In its continuing efforts to propagate the importance of a relevant and globally recognized professional qualification in accounting, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently unveiled its newly launched groundbreaking curriculum in Kandy.
The unveiling in Kandy took place in the presence of the chief guest Hon. Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor of Central Province and a host of corporate leaders, principals and teachers.
The new CA Sri Lanka curriculum which will come into effect from next year came under high praise by the participants who termed the new curriculum as a ‘radical overhaul’ of the entire structure.
Mr. Shamil Peiris, Group Finance Director of Central Finance Co. PLC addressing the event which was held under the theme ‘CA Sri Lanka’s Way Forward,’ said that it was no secret that the old curriculum generated Chartered Accountants who were very good in financial reporting, account reconciliation and other core competencies.
“However, in practical real life business situations, we saw that sometimes there was lack of judgment, attitude, soft skills and knowledge in other important areas such as risk management, HR, marketing, import/export, forecasting, modeling and economic implications on business. Communication skills are a problem to many and as a result their full potential cannot be unleashed which is indeed a pity,” he noted.
“But we have witnessed today by way of a radical overhaul in the entire structure of the curriculum,” Mr. Peiris said of the new curriculum which aims to produce a new breed of chartered accountants who will utilize their unique financial knowledge to spearhead businesses across all sectors from 2020 and beyond.
While noting that the new curriculum demonstrates an unbelievably wider perspective which is broadly grouped into 3 areas, Mr. Peiris said that it was fascinating to know that the skills pillar will comprise not only the all-important IT sphere but would extend to include communications all the way upto public speaking.
“We will have CFOs who can add value and connect to strategy with good technical and market knowledge. Most importantly, the CA qualification will be one which provides the flexibility to move onto other areas as desired,” he said.
“As an employer of Accountants, I am absolutely delighted. I see a future where there will be a pool of talent for employment with hardly any of the deficiencies that we were used to seeing before. The Accountants will fit in to the entire Management Team like cog wheels in a Swiss watch. I can see a drastic reduction in the time taken for new graduates to be fully productive. 
I can see our graduates moving up rapidly in the organizational structure crossing the departmental boundary lines as if they did not exist,” Mr. Peiris emphasized.
CA Sri Lanka President Mr. Arjuna Herath; Chairman - Education & Curriculum Development Taskforce Mr. Manil Jayesinghe; and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Aruna Alwis were also present at the Kandy event.
