Top universities to compete in CFA Institute Research Challenge local finals

CFA Society Sri Lanka announced the selection of the top four teams for the local finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge competition.

This year, the CFA Institute Global Research Challenge competition will be held in New York City on April 22, 2022. The winning team of the local finals will advance to the sub-regional competition and have a chance to progress to the regional and global competitions thereafter.

CFA Society Sri Lanka President Dinesh Warusavitharana CFA said that this time the highest number of teams participated in this annual educational initiative, which promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills. The teams that participated from both private and public universities are from the University of Kelaniya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Wayamba, University of Colombo, University of Moratuwa, Uva Wellassa University, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, University of Jaffna, University of Peradeniya, Royal Institute, SLIIT and NSBM. They submitted a written report on this year’s subject company, Haycarb PLC in December 2021. 

Following an extensive grading process, CFA Society Sri Lanka is pleased to announce that teams from the University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya and two teams from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura have qualified for the local finals, scheduled for the February 25, 2022. 

Each university team consisting of five students will present their analysis and buy/sell/hold recommendations on Haycarb PLC to a panel of distinguished judges from the investment community. Their presentation is the culmination of months of research and an interview with company management as well as presentation training under the supervision of their faculty advisor and a dedicated industry mentor. 

CFA Society Sri Lanka Research Challenge Committee Chair Samalka Athuraliya CFA said, “The response from universities was immense this year, with 19 teams participating in the competition. The ultimate objective of the CFA Institute Research Challenge is to promote best practices in equity investment research, which includes financial analysis, ESG and risk assessment and valuation but also aims to inculcate in students other critical skills such as report writing and public speaking. I look forward to seeing the top four teams present at the final event and wish them all the very best.”

This year, the initial round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge hosted by CFA Society Sri Lanka was sponsored by the society’s Platinum sponsor, the Colombo Stock Exchange, Silver sponsors: Acuity, CAL, First Capital, NDB Capital Holdings, Senfin and Uzabase, Knowledge Partner Acuity Knowledge Partners and event sponsor Kaplan Schweser.