Short answer

• Several well‑known Sri Lanka brokers are frequently cited for research and advisory quality: Asia Securities, First Capital (First Capital Equities/First Capital Holdings), Capital TRUST Securities, John Keells Stock Brokers and Bartleet Religare. These firms publish regular analyst reports, run investor events/corporate access and are active members on the Colombo Stock Exchange. (BrandRadar.org)

How I chose those names (what “best advice” usually means)

• Regular published equity/macro research and analyst coverage. (BrandRadar.org)
• Market share / visibility on the Colombo Stock Exchange and participation in investor relations events. (Deposit.lk)
• Longevity, institutional backing and client reach (large full‑service houses often offer research + wealth/advisory). (es.scribd.com)

Other reputable brokers you’ll see often

• John Keells Stock Brokers, LOLC Securities, HNB Stockbrokers, JB Securities, Acuity Stockbrokers and Capital Alliance — these are commonly listed among licensed trading members and retail/institutional brokers on the CSE. (es.scribd.com)

How to pick the best broker/advisor for you (practical checklist)

1. Confirm licensing and membership (must be a CSE member / licensed by the SEC of Sri Lanka). Use the CSE/broker list or SEC pages. (Deposit.lk)
2. Look for published research (equity reports, sector notes, macro commentaries) and see how current/regular those reports are. Brokers who publish regular research are better positioned to give market commentary. (BrandRadar.org)
3. Compare advisory services and fees — advisory/portfolio management vs. execution-only accounts have different cost structures. (Ask for fee schedules and sample reports.)
4. Check client access: does the broker offer analyst calls, company meetings, roadshows or one‑on‑one advisory? That’s often where real value appears. (BrandRadar.org)
5. Read client reviews and ask for references (especially for discretionary portfolio managers).
6. If you’re a foreign investor, confirm custodian/IIA arrangements and settlement capability (some firms specialise in cross‑border flows). (Deposit.lk)

If you want, I can:

• Pull up the latest published research samples and analyst coverage for 3–5 of the brokers above (so you can compare quality).
• Or give a short comparison (fees, research frequency, institutional vs retail focus) for a shortlist you name.

If you’d like me to fetch recent analyst reports now I’ll pull them and summarize — say which 3–5 brokers to compare.