CA Sri Lanka’s skill development programme for aspiring professional accountants go virtual

A highly interactive three-day skill development programme conducted exclusively for Strategic Level students of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) was converted into a virtual programme due to COVID-19 restrictions in the country.

The 3-day skill development programme provided participants with the required soft skill competencies to help them progress to become holistic Chartered Accountants with the ability to steer the dynamic corporate world in the future.

The programme was virtually graced by CA Sri Lanka President Mr. Manil Jayesinghe, Vice President Mr. Sanjaya Bandara and Council Member & Chairperson of the Student Training & Skills Development Committee Ms. Chamila Cooray, who also evaluated the presentations of students who showcased the knowledge they had acquired during the 3-day event.

The programme which attracted a large number of CA students, engaged a team of experts who helped students enhance their knowledge on multiple areas including the importance of personal grooming, how to effectively draft a CV, how to strategically face future challenges, the fundamentals of digital disruption, importance of innovative thinking, the need to develop a marketing strategy, importance of inculcating leadership skills, why career paths & performance reviews are important to progress, and how Chartered Accountants add value to society, corporate, country and the world.

In 2019, CA Sri Lanka launched the 3-day residential programme for aspiring Chartered Accountants. The programme incorporated outbound and in-house training including teambuilding exercises to ensure self-development, positive communication, leadership skills and the ability to work together as a team. With effect from January 2020, the programme was made compulsory as part of the professional experience sub pillar at the Strategic Level of the CA Sri Lanka curriculum 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was changed into an inhouse training programme at the Institute last year, and this year it was converted into a virtual programme.

The guest speakers at the event were Ms. Bernandine Jayasinghe, Managing Director at the Institute of Essential Studies (IES), Mr. Inthikab Zufer, Chief Operations Officer at

International Medical Campus, Ms. Vishwara Perera, Lecturer at the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Mr. Anuruddha Dias, Senior Finance Business Partner at Transformation Operations – Australia, Mr. Buddhi Chandrasena, Director – Digital Transformation at WNS Global Services, Mr. Sunesh Rodrigo, Deputy General Manager for Strategic Transformation at MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and Dr. Samantha Rathnayake, Faculty Member / Management Consultant of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) of the University of Sri Jayewaedenapura.