CA Sri Lanka kicks off mentoring program to nurture aspirations of chartered accountants

In a fresh initiative aimed at nurturing the aspirations of newly qualified chartered accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), recently kicked off its inaugural mentoring program ‘Nurturing Aspirations’ where 100 chartered accountants were mentored by 10 distinguished corporate leaders.

The program aims to maximise the potential of newly qualified chartered accountants, who were given the rare opportunity to listen and learn from senior chartered accountants, who are also members of the institute and have successfully climbed the corporate ladder and hold distinguished positions across leading companies in the country.

CA Sri Lanka President Arjuna Herath addressing the mentors and mentees said that the senior members of CA Sri Lanka, who are chartered accountants, enjoy top positions in both the public and private sectors. “We want to ensure that this trend continues,” he said.

Herath noted that the young chartered accountants are the new ambassadors and flag bearers who will take the profession and the institute forward, and having understood their role, CA Sri Lanka decided to create a platform to impart the knowledge, experience, wisdom and skills possessed by senior members to the new members. “We need to share this knowledge with our young members as they have to carry forward our profession and the institute to the future,” he added.

The mentors of the program were CIC Holdings PLC Former Chairman B.R.L. Fernando, Mackwoods Ltd Joint Managing Director Lalith Fonseka, Brandix Lanka Ltd Group Finance Director Trevine Jayasekara, Lanka Walltiles PLC Managing Director Mahendra Jayasekera, Finlays Colombo PLC Finance Director Coralie  Pietersz, John Keells Holdings PLC Group Financial Controller Mano  Rajakariar, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC Director/CEO Suresh Shah, Aitken Spence PLC Chief Financial Officer Nilanthi  Sivapragasam, National Development Bank PLC Director/Chief Executive Officer RajendraTheagarajah and Financial Consultant NihalWelikala.

CA Sri Lanka Vice President Lasantha Wickremasinghe, addressing the gathering emphasised that to reach the top, a professional needs knowledge, skills and support.

“This program will enhance the quality and the future of young chartered accountants,” Wickremasinghe said.

He noted that mentoring is considered an important element in career progression, and young professionals can achieve success with the help of the seniors from the profession.

Professional Accountants in Business Committee of CA Sri Lanka Chairman Nandika Buddhipala said that the program was very important for new members as they will receive important insights and tips which will be of great use for their professional journey. 

He also thanked the 10 mentors who readily accepted the invitation to be part of the program and share their knowledge and insight with the younger generation of chartered accountants. “I am certain this will be a very important and useful programme for our young members and I hope you take advantage of this program,” Buddhipala told the mentees.

Alternate Chairman of the Professional Accountants in Business Committee, Heshana Kuruppu said that four primary roles were expected of a professional accountant, and they were the roles of value creator, value enabler, value reporter and value preserver.

“We are very good at being a reporter and preserver; however some have weaknesses when it comes to the strategy aspects. Yet, these mentors have achieved holistic success in successfully carrying out all four roles,” he said. Kuruppu also said that exposure is also essential for success in the professional life, along with experience and education.

“That is why we thought of exposing our new members to senior members who have been value creators and value enablers,” he added.