CA Sri Lanka focuses on the importance of good mentoring
CA Sri Lanka focuses on the importance of good mentoring, during a special session with Supervising Members
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) in its efforts to recognize the invaluable role played by ‘Supervising Members’ in helping groom top notch Chartered Accountants to both the country and the world, recently conducted an interactive session on "The Supervising Member - as a Mentor and a Leader".
Conducted by renowned speaker Mr. Dinesh Weerakkody, Managing Director of Cornucopia Lanka Ltd, the session held at the Institute’s Colombo 7 premises was well attended with 220 Chartered Accountants from public practice and non-public practice training organizations attending the workshop which focused on the importance of a Supervising Member as a leader while emphasizing on the required leadership skills necessary to lead an organization in today’s context.
Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool and over the years with priceless guidance from qualified and well experienced senior Chartered Accountants, hundreds of aspiring Chartered Accountants embark on an ambitious journey to achieve professional success.
Mr. Weerakkody also elaborated on motivating employees while understanding and learning to develop and retain good trainees for the benefit of the company’s longer term benefit, after they complete their training period.
The value of a good mentor is immeasurable and is an effective way of helping people to progress in their careers. Mentoring is a partnership between two people (mentor and mentee) and a mentor can help to alleviate frustration interns and new employees often feel in their first few months on the job/internship. By sharing their insights and knowledge of both the company and the industry, new recruits in the field can be spared a great deal of stress which is often felt by new employees and interns when adapting to a new work environment.
Head – Risk & Control of Brandix Lanka Ltd, Ms. Aroshi Perera who made the second presentation emphasized that a good mentor can advise and support the employee and help avoid an unnecessary resignation due to feelings of incompetence and isolation. A successful mentor can support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and contribute positively to the firm.
She noted that the time and effort put by a Supervising Member is immeasurable as they review trainees career goals and recommend strategies towards achieving these goals. Over the years, the guidance by the Supervising Member has been invaluable apart from mentoring the new trainees giving them a new perspective on the opportunities available to them helping them succeed in their future ambitions.
Supervising Members play an integral and dynamic role in helping groom Chartered Accountants to the world and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka recognizes Supervising Members as an important stakeholder in this priceless endeavor.
Back
CA Sri Lanka launches Chartered Tax Advisor Course
CA Sri Lanka launches Chartered Tax Advisor Course
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka in yet another groundbreaking initiative launched the Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) Course aimed at professionals and tax payers who aspire to obtain a professional qualification in Tax.
Conducted by the CA School of Taxation of the Institute, the Chartered Tax Advisor course comprises of three levels, namely the awareness Level, advisory Level and application Level and will be backed by an impressive lecture panel of 20 eminent industry experts including former commissioners of the Department of Inland Revenue, the 18 month long course.
The primary objective of the course ensures of maintaining an educational and ethical framework of the highest standard aiming to produce tax advisers of the best quality for the general public while also increasing the understanding of tax matters by: Providing an opportunity for the tax payers to follow high quality programmes on taxation, Promoting forums for tax discussion and debate, Publishing and distributing information on tax matters and being available for consultation by legislators, regulators and administrators of tax law and others and by producing high quality representations and responses.
The groundbreaking course which will be broken into three stages over a period of six month per each stage will cover a wide range of topics including Introduction to Tax System in Sri Lanka, Income Tax, Economic Service Charge (ESC), Value Added Tax (VAT) – Invoice Credit Method (Normal VAT), Nation Building Tax (NBT), Other Statutes (Introduction). Among the other modules covered in the CTA course is International Tax, Tax Rulings and Tax implications in selected industries in Sri Lanka.
Armed with an ambitious mission to take public education in tax to new heights, the CA School of Taxation aspires to become a leading educational body in the field of taxation through its pursuit of sound education and excellence in the subject.
The School of Taxation also conducts several other taxation courses among which are the Taxation Course for Professionals & Practitioners and the Certificate Course in Advanced Taxation.
The objective of the Taxation Course for Professionals & Practitioners is to introduce beginners who wish to choose tax as their career path with a basic understanding of the existing tax system in order for them to lay a strong foundation in the knowledge of tax while the objective of the Certificate Course in Advanced Taxation is to offer professionals in the tax industry with thorough understanding on tax administration and case laws in Sri Lanka.
Back
|
CA Sri Lanka Budget Seminar
CA Sri Lanka Budget Seminar to feature Dr. P. B. Jayasundera
The much awaited annual Budget Seminar organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) will feature an eminent panel of speakers and panelists including Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P.B. Jayasundera who will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Scheduled to be held on 23rd November at the Waters Edge, Dr. Jayasundara is expected to use the seminar as a platform to emphasise on the government’s budget strategy for the year 2012 amidst mounting expectations from both the public and private sectors for a more people friendly budget next year.
The seminar will also feature Ms. Malika Samarasekara, Deputy Commissioner General of the Department of Inland Revenue.
An impressive group of top notch experts very familiar in the subject will be the panelists at the seminar, they include; Mr. N. R. Gajendran, Chairman of the Faculty of Taxation, Ms. Lakmali Nanayakkara, Alternate Chairperson of the Faculty of Taxation, Mr. H. B. A. Seneviraten, Deputy Commissioner General of the department of Inland Revenue and Ms. Dhammika Gunathilaka, Senior Tax Advisor to the Department of Fiscal Policy.
Registration for the seminar, which is among the Institute’s most looked forward to events annually, will however be on a first come first served basis.
Back
CA Sri Lanka CEO Forum
Top economist says Sri Lanka’s economy growing from strength to strength
With considerable investments coming into the country and new infrastructure projects taking off, post war Sri Lanka is enjoying the dividends of peace. This fact was endorsed by eminent economist Dr. Yeah Kim Leng who declared that the economy in post war Sri Lanka is growing from strength to strength.
Addressing a high level audience comprising business leaders from diverse sectors at the CEO Forum organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) in collaboration with RAM Ratings (Lanka) Ltd., Dr. Kim Leng who serves as the Group Chief Economist of RAM Ratings in a detailed presentation on Sri Lanka’s Economic Outlook for 2012 emphasized that after a robust growth of eight percent in 2010, the Sri Lankan economy has maintained its growth momentum so far in 2011 clocking up to eight percent.
He however projected a marginally lower growth next year of 7.8%, given the downside risks of persistent uncertainties in the external uncertainties.The country’s service sector will see an eight percent growth in 2012; he however expressed concern over the slow pace the manufacturing sector was ambling along.
“The manufacture sector is not robust enough, and for Sri Lanka to move to middle or upper income level, it is imperative for the country to focus and increase the manufacture sector growth,” he advised.
The industry sector has been exhibiting a convincing uptick since the global recession, expanding 10.3% in the first half against 8.4% in the first half of 2010. Accordingly, the Sri Lankan government aims to lift the industrial sector’s share of GDP to 35% by 2015, from 28.7% in 2010. The industry and services sector’s share of GDP are expected to edge up to a respective 29% and 59.7% by next year.
He noted that he sees great potential in the once war torn nation. “Large projects are in the pipeline and this should further boost investments in 2012,” he said.
But he cautioned about the possible slump in exports next year. “Exports may decline next year and it is important to sustain exports, if the country is to achieve its predicted growth level,” he added.
“While the rupee is managed against the US Dollar, it is expected to experience significant volatility against other currencies, specially the Euro in particular and this may impact trade performance, he warned.
“Sri Lanka is expected to grow on par with similar rated economies, but with a higher per capita income to its advantage,” Dr. Kim Leng noted.
Going forward, Sri Lanka’s post war growth prospects remain relatively robust and it is still an attractive destination for investors. While additional funds are needed for the development of the war torn nation’s economy, prudent use of capital controls may be warranted to ensure that excessive demand does not cause significant deviation in asset prices from their true fundamental values.
“Mispricing of assets may cause structural defects in the economy and jeopardize the longer term growth prospects of the country,” the Chief Economist warned.
“Despite global headwinds, Sri Lanka is expected to sustain a slightly stronger growth momentum of 6.6% throughout 2011-2015. This would boost the country’s standing in terms of GDP per capita among its peers rated the same or even a notch or two higher and in turn, strengthen Sri Lanka’s financing ability – while attracting more foreign investment – thereby boosting the progress of its economic development,” he added.Dr. Kim Leng’s presentation was followed by a presentation titled “Sliding West Puts Asia to Test” by Mr. Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist of CRISIL Ltd, A Standard & Poor's Company.
The Forum came to a conclusion following a panel disccusion featuring Mr. Preethi Jayawardena, Managing Director – Chemanex PLC, Chairman -The Finance PLC and Dr. Ranjith Bandara, Chairman - Sri Lanka Foundation / Senior Economic Adviser & Director of the Financial Service Cluster at the SEMA (President's Office). The session was moderated by Mr. Adrian Perera, Chief Executive Officer – Ram Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
Back
|
