ICASL holds convocation

The annual convocation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants was held on September 24 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, attended by Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister, Johnston Fernando, chief guest at the ceremony. The guest of honour was Hatton National Bank PLC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Rajendra Theagarajah.

This year, 247 graduates who had completed the Chartered Accountancy qualification were awarded Associate certificates joining a fraternity of over 4000 Chartered Accountants in the country. Further, 20 senior members of the institute advanced to fellowship status.

M A H R Hassan who won the First in Order of Merit at Final Part 1 (Dec 2009) and the subject prize for Management Accounting at the 2009 Dec examination, was recognized at the ceremony. H M T I Herath, J R A Y S Jayaweera; S Padukka; D M C I Dasanayaka, K W Y S Abaayadarma, U G Y Methmalee, D U Ravihari and E A T Edirisinghe were the other prize winners who were recognized at the ceremony for their outstanding results at the March and September 2009 examinations.

ICASL President, Sujeewa Mudalige said 'Today we celebrate what you have achieved in completing an extremely demanding, rigorous and a tough professional program. Our qualification attracts the best and the brightest. This year alone we will be registering a large number of new students. The Institute has many strengths built up over time - its heritage; its contribution to the development of the modern profession; the intellectual rigor it brings to the table and, perhaps most importantly, its members.

Over 50 years down the line since its establishment, our Institute is today has grown to become an influential body of accountants that stretches far beyond our members in accountancy practice.

Nearly eighty percent of our members now work outside traditional accountancy practices in every conceivable type of business and industry. No other profession has the insight that we have in to the factors which affect the business organizations and the performance of the economy.

Johnston Fernando, while congratulating the graduates and new Fellows urged that they should take lead in rebuilding Sri Lanka.

Hatton National Bank PLC, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Fellow Member of the Institute Rajendra Theagarajah making an inspiring address, shared his personal experience on what it means to him of being a Chartered Accountant. Emphasizing the role of Chartered Accountants at national level, he said, "Today this country has a national plan. We have seen opening of new markets for business after three decades, investments in infrastructure on a scale never seen before, a thriving domestic stock market and most recently external recognition in the form of a sovereign rating upgrade. Sri Lanka today is on the threshold of an exciting journey ahead.