The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) joined stock exchanges worldwide in marking World Investor Week (WIW) 2026 by ringing the market opening bell for financial literacy on October 5.
The event was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and focused on promoting investor education, financial literacy and informed participation in capital markets.
World Investor Week is an annual global initiative led by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to highlight the importance of investor education and protection. As part of the campaign, the Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy initiative, pioneered by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), brings together stock exchanges and other stakeholders to encourage greater financial awareness and responsible financial decision-making.
The 2026 ceremony in Sri Lanka also marked the 40th anniversary of the Colombo Stock Exchange and featured the joint launch of the Stock Market Game, an online investment simulation developed by the SEC and CSE based on the ATrad trading system.
The Stock Market Game is designed to provide users with practical exposure to the functioning of the stock market without requiring them to invest real money. Participants can make simulated investment decisions and build portfolios consisting of listed shares, allowing them to gain a better understanding of market activity and investment processes.
The simulation platform is available through the websites of the SEC and CSE and is expected to serve as a practical resource for strengthening financial education in Sri Lanka.
Plans are also in place to use the platform for simulated investment competitions among universities and the 100 Capital Market Clubs established in schools across the country, providing students with opportunities to develop their understanding of capital markets through practical experience.
The ceremony further featured the presentation of a commemorative stamp and First Day Cover marking the CSE’s 40th anniversary. The items were issued in collaboration with the Department of Posts and the Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka.
The commemorative stamp and First Day Cover were presented to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by SEC Chairman Snr. Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara and Ray Abeywardena, Director of the CSE and Chairman of Central Depository Systems (CDS).
The initiatives introduced during World Investor Week 2026 underline the SEC and CSE’s continued efforts to expand financial literacy and provide investors, students and the wider public with greater access to practical knowledge about Sri Lanka’s capital market.
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