Membership certificates awarded to public finance accounts by APFASL

By David Ebert

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), along with its public sector wing, the Association of Public Finance Accountants of Sri Lanka, in their continuing endeavour to enhance the professional skills and expertise of public sector accountants in the country, held a ceremony on 14 December at the newly-refurbished CA Sri Lanka building auditorium to present membership certificates to public sector finance professionals.

This was a part of the institute’s continuing efforts to ensure public sector accountants, auditors, and assessors of the Inland Revenue Department enjoy the highest professional standards both locally and globally through APFASL membership.

An agreement was also signed by the institute recently with both the World Bank and the Government, which aims at strengthening public sector financial management through capacity building, while steps have already been taken to prepare the relevant material such as manuals in order to train the public sector accountants, auditors, and Inland Revenue assessors with assistance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants in London.

The Chief Guest at the ceremony was Cabinet Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe, who endorsed the new initiative by CA Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of the positive changes that professional qualifications can bring to the public finance sector, which plays a crucial role in national development as well as the overall productivity of the country, ensuring the successful achievement of the Government’s economic goals.

CA Sri Lanka President Sujeewa Rajapakse, delivering the welcome address at the event, said: “I would like to congratulate you all on this occasion of awarding membership certificates to the members of the Association of Public Finance Accountants of Sri Lanka. CA Sri Lanka has consistently worked towards enhancing the standards of public sector accounting in this country and as the national accounting body we believe that it is our duty to help promote the standards of the sector, auditors and assessors by providing them with various opportunities which will help propel them to a global professional level.”

Rajapakse also stated that initiatives such as this would only serve to enhance the services rendered to the general public and stated that these initiatives are a critically important factor in the efficient management of public sector finances.

APFASL President and Senior Financial Consultant, Academy of Financial Studies of the Ministry of Finance and Planning V. Kanagasabapathy expressed confidence in the initiative stating that the establishment of the new Association would no doubt pave the way for public sector finance professionals to enhance their professional skills and expertise and elevate their careers by embracing new levels of professionalism and the utilisation of international best practices in the sector.

The Board of Management of the APFASL boasts a prominent list of accounting and finance personalities chaired by Kanagasabapathy and includes the CA Sri Lanka President Sujeewa Rajapakse, the Vice President CA Sri Lanka and senior members drawn from the Accountants Service, Audit Service, Inland Revenue Service, including the Auditor General, Commissioner General of Inland Revenue and the Director General of State Accounts as well.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara