CSE presents Empower Board opportunities to entrepreneurs in Matara

The event encouraged SMEs to understand the availability of an alternative method to raise capital

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recently initiated a series of virtual forums for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) to highlight the advantages of listing on the Empower Board. The initial event, organized by the Matara Branch of CSE, drew an encouraging interest from the business community in Matara.

SMEs are a key contributor to the Sri Lanka Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The objective of the series is to encourage SMEs to understand the availability of an alternative method to raise capital and to illustrate the opportunities provided by listing on the Empower Board.

Rohan Senewiratne, Managing Director of Atarah Capital Partners (PVT) Ltd, Mr. Suraj Surwaweera, Managing Director of Chrissworld Limited, Mr. Nirodha Abeygunawardena, Manager of the CSE Matara Branch and Mr. Kassapa Weerasekara, Assistant Manager at Listing Department of the CSE, joined the discussion. The participants also engaged in a broad Question & Answer discussion during the program.

Elaborating on reasons why a business should be listed, Rohan Senewiratne, Managing Director of Atarah Capital Partners (PVT) Ltd added that it is a timely approach for SMEs to list on the Empower Board, as an alternative to traditional methods of Capital raising. He eliminated myths and fallacies on listing and explained how the capital market allows companies to build a stronger investor base and add value to the company.