Softlogic Stockbrokers host Investor Forum 2026 themed ‘Navigate. Grow. Succeed’

IMF Resident Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Martha T. Woldemichael

Independent Economist Talal Rafi

Softlogic Stockbrokers Director/CEO Dihan Dedigama

The Investor Forum 2026 hosted by Softlogic Stockbrokers Ltd. was successfully held on 23 February at the Cinnamon Life Hotel, Sri Lanka bringing together industry leaders, financial experts, and investors for an in-depth discussion on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook and equity market prospects.

The forum commenced with a welcome address by Softlogic Stockbrokers Director/Chief Executive Officer Dihan Dedigama who set the tone for an evening of thoughtful insights, forward-looking perspectives, and engaging dialogue.

A key highlight of the evening was the keynote address delivered by International Monetary Fund Resident Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Martha T. Woldemichael  who shared valuable perspectives on Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory, ongoing policy reforms, and medium-term development priorities, noting that “the task ahead is to move from stabilisation to transformation,” and emphasising that while Sri Lanka’s recovery under the IMF program marks a success, it is not a finished story, with sustained reforms, fiscal credibility, and policy consistency being essential to translate macroeconomic stability into lasting improvements in living standards and to build investor confidence.

The macroeconomic discussion was further enriched by an expert address from Independent Economist Talal Rafi who shared additional insights into Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic outlook and highlighted some of the key domestic and geopolitical risks whilst highlighting how Sri Lanka could navigate through the next phase of growth.

The forum also featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Softlogic Stockbrokers Head of Strategy Raynal Wickremeratne which brought together a distinguished lineup of speakers representing the banking sector, the real estate sector, the insurance sector, the construction sector and the agriculture/poultry sector. 

The panel included CIC Holdings PLC Group Chief Executive Officer Aroshan Seresinhe, Hatton National Bank Chief Growth Officer Bimal Perera, Softlogic Life Insurance PLC Managing Director Iftikar Ahamed, ACL Cables PLC CFO Mahesh Amarasiri, and Prime Lands Residencies PLC Managing Director Premalal Brahmanage.

The program highlighted significant growth opportunities within these industries with Bimal Perera expecting a sustained private sector credit growth in 2026 whilst the real estate sector showed promise with Prime Lands expecting a significant demand for apartment projects during the coming period. 

Iftikar Ahamed also highlighted the impact of demographic changes on the insurance industry that could see a major demand for policies over the medium to long term, offering sustainable growth prospects for the company and industry. 

Whilst highlighting the shift to high yield fertiliser and efficient agriculture, Aroshan Seresinghe highlighted CIC’s growth prospects in the export segment, stating that Samahan and the Low GI Rice products are gaining notable traction. Mahesh Amarasiri discussed some key trends in construction such as the resumption of residential construction, the increase in capacity expansions and the renewable energy drive which would all play a role in driving growth for the cables industry. 

An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers, address pressing market concerns, and gain deeper clarity on economic developments and investment implications.

Softlogic Stockbrokers Director/CEO Dihan Dedigama (left) and IMF Resident Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Martha T. Woldemichael

From left: Softlogic Stockbrokers Head of Strategy Raynal Wickremeratne, ACL Cables CFO Mahesh Amarasiri, independent Economist Talal Rafi, Prime Lands Residencies Managing Director Premalal Brahmanage, CIC Holdings Group CEO Aroshan Seresinhe, HNB Chief Growth Officer Bimal Perera, and Softlogic Life Insurance Managing Director Iftikar Ahamed

Pix by Ruwan Walpola