The CSE is a company limited by guarantee, established under the Companies Act No. 17 of 1982 and is licensed by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC). The CSE is a mutual exchange and has 15 full members and 13 Trading Members licensed to trade both equity and debt securities, while eight members are licensed to trade in debt securities only. All members are licensed by the SEC to operate as stockbrokers. All members are corporate entities and some are subsidiaries of large financial institutions.