that our industry is a controversial one, which is why we need to give a higher return and thus we pay 100% dividend on our profits. This is seen through the market cap that we have on the stock exchange,” he added. Pix by Lasantha Kumara