Sri Lanka proposes stock portfolios for school students in Budget 2027

Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget proposes giving selected final-year school students share portfolios worth up to 10,000 Sri Lankan rupees, aiming to introduce young adults to stock-market investing.

According to the Budget speech, the initiative would target Grade 13 students aged over 18 who are studying for the country’s Advanced Level examinations, which serve as a qualification for university entry. Participants would be chosen through a formal selection process.

The proposal forms part of a programme called “A Share for Everyone,” guided by the theme “Let’s Know, Let’s Learn, Let’s Invest.” A share portfolio is a collection of company shares held by an investor.

The Budget speech states that active traders on the Colombo Stock Exchange represent only around 0.7% of Sri Lanka’s population aged over 18.

A separate proposal would help small and medium-sized enterprises list on the stock exchange, expanding their access to investment capital.

For the two initiatives together, the Colombo Stock Exchange would contribute 250 million rupees, while the Budget proposes an additional 500 million rupees.

The speech does not specify how many students would benefit, when applications would open or the detailed selection criteria.