CDS and Sampath Bank sign MoU to streamline foreign investor onboarding through digital integration

Tuesday, 3 June 2025 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: CSE Legal Officer – Legal and Enforcement Devni Galabada, CDS Manager – Depository Services, R&D Strategy and Projects Vindhya Colombage, Manager – Corporate Solutions and CRM Hemal Weerasinghe, Head Nadeera Athukorale, CSE SVP – Legal, Enforcement and Compliance Shivandini Liyanage, Chief Market Operations Officer Chandrakanth Jayasinghe, CEO-Designate Vindhya Jayasekera, CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Sampath Bank Managing Director Ayodhya Iddawela Perera, Chief Strategy Officer Sanjaya Gunawardana, Deputy General Manager – Transaction Banking and Inward Remittances Rajendra Ranasinghe, Senior Relationship Manager – Transaction Banking Yasith de Silva, CSE Lead – Depository Digital Services Anuraj Wickramasinghe, CDS SAM – Demat Compliance and Risk Ruchira Jayasinghe, and Head of Transaction Banking Thangavelu Gobinath

The Central Depository Systems Ltd., (CDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sampath Bank to enhance the facilitation of Inward Investment Accounts (IIAs) for non-resident foreign individuals (FIs) in Sri Lanka.

The CDS serves as the depository and custodian for securities traded on the CSE. This collaboration with Sampath Bank is part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen market infrastructure and improve investor accessibility.

Through this partnership, foreign investors will now be able to request IIAs when opening CDS accounts via the CSE mobile application. Essential applicant information will be exchanged between the CDS and Sampath Bank to ensure an efficient and compliant account setup. This partnership aims to simplify the investment process and strengthen Sri Lanka’s capital markets by attracting a broader range of international investors.

CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike commented on the initiative, “By integrating the IIA opening process into the CSE mobile application, we are removing key friction points and offering a faster, more convenient entry for non-resident investors. At a time when the market offers compelling value and long-term growth potential, streamlining access is critical to attracting increased foreign participation.”

Sampath Bank Managing Director Ayodhya Iddawela Perera stated, “This partnership reflects our continued focus on enabling progress through meaningful digital solutions. As global investor interest in Sri Lanka grows, it is vital that we offer efficient and secure entry points into our financial system. Through this collaboration with the CDS, we are pleased to support a simplified investor journey—one that upholds compliance, enhances user experience, and contributes to the broader objective of strengthening the country’s investment landscape.”

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