Lanka Securities: Shaping the Future of Investing in Sri Lanka

As a leading stockbroking firm with over three decades of experience, Lanka Securities has earned a strong reputation for reliability, insight, and client-first service in Sri Lanka’s capital market. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Chanaka Mendis the Director of Sales shares the story behind the company’s growth, its proudest milestones, and how it’s leveraging technology, ESG principles, and market expertise to guide investors toward a smarter, more sustainable future.

QCan you share the origin story of Lanka Securities and how it has evolved overthe years?

Lanka Securities was established back in 1989 by Bank of Ceylon as a part of its group structure with the vision of providing reliable and trustworthy stock brokering service to the investment community of Sri Lanka. In the year 2000, First Capital Securities Corporation of Pakistan joined Lanka Securities through a strategic investment, marking the beginning of a valuable international partnership.

QHow has Lanka Securities maintained its reputation as a trusted name in the Sri Lankan financial sector? 

Lanka Securities has been a pioneer in the stock broking industry in Sri Lanka. We are backed by the largest commercial bank in Sri Lanka which is Bank of Ceylon. In order to maintain our reputation and to be a trusted name in the capital markets we have placed the utmost importance in best-in-class customer service, we are a flexible broking firm where clients could engage with us in ease, we adopt a genuine approach to meet our client needs which has made our clients our brand ambassadors, who has shared their positive experiences with others which has boosted company’s image. We don’t aim at short term gains; instead, we are focused on building lasting wealth over the long term for our clients. 

QWhat are the core services that Lanka Securities offers to clients today?  

We provide investment advisory services on equity and debt securities listed on the Colombo Exchange to local and foreign investors. We also provide cutting edge research to our clients to make well informed investment decisions.

QIn what ways is Lanka Securities leveraging technology and digital platforms to enhance client experiences? 

With advancements in technology Lanka securities have embarked on innovative tools and platforms to enhance trading experience for our clients.  As a result, now the investors can experience improved efficiency, accessibility, and customization in their trading activities. We believe the future of stock broking technology holds great potential for both individual investors and institutional investors, as it continues to evolve and shape the landscape of investing and trading in stocks.

QHow does your team ensure they stay ahead of market trends and regulatory changes? 

The brokerage industry has evolved a great deal and faced significant improvements amidst evolving regulatory landscape and adapting to ever dynamic market trends. These regulatory and industry trends have presented opportunities for Lanka Securities and as a firm we have demonstrated agility, innovation, and a strong commitment to stay ahead ofthe curve and capitalize on market opportunities. 

As a firm we have invested heavily on our people and technology. We have created an enabling environment for our employees to think of out the box and come up with innovative trading ideas. Investment in Technology has enhanced efficiency, improving client service, and mitigating risks in terms of compliance and regulatory operating environment. We have also strengthened Compliance not only to be in complying with regulatory operating environment but also to maintain client trust.

QWhat would be the focused areas of Lanka Securities in the years ahead?

We are focusing on building lasting client relationships. We are continuously focusing on exploring avenues to attracting new client relationships. Given Sri Lanka’s low Debt to market capitalization levels of 16.3% in 2024 compared to global peers we are committed to introducing stock market investments to local retail investors, where we would see the capital market wealth being distributed amongst many Sri Lankans.  Moreover, foreign participation in the Colombo bourse from its previous highs of 40% has declined to 7%-8% currently. We are also firmly focused on enhancing the foreign participation to its previous highs and beyond with foreign broker tie ups. We believe this is one of the best ways that Sri Lanka could attract portfolio investments to Sri Lanka.

QCan you share how Lanka Securities has supported clients in achieving their financial or investment goals?

 In equity investment market volatility is the name of the game that can unsettle even the most experienced investors. When markets swing, emotions run high. That’s when clear long-term strategies become essential to keeping clients on track. At Lanka Securities we try to understand the clients risk return objectives and as a firm we emphasis on the financial wellbeing of our client and wouldn’t merely churn for brokerage. We emphasis on diversification and dividend potential to wither market volatility with solid stream of income. Moreover, we keep our clients at heart informing not only of the good trends but more importantly prepare clients for volatile times as well. 

QHow is Lanka Securities preparing for the future of investing, especially in terms of sustainability, ESG, and fintech?

we’re actively preparing for the future by aligning our strategy with key global trends — sustainability, ESG, and fintech innovation. We’re integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into our research and advisory work, empowering clients to make more responsible, long-term investment decisions.

At the same time, we’re embracing technology to modernize our operations. From digital onboarding to smarter trade execution and real-time analytics, we're investing in fintech solutions that enhance the client experience and improve efficiency across the board.

Our goal is to stay ahead of the curve — not just adapting to change, but leading it. By combining strong market insight with innovation and a growing focus on sustainability, Lanka Securities is well-positioned to serve the evolving needs of both local and global investors.