CFA Society Sri Lanka has announced the launch of Career Fest 2026; a flagship career initiative held in alignment with CFA Institute’s Global Career Month 2026 and marking the 25th anniversary of CFA Society Sri Lanka.
The event will take place on Friday, 27 March 2026 from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, Colombo City Centre, bringing together students, CFA candidates, early-career professionals, CFA charterholders, and leading employers from Sri Lanka’s finance industry.
Building on the momentum of CFA Institute’s global career initiatives, Career Fest 2026 aims to enhance career awareness, highlight professional development pathways through the CFA Program, and foster meaningful engagement between aspiring professionals and the finance industry. The event will provide participants the opportunity to gain industry insights, network with senior professionals, and explore emerging trends shaping the future of finance.
Speaking about the initiative, Rashmi Peiris Paranavitane, CFA, President of CFA Society Sri Lanka, noted:
“Career Fest 2026 reflects CFA Society Sri Lanka’s commitment to developing the next generation of finance professionals. As we mark our 25th anniversary, this initiative connects students and young professionals with industry leaders, highlights diverse career pathways in finance, and demonstrates how the CFA Program can support long-term professional growth.”
The program will feature curated interactive sessions designed to provide participants with practical insights into careers in finance and the evolving industry landscape. The opening session titled “Your Gateway to a Global Finance Career – The CFA Program Advantage” will be delivered by Hamdhan Othman, CFA, Delivery Manager – Buy-Side Investment Research at Acuity Analytics, highlighting the global recognition of the CFA Program and its role in shaping successful finance careers.
A key highlight of the event will be the panel discussion titled “From Campus to Career – Real-World Insights from Leading CFA Charterholders.” The panel will feature distinguished CFA charterholders including Nuwan Jayewardene, CFA, Director – Buy-Side Investment Research, Acuity Analytics, Senaka Kakiriwaragodage, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, NDB Capital Holdings Limited, Deshani Ratnayake, CFA, Vice President – Corporate Advisory Services, First Capital Holdings PLC, and Bimal Perera, CFA, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, HNB PLC. The session will be moderated by Travis Gomez, CFA, Associate Director, Uzabase Inc., and will explore diverse career pathways within Sri Lanka’s finance industry, providing practical guidance on navigating these trajectories and leveraging the CFA Program to accelerate professional development.
The evolving role of finance professionals in a technology-driven world will be explored in the session “The Future of a Finance Analyst in an AI-Driven World,” presented by Thilan Sampath, CFA, Executive Officer – Head of Global Content and Country Head Sri Lanka, Uzabase Inc.
The session will examine how AI/artificial intelligence is reshaping the finance profession and the skills analysts need in order to leverage AI effectively and stay competitive.
Complementing these technical sessions, Amithe Gamage, CXO Coach and Personal Branding Strategist, will lead a session titled “Career Glow-Up: Build Your Personal Brand for Success Leveraging LinkedIn,” offering practical guidance on building a strong professional identity and using digital platforms to expand career opportunities.
Nuwan De Silva, CFA, Chairperson of the Employer Relations Committee of CFA Society Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of industry collaboration in supporting future talent.
“Career Fest 2026 provides a valuable platform for employers to engage directly with the next generation of finance professionals. By bringing together leading organizations and students from across Sri Lanka’s universities, we aim to create meaningful interactions that help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations,” he said.
He further noted that the initiative forms part of CFA Society Sri Lanka’s broader employer outreach strategy, aimed at strengthening talent pipelines and fostering closer collaboration between academia and the financial services industry in Sri Lanka.
Participants will also have the opportunity to connect directly with leading financial institutions during dedicated networking sessions, including engagement with top employers and sponsors such as Acuity Analytics, NDB Capital Holdings, Uzabase Sri Lanka, Capital Alliance Ltd, LYNEAR Wealth Management, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, KPMG Sri Lanka, Deloitte Sri Lanka, First Capital Holdings PLC, John Keells Holdings PLC, Hayleys PLC, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, DFCC Bank PLC, Hatton National Bank PLC, Colombo Stock Exchange, HNB Investment Bank, and Senfin Asset Management, JB Financials Pvt Ltd among others.
Students from leading universities across Sri Lanka—including the University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna, University of Jaffna, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, SLIIT, NSBM Green University, the Open University of Sri Lanka, and the University of Vavuniya—are expected to participate in the event.
Commenting on the significance of the initiative, Aruna Alwis, Chief Executive Officer of CFA Society Sri Lanka, stated:
“Career Fest 2026 represents an important milestone for CFA Society Sri Lanka as we celebrate 25 years of advancing investment professionalism in the country. Through initiatives such as this, we aim to strengthen connections between academia and the financial services industry while supporting students and young professionals in building meaningful and globally relevant careers in finance.”
Career Fest 2026 will conclude with a networking lunch session where participants can engage directly with representatives from HNB PLC, CFA Society Sri Lanka Candidate Council, and Alpha Business School.
HNB PLC will present customised financing solutions to support individuals pursuing the CFA Program, while Alpha Business School will provide guidance on its CFA Program delivery and candidate preparation support. Representatives from CFA Society Sri Lanka will also be available to share information on the CFA Program, the global value of the CFA charter, and opportunities for candidates to engage with the CFA community through the Society and its Candidate Council.
For more information about Career Fest 2026, visit www.cfasocietysrilanka.org
Rashmi Peiris Paranavitane, CFA, President, CFA Society Sri Lanka
Nuwan De Silva, CFA, Chairperson, Employer Relations Committee of CFA Society Sri Lanka
Aruna Alwis, Chief Executive Officer, CFA Society Sri Lanka
Hamdhan Othman, CFA, Delivery Manager – Buy-Side Investment Research at Acuity Analytics
Nuwan Jayewardene, CFA, Director – Buy-Side Investment Research, Acuity Analytics
Senaka Kakiriwaragodage, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, NDB Capital Holdings Limited
Deshani Ratnayake, CFA, Vice President – Corporate Advisory Services, First Capital Holdings PLC, Bimal Perera, CFA, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, HNB PLC.
Travis Gomez, CFA, Associate Director, Uzabase Inc.
Amithe Gamage, CXO Coach and Personal Branding Strategist
