'Investors need education on stock market'

By Priyan de Silva-Matara Cor.

"The Colombo Stock Exchange opened its first regional branch in Matara in 1999. Since then the Matara branch has contributed Rs 36.8 b which is 1.8 percent of the total market turnover of the CSE. In 2012, up to date the turnover from this branch was Rupees 1.1 b," said CEO of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Ms Surekha Sellahewa at the opening of the relocated branch of the CSE in Matara recently.

"18,875 CDS accounts have been opened in Matara during the past thirteen years. This is five percent of the total CDS accounts and of these 12,607 account holders can be considered as active because they carry out at least one transaction every week." "At the inception there were only four brokering firms who had offices in Matara but today there are twelve firms. It is up to brokering firms to educate investors about investing in the stock market.