The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), has stepped up efforts to expand awareness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) outside the main commercial centres on alternative avenues for raising capital and funding business growth.

As part of an island-wide initiative, the three institutions recently conducted issuer forums in Monaragala and Batticaloa, providing SME owners and entrepreneurs with insights into capital market opportunities and the steps required to prepare their businesses for greater access to finance.

The forum in Monaragala was held on July 16 at the Silanrich Hotel, followed by a session in Batticaloa on July 18 at the FG Golden River Hotel.

The programmes focused on helping SMEs strengthen their businesses, improve financial management practices and explore opportunities to access capital markets as they expand. Participants were also briefed on the SME Creditworthiness Rating Framework, the SME Magazine and the Entrepreneur Awards programme.

The sessions covered key areas including Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), regulatory requirements, succession planning for family-owned enterprises and opportunities available through the CSE's Empower Board, which provides an avenue for eligible companies to access the capital market.

The forums also featured panel discussions that allowed SME participants to engage with capital market and business professionals and gain practical insights into scaling their enterprises and preparing for potential capital market participation.

The panel included SEC Director – Corporate Affairs Manuri Weerasinghe; SEC Manager – Corporate Affairs Semini Kuruppu; Saman Sri Lal, Alternate Chairman of the CA SME Connect Committee, Council Member of CA Sri Lanka and Managing Partner of RTA Sri Lanka; Lakmal Jayarathne, CEO of M Power Capital Securities Limited; Krishnaveny Karmegam, Associate Director of Deloitte Sri Lanka; Atchuthan Srirangan, Vice President – Corporate Finance & Advisory at First Capital Holdings PLC; Punyamali Saparamadu, Senior Vice President – Commercial at the CSE; and Himashi Wickramasinghe, Manager – Commercial at the CSE.

The initiative is aimed at broadening SME awareness of formal financing and capital-raising mechanisms, while encouraging businesses to strengthen their governance, financial reporting and management practices as they prepare for future growth and potential participation in Sri Lanka's capital market.