Empowering the Next Generation of Investors: First Capital Hosts Financial Literacy Workshop at RIC

17th June 2025
Tharika Perera

On November 29, 2024, First Capital, a leading investment institution in Sri Lanka, partnered with the Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC) to host an engaging financial literacy workshop for its undergraduate students. The session, held on RIC premises, was designed to equip students with practical financial knowledge and introduce them to the fundamentals of investing in Sri Lanka.

The initiative was led by Kyle Dharmasena, an RIC alumnus and currently a Senior Associate in Branding, Research, and Sustainability at First Capital. The workshop aligns closely with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) curriculum, providing students with an applied perspective on economic principles, financial decision-making, and market operations.

The session was conducted by two experts from First Capital’s Asset Management team:

• Rahul Samarakoon (Senior Associate – Asset Management)

• Kanagasooriar Kumaravaran (Assistant Vice-President – Asset Management)

Their focus was to demystify the investment process, emphasizing that there is no minimum age or capital required to begin investing — a key message that resonated with the young audience. The session also addressed common misconceptions and introduced students to the diverse investment options available in Sri Lanka, including:

• Corporate Debt Instruments

• Stock Trading

• Unit Trust Funds

• Government Securities

In context, this initiative is significant given that only 57.9% of adults in Sri Lanka are considered financially literate, according to the Financial Literacy Survey Sri Lanka – 2021. With financial literacy being a crucial skill in today’s economy, such workshops play a pivotal role in empowering the next generation.

Students were also given an overview of tailored investment strategies for different types of investors — whether conservative savers or young professionals seeking to grow their wealth. The interactive nature of the session allowed students to directly engage with the presenters, ask questions, and receive personalized advice.

One of the participating students, Ryan Kularathne (Reading for BSc Economics and Finance), reflected on the session by saying:

“We weren’t aware of Unit Trust and the different types of Unit Trust, and they taught us how we can diversify our investments.”

He further added:

“Getting to talk personally to them was very helpful — we were able to get our questions answered as well.”

The workshop not only strengthened the bond between alumni and current students but also underscored RIC’s commitment to delivering value-added learning experiences that extend beyond the lecture halls.

As students left the session with new insights and practical tools for financial planning, the event served as a reminder that the journey toward financial empowerment can begin at any age — and that institutions like First Capital are paving the way.

Click here to watch the video of the First Capital Financial Literacy Workshop at RIC.