Speaking to The Morning Business, he said that islandwide curfews will not cause any practical difficulties in functioning of the market as usual, as the functions of the CSE can be now done remotely, having been automated after the pandemic lockdowns.
However, he said the closure decision will depend on how the market reacts during the day. Already, trading hours of the market are limited from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. due to the current economic crisis.
Yesterday (9), the CSE survived the clashes between the anti-Government protestors and pro-Government supporters, which caused countrywide unrest after the Government supporters attacked “MynaGoGama” and “GotaGoGama” in Colombo in the afternoon hours. This resulted in an indefinite countrywide curfew and trade union strike by 2,000 trade unions against the Government, while Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned and thereby dissolved Cabinet.
The All-Share Price Index (ASPI) recorded a gain of 1.20% to 7,516 yesterday, while S&P SL20 gained by 1.49% to 2,436. Forty-seven million shares were traded within the day, while the market recorded a turnover of Rs. 981 million.
LOLC, Expolanka, and Browns Investments PLC were top gainers in the ASPI, while the top bank shares such as Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, HNB, and CDB fell after Central Bank asked the banks to refrain from repatriating profits until financial statements are audited by external auditors and refrain from paying cash dividends for 2021 until 31 December to main liquidity in the banking sector.
https://www.themorning.lk/cse-open-today-for-trading-despite-unrest/