• 5-6 IPOs lined up as market hits record highs
• Foreign investor inflows remain subdued despite local rally
• CSE and India’s NCDEX shortlisted to launch SL’s first derivatives exchange
• New exchange will not be based in Port City: CSE chief

There are presently 5-6 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) being processed by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) against the backdrop of the attractive valuations on offer at the Colombo bourse amid the current bull run, The Sunday Morning Business learns.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara revealed that approximately five to six IPOs were currently being processed by the CSE amid the current record-breaking bull run in the market. 

“These should come in over the next few months, obviously provided that all the approvals and everything else falls into place,” he stated.

He acknowledged that despite the improved performance of the equity market, foreign investor interest had not picked up and remained relatively flat.

“The net foreign inflow numbers have been very insignificant in 2025, being somewhat flat. There haven’t been any outflows, but inflows also haven’t been that great. Therefore, foreign activity continues to be insignificant,” he said.

Accordingly, he claimed that turnover continued to be dominated by local investors who accounted for 85-90% of the total market turnover.

Wirasekara further revealed that the CSE, together with India’s National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), had submitted Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) to set up a derivative exchange in Sri Lanka.

He added: “As far as I know, they have shortlisted six EOIs that include the one submitted by the CSE jointly with the NCDEX.”

Responding to a query by The Sunday Morning Business, Wirasekara confirmed that this derivative exchange would not be established inside the Colombo Port City as rumoured.