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Thursday, 2 October 2014 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Addressing the launch of the third intake of the BSc. in Applied Accounting offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), Dr. Nawaratne also emphasised that CA Sri Lanka was helping the country achieve its goal of becoming a knowledge hub in the world by offering a versatile degree program which has also attracted foreign students.
“I am happy to hear that the third intake of the CA Sri Lanka degree program has four students from Oman. We need to welcome more and more foreign students to Sri Lanka, as we strive to be an educational hub offering cost effective and high quality higher education programs for local and foreign students,” he said.
Outlining the Government’s objectives, Dr. Nawaratne said that under the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in making Sri Lanka the ‘Miracle of Asia,’ Sri Lanka should be marketed as a higher education export, where foreign students are encouraged to come and study here, instead of sending Sri Lankan students abroad.
He also congratulated CA Sri Lanka for obtaining recognition to its degree program from CPA Australia, which is one of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a membership of more than 150,000.
“The market today demands comprehensive graduates, not only those who are technically competent, but who also possess practical knowledge. Theoretical knowledge alone is not enough to be successful, practical knowledge too is equally required, along with other skills such as communication and IT,” he noted.
He also stressed upon the need for the future professionals to be inculcated with the importance of attitude, value, professionalism and vision, which are all important elements if they are to be successful professionals.
President of CA Sri Lanka Arjuna Herath addressing the gathering said that there is no other institute in this country that offer the most up-to-date accounting skills and concepts through such a program. “As an accounting institute, we have to be up to date in terms of standards, concepts and technical knowhow that are rolled out across the world. Accounting is our specialty and that reflects in the professional and academic programs we offer through our institute,” he said.
“I am very confident that these graduates will go into society and hold very respectable positions in the business world. The graduates we produce will be able to quickly contribute value to all employers, and that is why graduates of this degree program will be in demand. We are on par with any other university, and this degree is approved by the University of Grants Commission,” Herath added.
Chairman of the Board of Management of the School of Accounting and Business of CA Sri Lanka Ganaka Amarasinghe noted that the world needs today professionals who are equipped with the required skills as demanded by market and society.
“We need people with skills, and we need people who can make a change. There are people who wait for others to change and there are others who involve themselves in making the change. So we have developed this program in a way which instills the ability for you to spearhead that change,” he said.
Amarasinghe noted that the world need people who can change the world, and in order to change the world they have to first prepare themselves. “This is why we provide you with such a program, so I am sure that someday you will be able to change the world,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer of CA Sri Lanka Aruna Alwis said that unlike most other degrees offered both here and abroad, the CA Sri Lanka degree comes with some very distinctive advantages, the primary among them being the ability to produce employable graduates with the required skills, competencies and industry knowledge to fulfill a successful accounting career. Director of the School of Accounting and Business of CA Sri Lanka Dr. Tikiri Andarawewa disclosed that those who enrolled with the degree program under the CA exemption scheme are due to complete the degree in 2015 and it will be the first batch of graduates who will be graduated from the School of Accounting and Business. There onwards a substantial number of graduates will graduated annually.
The academic activities of the 3rd intake commenced on 23 September and there are a few vacancies available for those who wanted to join the program within next two weeks. He also added that the School of Accounting and business is planning to enroll another batch of undergraduates in Jan/Feb 2015.
