CFA Society Sri Lanka was conferred the CFA Society Excellence Award for Impact and Innovation (APAC Region). It recognises high impact and innovative initiatives that have potential for development, with the local chapter winning the award for its innovative solutions to aid students during the pandemic. While the Candidate Council (CC) of the CFA Society Sri Lanka was set up to assist local CFA Program candidates in their exam preparation, and to help grow and build a sense of community, amidst the Covid-19 outbreak and an ensuing nationwide lockdown, activities were disrupted, with no readily available contingency plan. As such, key challenges included the delivery of examination preparation activities, as well as increased financial challenges, and anxiety faced by candidates.
The CC swiftly restructured its activities by converting exam preparation sessions to webinars within a week of health restrictions being imposed. It also set up an easy payment scheme with a leading bank in Sri Lanka - which converted CFA Program enrolment and exam fees to a 0% interest instalment plan.
CFA Society Sri Lanka President Dinesh Warusavitharana said, “This accolade recognises the commitment of our Charterholders, staff members and volunteers to give back to society by assisting CC members in a pressing time of need, and reaffirms our continued focus on creating an ever-stronger sense of community among Charterholders and candidates.”
The Impact and Innovation award category is focused on recognising societies executing high impact and highly innovative initiatives that have strong potential for widespread society interest and further development.