Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen settlement infrastructure with China

CDS and CSDC representatives at the MoU signing ceremony

• CDS inks MoU with China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation for mutual development 
• CSE expects MoU to open new possibilities of collaboration between the two depositories

Sri Lanka’s Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS) and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (CSDC) recently committed towards pursuing a cooperative relationship in the areas of securities clearing and depository. 

This commitment was formalized with the signing of a MoU between the two depositories during a visit by CSDC officials to Sri Lanka recently. 

CSDC is a non-profit-oriented corporation with Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange as its shareholders, each holding 50 percent equity.
As CDS and CSDC work together in future, the MoU will pave the way for the depositories to exchange information and expertise on business operating models and other securities market developments.

“It is my great pleasure to sign this MoU in the beautiful city of Colombo, which bears vivid witness to the friendly relations that the Chinese and Sri Lankan people have long enjoyed.

“We appreciate the indispensable role that CDS plays in the Sri Lankan capital market as well as its constructive contribution to the industry in the Asia-Pacific region and look forward to closer ties between our two organizations,“ CSDC Deputy Chairman of the Board Dr. DAI Wenhua said.

Commenting on the development, CSE and CDS Chairman Ray Abeywardena said with this MoU, CDS will be able to establish a formal channel of collaboration with CSDC, which is a depository that plays a crucial role in the Chinese capital market and the rest of the Asian region. 

“We anticipate that the MoU will open new possibilities of collaboration between the two depositories. 

We are particularly keen to work with CSDC on further developing our clearing and settlement function, particularly in the areas of strengthening registration and settlement infrastructure, capacity building and improving the services offered to stakeholders of the Sri Lankan capital markets,” he said. 

CSDC is the Central Securities Depository (CSD), Securities Settlement System (SSS) and Central Counterparty (CCP) of the Chinese exchange market. 
It provides registration, depository, clearing and settlement services to equities, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETF) and other derivatives listed and traded on Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) and National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), and plays a key role in cross-border linkage programmes including Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the Mutual Recognition of Funds between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong markets.