The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has welcomed the Government’s 2027 Budget, noting that it formally includes two key proposals advocated by the Commission: the “A Share for Everyone” programme for Advanced Level students and the SME Listing Support Mechanism.
In a media release issued on November 13, SEC Chairman Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara said the initiatives mark a significant milestone in deepening the capital market, broadening investor participation and strengthening the link between economic growth and capital formation. “A Share for Everyone,” run under the vision “Let’s Know, Let’s Learn, Let’s Invest,” aims to give eligible Advanced Level students hands-on exposure to the capital market, fostering financial literacy, long-term wealth creation and an informed investment culture among young Sri Lankans.
The SME Listing Support Mechanism, meanwhile, addresses the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises, the backbone of the economy. By helping SMEs raise capital through stock market listings, it will open new avenues for growth, improve corporate governance and transparency, and diversify investment opportunities for the public. The SEC said these supply- and demand-side measures directly address historically low market participation relative to the country’s potential.
The Commission also thanked President and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma for their guidance and willingness to consider its proposals. Going forward, the SEC intends to work closely with the Ministry of Finance, the Colombo Stock Exchange and educational and industry stakeholders to ensure the programmes are successfully implemented.