CSE holds inaugural awards ceremony for Advanced Diploma in Financial Markets

CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando presenting award to Mohamed Afhan Mohamed Salman. Also present are CSE Chief Regulatory Officer Renuke Wijayawardhane (second from right) and Senior Vice President – Marketing Niroshan Wijesundere (far right)

CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando presenting award to W.A.P.P.R. De Silva 

Chief Guest CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando

Keynote speaker Lynear Wealth Management Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer Dr. Naveen Gunawardane

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recognised students from the Advanced Diploma in Financial Markets (ADFM) at a ceremony which was held on 9 February at the Victorian Hall, Kingsbury Hotel. 

The event marks a milestone in the CSE’s efforts to foster financial literacy and education in the capital market as it is the first educational qualification to be awarded by the Stock Exchange. 

The CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando, was the Chief Guest of the occasion, whilst the Keynote address of the ceremony was delivered by Lynear Wealth Management Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer Dr. Naveen Gunawardane. CSE management, lecturers, students, and their guests also participated in the awards ceremony. 

The ADFM was implemented in response to a growing demand for an entry-level academic qualification to be awarded by the CSE to enable greater knowledge of financial markets, particularly with a specific focus on capital market operations and investment. 

ADFM features 10 modules and was completed over a period of nine months, covering areas such as capital market regulations, investment analysis, portfolio management, macro-economics, and other related subject matters. Course content featured a combination of theory and practical aspects of financial markets and included the management of a model portfolio by the students, integrating real-world expertise with practical skills. 

The modules were conducted by an eminent panel of lecturers, consisting of respected local university lecturers and capital market experts. 

48 students completed the course and out of which 39 students from Sri Lanka were recognised at the ceremony. 

The Chief Guest of the ceremony, the CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando, congratulated the students on their achievement and stressed the need to increase Sri Lanka’s financial literacy rate. He also went on to note that the CSE will continue to advocate for the capital market and strive to increase levels of financial literacy through its investor education initiatives, which are in line with the national interest; growing prosperity of our nation. “We have put in significant efforts through the CSE and our partners to try and promote not just financial literacy but also access to financial markets. We understand the significance of financial literacy and capital markets to our economy. This is the reason why CSE has put in together a structured and very practical curriculum that I hope all the students will use in their personal future and in their career.” He added. 

Addressing the gathering and delivering the keynote address of the ceremony, Lynear Wealth Management Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer Dr. Naveen Gunawardane, commended the CSE for equipping a new set of students in terms of financial markets. “When I started my journey, I only had the basic understanding of the financial markets and we never had these targeted programs for the financial markets. The students who are here should consider themselves lucky to have access to these kinds of programs. With the knowledge you have received, we all have a role to play in increasing the financial literacy rate of the country. So, when you go back, I would like to urge you to talk to your peers and families and educate them about some of the basic concepts about financial markets that you learned from the program.”

The ADFM is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA), which provide ADFM completed students an accelerated route to obtain a qualification in management accounting. 

More information on the course and details on the next intake can be obtained by calling 0112356456.