CMA seminar on interest and exchange rates - impact on the economy

The seminar organised by Society of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka on the topic “Interest & Exchange Rates - Impact on the Economy” will be held on Thursday September 6 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the Upper Crystal Room, Hotel Taj Samudra.

The Society of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka was inaugurated on 3rd June 2000 to meet the needs for a Professional Sri Lankan Management Accounting body similar to other Management Accounting Bodies established in the South Asian Countries, UK, USA and Canada.

The Society was established with the technical assistance and guidelines of CMA Canada and funded by CIDA. The CMA Professional Management Accounting qualification is awarded to students who pass the examinations and complete their practical training.

The seminar is meant for: members of CMA, chartered and management accountants, directors, senior managers, executives, management trainees, academics and Government officials.

The seminar will focus on the interest and exchange rates and its impact on the economy. Policy makers, economists, finance directors and business leaders will highlight implications on industry, exports & services.

There will be four sessions giving an overview of the local and international perspectives, economists’ point of view and two panel discussion on impact on industry, export and services and impact on the bottom line and finance and banking sector views.

Session one will be Local and International Perspectives chaired by Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala President, CMA-Sri Lanka, the keynote address will be made by Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal. Senior Country Economist, World Bank in Sri Lanka Claus Pram Castrup will speak on managing interest and exchange rates and ADB Country Economist Dr. Johanna Boestel will speak on Asian Experience.

Session two will be chaired by Assistant Governor, Dr. H. N. Thenuwara and this session will be on the Economists Point of View. Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Dr. Saman Kelegama, Senior Lead Economist Lirne Asia Dr. Harsha De Silva and R. M. B. Senanayake will be the speakers.

Session three will be chaired by Chairman, Advisory Committee, CMA-Sri Lanka Dr G. C. B. Wijeyesinghe and the session will be on the impact on exports, industry and services.

The panelists for the Industry and Export would be Chairman/MD, Jinasena Group of Companies Dr. Nihal Jinasena, Chairman, Industrial Assistant and Deputy Vice Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Dr. Anura Ekanayake and Nimal Perera, Chairman, JBIZ and Past Chairman, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries. Plantation Sector Exports panelist will be Director, Aitken Spence Plantation & Mgt. Ltd, for Garment Sector Dr. Rohan Fernando, Chairman, JAAF and Services Sector Ajith Dias and CEO, WNS Global Services Dushan Soza.

Session four will be two panel discussions on the impact on the bottom line and the Banking Sector. This session will be chaired by President, South Asian Federation of Accountants Indrajith Fernando.

The panelists for the Business Sector who will speak on the Impact on the bottom line would be Finance Director, John Keells Holdings Ronnie Peiris, Group Finance Director, Brandix Ltd Trevin Jayasekera, Group Finance Director, The Capital Maharaja Srilal Ahangama and Managing Director, Chemanex Ltd Preethi Jayawardena.

The Banking Sector will be Chief Executive Officer HSBC Sri Lanka & Maldives, HSBC David Griffith, CEO, DFCC Bank Nihal Fonseka and Managing Director, Hatton National Bank Rajendra Theagarajah.