The event witnessed a turnout of 100 corporate teams, including many of the country's leading corporates, representing a wide range of sectors.
This year, CSE Masterminds Quiz 2025 featured a unique new feature, where if all the team members of a team were CDS account holders, and all of whom have undertaken one trade in 2025, on or prior to 15th of October 2025, they were entitled to double their prize winning if they placed within the top three in the overall contest.
The contest culminated with Team 2 of Acuity Knowledge Partners emerging as the overall winner of the competition, walking away with a grand cash prize of Rs 1,000,000 and Dinner vouchers from Shangri-La, while AIA Insurance Lanka Limited secured first runner-up, winning the cash prize of Rs. 500,000.
Meanwhile Team 03 of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka secured the second runner-up position and, with a team composed of eligible CDS account holders, doubled their prize winnings from Rs. 375,000 to Rs. 750,000.
In addition, all three top winning teams received a gift-pack courtesy of Link Natural Company Pvt. Ltd.
The participating teams also competed in nine distinct sectors, determined by their respective industries, for a sector award, sponsored by HNB Investment Bank (Pvt) Ltd.
Accordingly, the following companies won in their industry specific sector category:
• Central Bank of Sri Lanka (Team 03), winner of the Banking Sector.
• Dialog Finance PLC, winner of the Leasing and Finance Sector.
• John Keells Stock Brokers (Pvt) Ltd, winner of the Stock Brokering Sector.
• NDB Wealth Management Limited (Team 01), winner of the Fund Management Sector.
• AIA Insurance Lanka Ltd, winner of the Insurance Sector.
• Zerobeta (Pvt) Ltd, winner of the Telecommunication and Technology Sector.
• Acuity Knowledge Partners (Team 02), winner of the Services Sector.
• Bodyline (Pvt) Ltd, winner of the Manufacturing Sector.
• LOLC Holdings PLC (Team 01), winner of the Diversified Sector.
Contestants were quizzed on their knowledge of local and global capital markets, the Sri Lankan economy and business, general knowledge, sports, entertainment and current affairs.
In addition to the main competition and the sector winners, prizes were awarded to guests with thirteen lucky guests each winning LKR. 10,000 worth of gifts, courtesy of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) and E-Futures (Pvt) Ltd, while three lucky attendants received return air tickets to Dubai during a raffle draw, sponsored by FITS Aviation (Pvt) Ltd.
Commenting on the event Mr. Dimuthu Abeyesekera, Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, said that this year CSE not only held the 7th edition of the Masterminds Quiz but commemorates its 40th anniversary, and that the event provided “a platform for Sri Lanka’s corporate community to come together once again to celebrate our partnerships with them and engage in a spirited contest of knowledge and insight.”
Remarking upon the journey of CSE’s Masterminds Quiz, he noted that it brought together “a diverse and expanding group of leading organizations across Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape.
What began as an initiative within the capital market community has evolved into a celebration that now includes many of the country’s foremost business institutions.”
The Seventh Edition of CSE Masterminds 2025 was supported by its sponsors, including:
• Platinum sponsors:
o SC Securities (Pvt) Ltd.
o Almas Equities (Pvt) Ltd.
• Gold sponsors:
o Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC,
o Bartleet Religare Securities (Pvt) Ltd.
o NDB Capital Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.
o TWC Capital (Pvt) Ltd.
• Silver sponsors:
o Asha Securities Ltd.
o Lanka Securities (Pvt) Ltd.,
o Softlogic Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd.,
o Nestor Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd.
o LOLC Holdings PLC.
Shangri-La Colombo served as the Official Hospitality Partner, with Cool Tempo (Pvt) Ltd as the Official Event Partner, Fits Aviation (Pvt) Ltd. as the Official Airline Partner, International Distillers Limited as the Official Beverage Partner, and Co-sponsors including Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC, CT Smith Holdings Ltd, People's Leasing & Finance PLC (PLC), Alliance Finance Co. PLC, Capital TRUST Holdings Limited, Barista Coffee Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Cryptogen (Pvt) Ltd & Cryptogen Labs, Hemas Holdings PLC, Teejay Lanka PLC, Ambeon Securities (Pvt) and Bairaha Farms PLC.
The event’s Official Print Media Partners included Daily FT, Daily Mirror and the Sunday Times.
All the participants walked away from the event with goodie bags sponsored by Pee Bee Management Services Pvt Ltd, Stripes and Checks Inc, Barista Coffee Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Design Square (Pvt) Ltd, Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, Basilur Tea Export Pvt Ltd, Akbar Brothers Private Ltd, Tea Avenue Pvt Ltd, Aroma Bliss Ceylon Pvt Ltd, CBL Group, Pyramid Wilmar Pvt Ltd, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Private) Limited, Glow Saturn Company Pvt Ltd, Silvermill Natural Beverages Pvt Ltd and Unilever Sri Lanka Ltd.
The night resolved in a resounding success, as the Colombo Stock Exchange looks forward to its eight edition in 2026, providing more corporates with the opportunity to test their wits while raising awareness of capital markets.
Caption - Champions of the CSE Masterminds Quiz 2025 – Acuity Knowledge Partners – Team 02.