The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a partnership aimed at leveraging Sri Lanka’s capital markets for sustainable financing. This collaboration is intended to support and encourage private sector stewardship and embed sustainability as an important element of business strategy in Sri Lanka. Specifically, the collaboration intends to actively support and engage the private sector, especially in integrating SDGs into their business systems and practices, while also ensuring that business decisions lead to net positive impacts on the SDGs and that such contributions can be measured and validated.

To this end, Mr. Dilshan Wirasekara, Chairman, Colombo Stock Exchange and Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka signed the MoU. Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO CSE, Ms. Punyamali Saparamadu, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Ms. Yasuri Tennakoon, Junior Analyst – Commercial and Ms. Devni Galabada, Junior Legal Officer – Legal and Enforcement; Ms. Dulani Sirisena, Policy Specialist and Team Leader, Sustainable Growth Team, UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Ms. Hakshala David, Economist-Innovative Financing Associate, Sustainable Growth Team, UNDP in Sri Lanka were also in attendance for the occasion.

Image Caption: (L-R) Ms. Hakshala David, Ms. Dulani Sirisena, Ms. Azusa Kubota, Mr. Dilshan Wirasekara, Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Ms. Punyamali Saparamadu, Ms. Yasuri Tennakoon and Ms. Devni Galabada.