Investing 101 • CAL Unit Trusts
Idle Money, Meet Your New Job.
Most of us leave our savings sitting in a bank account, earning whatever rate the bank decides. A unit trust is a simple way to put that money to work for you — looked after by professionals, spread across many investments, and easy to start.
Capital Alliance (CAL) | A leader in Sri Lanka's investment landscape for over 26 years
For most Sri Lankans, the honest answer to "what is my money actually doing?" is: not very much. Here's how a unit trust changes that — and which CAL fund might fit you.
First, what is a unit trust?
Think of a unit trust as a big shared pot. Lots of people put their money in, and a professional team invests the whole pot across a spread of things — government securities, corporate debt, bank deposits, sometimes shares. In return, you get units: your personal slice of the pot. When the pot earns, you earn, in proportion to how many units you hold.
Why go this route? Because you don't have to become a markets expert yourself. You get a ready-made, diversified portfolio and an experienced team keeping an eye on it for you — and you don't need a big lump sum to begin.
Why invest with CAL?
We've been managing unit trusts since 2011, and today Sri Lankans have entrusted us with over LKR 180 billion across our funds. Here's why that trust is well placed:
Your money is properly looked after
Every fund is licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC). Your money is held by an independent, SEC-approved trustee and custodian — kept completely separate from CAL's own funds — and the big investment decisions are made by a seasoned committee that includes respected economists like Deshal de Mel and Shashika Ranasinghe.
A first for Sri Lanka
We were the first unit trust manager in the country to earn investment-grade fund ratings — our Investment Grade Fund carries an Af(lka) rating from Fitch and [SL]A+mfs from ICRA. In plain terms, that's an independent stamp of approval on the quality of what the fund holds.
The fund line-up — find the one that fits you
There's no one-size-fits-all fund. The right one depends on your goal, how long you're investing for, and how comfortable you are with ups and downs along the way. Here's the family at a glance:
CAL Money Market Fund
A handy home for short-term cash, invested in government and high-quality corporate securities. Great for an emergency fund or money you might need soon.
CAL Islamic Money Market Fund
Short-term and flexible, built around Shariah-compliant instruments — the same easy access, structured to Islamic finance principles.
CAL Investment Grade Fund
Leans on government-backed securities and investment-grade corporate debt. Lower risk, with that independent rating for extra peace of mind.
CAL Quantitative Equity Fund
Invests in Colombo Stock Exchange shares using a data-driven, quantitative approach. Higher risk — but the kind of fund that can outpace inflation over the long run.
CAL Fixed Income Opportunities Fund
A medium-risk debt fund for people who want a bit more return, without going all the way to equities.
CAL High Yield & Income Funds
Income-focused, open-ended funds built for stronger returns while keeping medium-term access to your money.
What have recent returns looked like?
Returns move with the market and nothing is guaranteed — but to give you a feel for it, here's where four of our funds landed at the end of April 2026:
30-day annualised return — April 2026
30-day annualised returns as at 30 April 2026 (7-day for the Islamic Money Market Fund). For the latest live rates, try the CAL Unit Trust calculator — and do read the fund details below before investing.
How to start investing
The fine print — worth a read
Tap a fund group to see the details that apply to it.
- The annualised return is variable and subject to change.
- Past performance is not an indication of future performance. The fund is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC).
- Investors are advised to read and understand the contents of the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) before investing.
- Investors shall consider the fees and the charges involved.
- *Average of the buying & selling yield of the 1-month T-Bill, published on cbsl.gov.lk
- The annualised return is variable and subject to change.
- Past performance is not an indication of future performance. The fund is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC).
- Investors are advised to read and understand the contents of the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) before investing.
- Investors shall consider the fees and the charges involved.
- Past performance is not an indication of future performance. The fund is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC).
- Investors are advised to read and understand the contents of the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) before investing.
- Investors shall consider the fees and the charges involved.
- *All Share Price Index performance for the period.
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