Ravi to attend CSE investor forums

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake left the island yesterday to attend an investment forum organised by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in Zurich and London yesterday. 

Karunanayake will deliver the keynote address at the CSE ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ investor forums in Zurich and London today and Thursday, the Finance Ministry said in a short statement.   

The Breakfast Meeting in Zurich will be hosted in association with the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC), while the Investor Forum in London will be hosted in association with Bloomberg.

The combined attendance at the forums numbers nearly 200 and includes major Institutional Investors with assets under management of $ 110 million or above.

The Breakfast Meeting in Zurich held at the Widder Hotel will showcase Sri Lanka’s potential as an investment destination, whereas the Forum in London, to be held at the Savoy spanning two days, will feature a longer program and allow for investors to meet with listed companies.

The Forum in London will feature 12 listed companies, which will each host one-on-one or group meetings. John Keells Holdings, Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Hatton National Bank, National Development Bank, Dialog Axiata, Carsons Cumberbatch, Lion Brewery (Ceylon), People’s Leasing & Finance, Softlogic Holdings, Tokyo Cement, Singer Sri Lanka, MTD Walkers, and Sunshine Holdings are attending the forum in London.

Karunanayake will deliver the keynote address, while Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka and Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Director General Vajira Wijegunawardane will make presentations on the opportunities in the capital market and the regulatory framework, respectively. 

A macroeconomic overview of the country will be provided by Copal Amba (A Moody’s Subsidiary) Country Head – Sri Lanka Chanakya Dissanayake. The main presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session with the audience.

In Zurich the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha will make the opening remarks while in London the opening remarks will be made by Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa.

The London forum will also feature presentations by Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange Plc and Director of International Development and Ashish Swarup of First State Investments, as an endorsement of the Sri Lankan capital market and the investment experience in Sri Lanka.