By: Staff Writer
March 16, Colombo (LNW): Adaptability remains crucial for sustained economic growth. The Investor Forum 2025, hosted by Softlogic Stockbrokers, served as a key platform for financial experts, industry leaders, and investors to discuss strategies for navigating the evolving investment landscape.
Under the theme ‘Thriving through Change & Rising Strong,’ the forum offered valuable insights into Sri Lanka’s economic outlook, stock market trends, and cross-sector financial developments.
Delivering the keynote address, Treasury and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana detailed Sri Lanka’s economic recovery since the 2022 crisis. He highlighted that the nation’s GDP grew by 5% in 2024, reversing previous contractions.
Siriwardana attributed this progress to disciplined fiscal management, debt restructuring, and IMF-supported reforms that helped stabilize inflation—once as high as 70%—and reduce interest rates from 30% to single digits. He emphasized the need for policy continuity to sustain long-term economic resilience.
Addressing concerns about the IMF’s role, he clarified that Sri Lanka voluntarily engaged with the institution to implement necessary reforms addressing structural economic weaknesses.
“The 2025 Budget focuses on investment-led growth, fiscal responsibility, and social welfare, with Rs. 749 billion allocated for social protection and Rs. 619 billion for education,” Siriwardana stated. He encouraged investors to capitalize on improving economic indicators by investing strategically in capital markets and critical industries.
The forum’s panel discussion, moderated by Raynal Wickremeratne, examined resilience in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. Brandix Lanka Limited Managing Director Hasitha Premaratne noted that businesses focusing on operational efficiency and financial prudence managed to navigate past challenges successfully.
“Sri Lanka’s corporate sector has learned to adapt. Cost-cutting and reinvesting in productivity have been key,” he explained. He also stressed the importance of expanding export markets to drive economic stability.
Saneth Gamage, Head of Treasury at Citibank, N.A., discussed the financial sector’s role in economic transformation. While acknowledging global uncertainties, he remained optimistic about Sri Lanka’s prospects. “Liquidity management and risk mitigation are critical now,” he noted. Gamage also highlighted the increasing role of fintech and AI-driven analytics in reshaping investment strategies.
Moiz Rehmanjee, Group CFO of Hemas Holdings, emphasized policy consistency, stating that investor confidence depends on transparent, predictable policies. He also underscored the growing significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors in investment decisions. “Companies integrating sustainability will lead in the future,” he remarked.
The forum reinforced that despite ongoing economic challenges, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to rebuild through strategic planning and policy consistency. With an upgraded sovereign credit rating and the Colombo Stock Exchange trading at a discount compared to regional markets, the event aimed to inform stakeholders about emerging trends and investment opportunities.
Softlogic Stockbrokers Co-Head of Research Shadini Silva provided a comprehensive analysis of Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic trends and equity market. She projected a 5% GDP growth in 2024, exceeding IMF expectations. Silva also noted the positive impact of external debt restructuring, which led to a credit rating upgrade in December 2024, enhancing investor confidence.
Her insights on declining treasury bill yields since Q3 2022 and the growing market capitalization of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) reinforced the investment potential in Sri Lanka. With the All Share Price Index (ASPI) expected to surpass LKR 6 trillion by 2025, she underscored the opportunities available in the stock market.
