CSE Masterminds 2023 concludes on a high note

-Total value of prizes exceeds Rs. 2 million

-Fifth edition attracts 77 teams.

-ZeroBeta wins overall competition.

-Nithya Partners and Acuity Knowledge Partners secure second and third places respectively.

The Fifth Edition of Sri Lanka’s only capital market quiz, CSE Masterminds 2023 organized by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), was held recently at Shangri-La Colombo with the participation of 77 corporate teams, with ZeroBeta emerging as the winner of the overall competition with a cash prize of Rs 1,000,000 and vouchers from Shangri-La Colombo.

Nithya Partners was placed first runner-up with a cash prize of Rs. 500,000, and Acuity Knowledge Partners secured the second runner-up position with a cash prize of Rs. 300,000 at the competition. The top three winning teams have also been awarded Ambassador Cards and discount vouchers from Barista Coffee Lanka (PVT) Ltd.

The participating teams were segregated into seven categories based on their core area of business and were awarded for excelling in each category. Accordingly, Sampath Bank PLC (Banking and Finance), Nithya Partners (Service), NDB Wealth Management Ltd. (Fund Management), ZeroBeta (PVT) Ltd. (Technology), Acuity Partners (PVT) Ltd. (Stock Brokering), Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (Manufacturing), and Amana Takaful Life PLC (Insurance), won special awards for topping their respective categories.

Participants in the Quiz Competition were put through a test on their knowledge in Global Markets, International Business, Sri Lankan Economy and Business, Sri Lankan Stock Market, Listed Companies, Sports & Entertainment and other areas in relation to the management of financial securities.

Three lucky winners from the audience won three return air tickets to Singapore courtesy of Sri Lankan Airlines from the raffle draw and another three lucky audience members won dinner vouchers from Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, and two vouchers worth Rs. 10,000 from CIC Holdings PLC after successfully answering the questions posed to the audience.

The Fifth Edition of CSE Masterminds 2023 was supported by First Capital Holdings PLC and Bartleet Religare Securities (Pvt) Ltd as Platinum Sponsors.

The Gold sponsors for the event were AICPA & CIMA Sri Lanka, Capital Trust Holdings Ltd, London Stock Exchange Group Sri Lanka, CT CLSA Securities (Pvt) Ltd, and Senfin Securities Limited.

Lanka Securities (PVT) Ltd, LOLC Holdings PLC, Asha Securities Ltd, Softlogic Stockbrokers (PVT) Ltd, Almas Equities (PVT) Ltd, and Senfin Asset Management (PVT) Ltd have come onboard as the Silver sponsors.

Further, Sri Lankan Airlines has joined CSE Masterminds 2023 as the Official Airline Partner whereas Shangri-La Colombo was the Hospitality Partner for the event and Entertainment Unlimited was the event partner. International Distillers Ltd. (IDL) has come on board as the fellowship event partner. The official Print Media Partner for the event were Daily FT, Daily Mirror and Sunday Times of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.

Co-sponsors of the event were Vidullanka PLC, Asia Capital Stock Brokers (PVT) Ltd, Millennium IT ESP (PVT) Ltd, CryptoGen (PVT) Ltd, Data Management Systems (PVT) Ltd, Sunshine Holdings PLC, Barista Coffee Lanka (PVT) Ltd, Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, Lanka IOC PLC, N-able (PVT) Ltd, E Futures (PVT) Ltd, Hemas Holdings PLC and Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC.

Commenting on the initiative, CSE CEO, Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, said that “The competition has steadily evolved since its inception into one of the foremost quiz competitions in the corporate sector and a flagship event in the CSE calendar.”

“We commenced the quiz competition in 2017 with a few corporate teams at the CSE trading floor, with a prize value of Rs. 100,000 for the winner. And now the CSE Masterminds is a brand that is popular among quiz enthusiasts in the corporate sector, and the prize value of this year’s event was over Rs. 2 million.” Mr. Bandaranaike added.

He further said, “The interest in the corporate sector to participate and view the quiz as a fun and engaging learning experience has been vital to the success of the event. We congratulate the winning teams and express our appreciation to all the organizations and brands that have supported the event this year in the capacity of a sponsor or partner.”

The Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation added colour to the event and the quiz was followed by a fellowship event backed by the Freeze Music Band, featuring Falan Andrea as the guest artiste.