The profession of Chartered Corporate Secretaries in Sri Lanka

The Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries of Sri Lanka (ICCSSL) is the sole institution in Sri Lanka that can award the qualification of a Chartered Corporate Secretary. On completion of the programme of study, successful candidates qualify to register themselves with the Registrar of Companies as Company Secretaries.

The Company Secretary is a high level professionalholding senior status in a private sector or public sector organisation in the form of a managerial or higher position.

The Company Secretary upholds effective operations of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring high standards of corporate governance, compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and ensuring that decisions of the Board of Directors are implemented. The Company Secretary is also responsible for keeping members of the Board of Directors informed of their legal responsibilities in order that the Company and its Directors operate within regulation. In the course of work, the Company Secretary has to communicate with a range of senior officials and other stakeholders including Board Directors, Shareholders, Customers, Bankers, Stock Brokers, Inland Revenue Department and State Officials, ensure that dividends are paid to shareholders, be the guardian and custodian ofthe statutory records of the Company.

Course Structure

The Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice provides Students with the opportunity to obtain a middle management or executive position in the corporate secre t a r i a l sphere, but will not confer the right to practise as a Company Secretary. However, the Diploma holder has the option of qualifying as a Chartered Corporate Secretary and practising as a Company Secretary.

Career Prospects

The Chartered Corporate Secretary, with the enormous wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise, is much sought after by enterprises. Many hold strategic positions as Chairpersons, Directors, Company Secretaries, Assistant Company Secretaries, Managers and Executives of reputed firms. Qualified and experienced Chartered Corporate Secretaries are in very short supply and those with requisite experience command excellent salaries ranging from Rs.100,000/= to Rs. 200.000/=, depending on the size of the organisation and the level of employment.

ICCSSL is currently registering students keen on preparing for the March 2017 examinations.

Further information can be obtained from the Headquarters of the ICCS at No. 546/ 6B, Galle Road, Colombo 3 (Telephone : 011 2301982, Email: iccs@sltnet. lk, Web: www.iccslk.org).

COURSE STRUCTURE