Compared to countries in the region:

Fewer women participate in Stock Exchange activities

Harshini Perera

The participation of women in the Stock Market is at a low level compared to countries in the region such as Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong, said the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Channa De Silva.

“A larger proportion of housewives in other countries are aggressively involved in Stock Exchange activities and it has become a significant component of day trading.

However, at present this cannot be seen at the Colombo Stock Exchange. This is because housewives in Sri Lanka are not given facilities and opportunities to get involved in investments.

They should be given appropriate research opportunities and advice from stockbrokers to engage in the stock market. The Internet based computer system has encouraged women to get involved in the stock market,” he said.

He said that the SEC took steps to educate women, especially housewives, through tailor-made programs to direct them properly towards the stock market.

A proper curriculum and short courses have been prepared aiming at the participation of housewives in the stock market. Their participation in the stock market might bring a supplementary income to the family and it will enhance the living conditions of the family. The involvement of women in the stock market would have a positive effect on the education standards of the family too.

The participation of women in the stock market is increasing gradually and it was 18 percent last year.

According to the population, the women’s participation should be more than the male population in Sri Lanka but today it’s the other way round, said the Manager, Business Development, Tushara Jayaratna. He said that the CSE has conducted awareness programs and seminars for women especially undergraduates in the universities.

A spokesman for John Keells Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, said there was a huge potential to increase the participation of women in the stock market. At present only a few female professionals are actively involved in the stock market. The highest number of female participants in the stock market was recorded during the end of the 1990’s and 2001 when the market was active for particular reasons.

Therefore, a sustained market is not visible without women. He said that the retail section would grow with women’s participation.

A spokesman for Asha Phillip Securities Ltd. said that some steps have already been taken to draw investors from Old Girls’ Associations and many other Women’s Associations to motivate women. It is important to draw them into the market by conducting proper education campaigns.