New Visual Identity for CA Sri Lanka
CA Sri Lanka redefines its prestigious legacy with new visual identity
In its continuing endeavor to keep up with changing times and to stay relevant with global changes, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently launched its new visual identity.
The new captivating logo is a modern representation of a classical symbol, which reflects the Institute’s core values, building on it’s over 52-year old heritage while looking towards the future as it strives to be among the foremost globally recognized accounting bodies, supporting its 4300 members and over 36,000 students in Sri Lanka.
The new logo is developed around three elements, the scales, pen and shield. The shield symbolises guardianship of standards and ethics as well as care and support to its members and students; the scales and pen reflect balance, education and regulation. This identity delivers a message of dependability, continuity and professional strength.
The new visual identity aspires to redefine the Institute’s prestigious legacy to reflect its future ambitions, in its continuing strive to capitalize on the opportunities and deal with the challenges it faces in today’s dynamic business environment.
The Institute’s President Mr. Sujeewa Mudalige commenting on this landmark occasion noted that the Institute takes great pride in what its founding fathers created over 52-years ago, but change is essential if it was to face today’s dynamic business environment with confidence whilst also striving to be a greater force in the future with global accounting bodies.
“Our change does not limit to only image but during the next few months, the Institute will reposition itself in terms of internal operations, processes and service delivery. Our employees are undergoing a culture change which aims to deliver on the high expectations of our stake holders, in our continuing strive to compete in the international market,” he said.
“While safeguarding what our founding fathers so proudly handed over to us, our new change has been built on our 50-year old heritage, yet positions ourselves as modern and a cutting edge tertiary education provider in the country,” Mr. Mudalige added.
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The 32nd National Conference Concludes
The 32nd National Conference of Chartered Accountants concludes on high note
The 32nd National Conference of Chartered Accountants, concluded recently on a high note. This event attracted visionary policy makers and top business leaders in the country. It included two days of technical sessions at which eminent, both local and foreign who explored our “Quest for Balance” in today’s dynamic environment. This business summit was held at the Waters Edge, and attracted an impressive number of participants, over 1150 top policy makers, chartered accountants and professionals from various sectors, making it one of the most successful corporate events in the country.
The conference on the thought provoking theme ‘Quest for Balance’ was inaugurated amidst high profile government and corporate leaders. Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa graced the event as the Chief Guest and gave an inspiring speech to the private sector encouraging private sector leaders to spearhead leadership in the country while promoting the maintaining proper standards and high quality work.He also declared that corruption was the cause for poor public and private sector work and urged business leaders to be exemplary with best practices.
Mr. Rajapaksa said it was important that the private sector does not engage in malpractices and be an example for other to follow. “It is important for business leaders to put their foot down against malpractices,” he said. He also invited the private sector to take advantage of the many growth opportunities post-war Sri Lanka offers including the rapid development taking place in the Northern and Eastern Province. Mr. Rajapaksa noted that it was time for both the public and private sector to concentrate on improving where they are most weak. He encouraged the private sector to concentrate more on investing outside the country’s commercial capital Colombo. “It is important that investments move outside Colombo. The Government will ensure that a proper environment is maintained for development, but it is up to the private sector to be the engine of growth,” he added.
World Bank’s Chief Financial Management Officer Mr. Tony Hegarty delivered the keynote address at the inauguration. He gave an overview on his organisation’s role to help alleviate poverty across the world. “We live in a world of significant inequalities and imbalance. Over one billion go to bed hungry while 70 percent of the world’s poor live in middle income countries,” he disclosed.
He noted that bilateral and multilateral agencies have made available more than 500 US $ billion for this cause. The World Bank official said progress was being made to eradicate poverty, yet with the global population increasing rapidly, efforts should double to succeed in reducing poverty across the globe. Hegarty also announced that the World Bank was looking at working with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka more closely.
The two-day long technical sessions featured some prominent Sri Lankan business leaders and renowned foreign speakers who were specially flown to Sri Lanka to share in their knowledge and expertise on a wide range of subjects.
Asian Development Banks (Sri Lanka Resident Mission) Country Director, Ms. Rita O’Sullivan inaugurated the technical sessions with her presentation on ‘Quest for Balance – Our World: People, Planet and Profit.’ where the need to balance economic growth with human and environmental needs was discussed
Her session was followed by, Former Assistant Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Anila Dias Bandaranaike, who spoke on ‘Quest for Balance – Our Country: Vanity, Sanity and Reality.’ She dealt with priorities that need to be balanced in order for our nation to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Eminent business personality Mr. J.M.S. Brito, the Deputy Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC, examined the varied expectations of investors and other stakeholders of an organization during the third session of the conference titled, ‘Quest for Balance - Shareholder: Risk, Reward and Responsibility.’
Mr. Brito’s session was followed by the fourth session which was presented by Executive Director, Finance and Operations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Mr. Robin Fieth who spoke on ‘Quest for Balance – CFO: Drive, Support and Comply.’ This session focused on the complex demands made on CFO’s.
The fifth session saw a presentation into International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).which will be adopted in Sri Lanka next year John O’Grady, Partner / Asia Pacific Area IFRS Leader of Ernst & Young spoke on ‘Quest for Balance - IFRS: Theory, Practice and Transition’ and looked and the implications of adopting these standards and the issues faced during transition.
The 32nd National Conference of Chartered Accountants concluded with the sixth and final technical session which featured widely acclaimed international speaker Ms. Avril Henry, during the session titled ‘Quest for Balance – You: Role, Rhetoric and Reality.’ She spoke of the importance of work-life balance in improving engagement in the workplace and how deferent generations perceive work, which should be understood by the people who manage them.
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National Conference – Technical Sessions
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CA Sri Lanka honours Gamini Wikramanayake
CA Sri Lanka honours Gamini Wikramanayake with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) honoured illustrious personality Mr. Gamini Benedict Wikramanayake the revered Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 in appreciation of his contribution made to the accountancy profession in particular and society in general.
A chartered accountant by profession, Mr. Wickremanayake has played a key role in the development of the accounting profession in the country apart from his influential role in the public sector.
A Committee comprising senior members of the Institute unanimously decided to honour Mr. Wickramanayake with the second Lifetime Achievement Award, which is based on merit and given to a member who is recognised at the highest level and whose efforts reflects the Institute's core values.
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Mr. Wikramanayake was honoured at a gala ceremony in the presence of over 900 persons which included chartered accountants, senior government officials and corporate leaders.
In his illustrious career spanning many decades, Mr. Wikramanayake, the sixth president of the Institute commenced his career by serving at Ford Rhodes Thornton and Company during the period February 1951 to May 1955.
After qualifying, he commenced his professional career as a partner, Page Hulugalle, Registered Accountants. Thereafter he joined the state sector as Deputy Chief Accountant, Cement Corporation. By the time he left, Cement Corporation boasted of an effectively well organized and work oriented accounts department. In 1968 he set up Management Systems Ltd and functioned as its managing director.
Mr. Wickramanayake’s indomitable spirit always looked for new vistas. He ventured in to a completely new area outside the traditional domain of Accountants and started a poultry farm, three acre farms Ltd. He accelerated its growth to be the largest hatchery in the country.
Mr. Wickramanayake left for Canada to read for an MBA with a view to improve his managerial skills. On his return he was appointed Chairman Oil and Fats Corporation. Thereafter his rise was meteoric. He held several influential positions in the public sector, such as Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government and home affairs, Chairman, Bank of Ceylon and Secretary Administration, Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Wickramanayake was elected President of the Institute in 1976. The contribution he made to the profession is legion. During his tenure as the President he also managed to acquire by way of a gift, a Government property adjacent to the Institute complex to commence new constructions. He also obtained public funds to build a state - of – the - art auditorium, a long felt need of the Institute, which was also accomplished against the backdrop of several financial constraints experienced by the Institute at that time.
Launch of ‘Induction to Hall of Fame’
Launch of ‘Induction to Hall of Fame’ to recognize outstanding senior chartered accountants
In yet another pioneering effort, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka will launch the ‘Induction to Hall of Fame’ recognition which aims to appreciate senior chartered accountants who have made an outstanding contribution towards the development of the institute, the profession and society in general.
The event slated to be an annual event will recognize senior members of the Institute of good standing over the age of 65 years, who have been recognized at the highest level and whose efforts reflect the institute’s core values.
The Institute believes that it is imperative to recognize its most senior and esteemed members during their present lifetime rather than afterwards, and hence the decision to launch the Induction to Hall of Fame recognition.
The national accounting body has meanwhile commenced accepting nominations for the Induction to Hall of Fame and the closing date for nominations will be 15th of September 2011.
A special committee will evaluate the nominations and make their finalized recommendations to the Institute’s council, following which the council will make a final decision based on the special committee findings.
The recipients of the “Induction to Hall of Fame” will be announced in October, and will be invited to attend a prestigious ceremony where the recipients will be presented with a specially-designed award.
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