For the 14th consecutive year CFA Sri Lanka Society organized the CFA Sri Lanka Research Challenge partnering with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), Kaplan, and Acuity Group of Companies. Each of the eight teams representing six state Universities took part in producing an investment report since November 2020. It was the culmination of comprehensive analyses and valuation of Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC, the subject company of the competition this year. These investment reports were evaluated and scored by a panel of expert CFA Charterholders who are leading investment professionals representing prominent corporates in Sri Lanka.
Team A and Team B of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Team B of University of Colombo, and the team representing University of Peradeniya emerged as the top four teams from the investment report and got qualified for the next round. These teams presented their investment research, virtually via Zoom at the local finals of this challenge on 24th February 2021 to a panel of experts representing top financial institutions of Sri Lanka and the Asia-Pacific Region, followed by a Q&A session.
After a tough competition, Team A of University of Sri Jayewardenepura became the winners of the local finals. The team members are Vindula Perera (Team Leader), Ishanika Seneviratne, Winura Wijekulasooriya, Chamini Apeksha, Hirza Careem, and Mohamed Hussain Shakib (Reserve Member) – final year undergraduates of Department of Finance. The team was guided by the industry liaison – CFA Charterholder – Mr. Daham Hettiarachchi of Softlogic Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd. and the faculty advisor – Ms. Piumi Abeyrathne of Department of Finance, throughout the challenge.
Team B of University of Sri Jayewardenepura emerged runners up at the local finals and the team comprised final year undergraduates of Department of Finance and Department of Business Economics, namely, Ranmal Perera (Team Leader), Tharushi Egoda Hewage, Tharuka Arampaththa, Osuri Jayasiriwardana, and Upeksha Kalutharaarachchi. The team was mentored by the industry liaison – CFA Charterholder – Mr. Travis Gomez, of Frontier Research (Pvt) Ltd. and the faculty advisor – Ms. Abehitha Fernando of Department of Finance, in this endeavor.
The eminent panel of judges at the virtual local finals comprised Mr. Andrew Stotz – a former President of the CFA Society Thailand and the Cofounder/CEO of A.Stotz Investment Research in Thailand, Mr. Deshan Pushparajah – the Managing Director-Global Markets and Investment Banking of Capital Alliance Ltd., and Mr. Kanishka Perera – Chief Investment Officer-Wealth Management of Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd. This gracious event was featured as well as live-streaming on CFA Sri Lanka Society social media platforms. The local champions won a cash award of Rs.200,000 and will advance to compete against in the Asia-Pacific Sub-Regional Challenge in March 2021, representing Sri Lanka.
