‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum to be held in Singapore to Boost Foreign Investment

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the stock broking industry, are conducting an ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum in Singapore on 12th August 2025. Building on the momentum of the successful foreign investor forum held in Colombo during March this year, the initiative aims to further engage with global investors and promote Sri Lanka’s capital market as an attractive frontier investment destination.

The forum will bring together high-level government officials, regulators, listed companies, stock broker firms, and international investors to foster connections and promote long-term capital flows into Sri Lanka. The SEC and CSE have invited Hon. Prof. Anil J. Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka; H.E. Senarath Dissanayake, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore; Ruchir Desai, Fund Manager, Asia Frontier Capital Ltd; and Dr. Naveen Gunawardane, Managing Director, LYNEAR Wealth Management, to share their insights, highlighting the country’s ongoing economic reforms, financial stability, and capital market potential.

11 major listed companies will be participating in the forum, highlighting the strength of Sri Lanka’s listed sector and the broader investment opportunity it represents.

Sri Lanka’s capital market has shown strong performance in recent years, with notable growth in index returns, market turnover, and capital raising activities. In 2023, the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) and S&P SL20 posted returns of 25.50% and 16.42% respectively, followed by 49.66% and 58.46% in 2024. The momentum has continued into 2025, with increased market turnover and sustained foreign interest. The market also witnessed a net foreign inflow of USD 66.5 million in 2024 and raised a record USD 568.61 million in capital. Encouragingly, Engagement from the March investor forum that has translated into an uptick in foreign inflows, adding to the market’s positive trajectory.

The country continues to gain global recognition, including from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for being on the right path towards macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline.

At a current market Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.20x, Sri Lanka’s equity market remains competitively valued relative to peer markets, offering strong upside potential for investors seeking frontier market exposure.

With over 150 registered participants, they would gain access to a series of sessions offering in-depth insights into Sri Lanka’s capital markets, economic outlook, investment opportunities including access to engage with Sri Lanka’s top corporates. The programme will also feature two high-level panel discussions. Panel 1 will focus on the outlook of the Sri Lankan economy in light of global uncertainty and would be moderated by Avril Hong from Bloomberg TV whilst Panel 2 will cover the Sri Lankan equity market outlook and moderated by Ana Isabel Gonzales Chief Investment Officer, Farringdon Asset Management. Leading experts will share their perspectives on macroeconomic trends, market performance, and future growth opportunities. These sessions will highlight the resilience and potential of the market, showcasing recent policy reforms, improved infrastructure, and a robust ecosystem that supports sustainable investment.

The conclusion of Sri Lanka's international debt restructuring has improved the sovereign credit rating, reducing default risk and enhancing confidence in new issuances. Against the backdrop of significant reforms and positive economic developments, the Sri Lankan capital market is conducive to attracting investment and creating opportunities for institutional investors and fund managers globally.