- Plans to double the number of active clients
- Islandwide awareness campaign to be launched
- Derivatives market yet at initial stage
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is poised for a higher performance following an islandwide awareness campaign which the Exchange plans to launch shortly that would see the number of active clients surging from the present rate.
The over 40-year old Stock Exchange has only around 45,000 active clients doing around one transaction a month from around 720,000 account holders and 260,000 portfolios.
The CSE is dubbed one of the best-performing markets in the world. The Exchange presently has 286 companies representing 20 GICS industry groups as at June 30, 2025, with a Market Capitalisation of Rs. 6,437.95 billion.
“Our target is to double the number of active clients in the next two to three years for which we will launch an awareness campaign covering all districts of the country shortly,” CSE Chairman Dimuthu Abeyesekera said. The Colombo Stock Exchange operates branches across all provinces.
The CSE will run a program across the country focusing on the Western province although the province has been covered to bring in the non-trading clients to the market.
“We see some gaps yet in the Western Province where the CSE will conduct educational programs to attract more investors to the market,” Abeyesekera said.
Of the total number of investors of the CSE around 92% are local clients.
The CSE notched an 18% growth so far this year with a daily turnover of Rs. 4.3 billion on average as against Rs. 2.24 billion recorded in 2024 with a 8-9% PE ratio.
“The CSE is currently the most attractive market in the region which is on an upward trend due to low interest rates, rise in remittances and tourism, the CSE Chairman said while stressing there is no opportunities for market manipulations under a firm regulator.
Emphasising the need for more SMEs to enter the market for which the CSE has a dedicated board termed as the ‘Empower Board’ Abeyesekera said. it The CSE works with regional chambers to deliver continuous awareness programs to educate small and medium sector entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the economy.
On the much spoken about launching the derivatives market, the CSE Chairman said that the Stock Exchange is looking at the option but it’s progress is still at initial stages.
The CSE according to the Chairman hopes to set up an office at the Colombo Port City to service foreign currency listing.
Discussions on it he said is currently underway and progress is at a preliminary phase.
The CSE notched a stellar performance in June with both indices netting 7% growth while the benchmark ASPI crossed the 18,000-points mark.
The benchmark All Share Price Index crossed the 19,000 mark last week.
