[Tea with Gowri Shanker]

Lanka should attract more Indian travellers

Hiran H. Senewiratne

Sri Lanka could get a lot of advantages being geographically located in the Indian sub-continent. This is because India is one of the emerging economies in the world, President - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka Gowri Shanker said.

She said Sri Lanka could develop into a main supporting country for India with the industrialisation of major cities like Chennai and Bangalore.

One of the areas we could focus on is Indian travellers to Sri Lanka with the increasing of the middle class and the disposable income. If Sri Lanka could attract at least two to three per cent of Indian travellers to Sri Lanka, it could greatly benefit us remarkably, she said.

Shanker said the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India would immensely benefit the service sector in the country as the service sector has room for development in the long-term perspective.

Q: You being the second woman President of CIMA- Sri Lanka and the third President in the world, what is your plan for 2008/2009 ?

A: I would say that our CIMA professionals have all the abilities to take decisions in the organisation at the CEO level.

The health of the organisation depends on the decisions made by professionals and our professionals have all the expertise and knowledge. Our professionals could emit knowledge, experience and expertise for the success of the organisation.

CIMA is a more business qualification which directs the organisation for strategic success. Therefore, this is a business qualification covered on enterprise governance on the performance side. This year we dedicated ourself towards technical excellence to enriche our professionals and the profession.

Q: Why is the CIMA qualification important?

A: This qualification has been integrated to world class research bodies in UK and other countries. They have done much research work on different business models.

Further, every five years they change the syllabus. This is an UK qualification which has 100 per cent employability because students get the expertise training from classroom level as well to an end.

It also gives the person to find solutions on risk strategies, financial strategies, corporate and business governance, enterprise governance and many more.

Q: What do you think of the professionalism in Sri Lanka?

A: Sri Lanka has exhibited a very high standard in every field. In general our professionals are committed to the job. However, when our professionals go abroad they do extremely well.

Therefore, I found that there is a big demand for Sri Lankan professionals in the Middle East.

Further, our professionals need a lot of skills development and our members are usually given training and development to keep abreast with the times which add to their experience and add value to our CIMA professionals.

Q: Sri Lanka and other Asian countries are having male dominating cultures, which is one of the reasons for women to go up in their professional career. How would you look at that issue as a professional woman ?

A: Women in general have to play different roles in life as a housekeeper and mother in early days. Today, times have changed and women are educated. I firmly believe family life is the epicentre of every single married woman’s life.

Therefore, also sincerely believe that women with the right attitude have to build the environment within the family unit to balance both family and professional lives.

Professional women and women’s organisations must help the woman on this area. But Sri Lanka has made a steady progress in this area where I would like to mention the leading apparel company MAS Holdings “Go Beyond” programme which has lifted their status and the values of their women employees. This has to be admired by everybody and every other corporate.

Q: What do you think of financial reporting and the new Companies Act?

A: The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICSL) is doing an excellent job when it comes to financial reporting. The new Company’s Act helps the regulatory process in the business institutions. Therefore, I say it helps to build good governance and trust among the people.

Q: You are one of the advisors to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family. How do you promote Sri Lanka to attract Saudi investments to the country ?

A: I am the advisor and I am working for the Saudi Prince in that country. I see with high oil prices, the growth in the Middle Eastern region is very high.

I do every possible effort to promote Sri Lanka. I am also working for a Dubai based company called Kampac Group of companies, which we are looking at different projects in Sri Lanka and also in the Maldives.

Q: You said that you really admire certain countries like Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Why do you admire them?

A: I rally admire Singapore, it was always marvelled. Everybody in Singapore promotes the country. It is a safe, clean and beautiful country. Saudi Arabia is also one of the countries I really admire because of the discipline. Their systems are also in place which is a striking feature of that country.

Q: What are your solutions for a number of burning issues in Sri Lanka being a strategic decision-maker for local and foreign corporates?

A: We have to look at everything positively to resolve issues and crisis situations by the decision-makers in the country. The public sector of this country has to be more efficient and effective.

For that we have to have reforms as quickly as possible. CIMA in UK works with the public sector, which has imparted knowledge create an efficient and effective public service in UK. Certain models including profit model in business is going to be implemented in UK.

Q: What is your philosophy in life?

A: As a Hindu devotee I always give credit to the God for all my achievements as I believe there is somebody or supreme force above us. My philosophy is that my duty is devoted towards God and towards the citizen. I also do a lot of charity work for the people around us. We as citizens could do small things which amounts to remarkable changes for other lives.

Q: How would you manage your time, being a busy professional woman with a lot of professional and social engagements?

A: I believe my family is the epicenter in my life. Therefore being a professional woman, I have to balance everything. I plan out my timetable before hand. Every month 8-10 days I am out of the country. Therefore I carefully plan everything to balance my likes. During my leisure time I spend with my family and read books.