Rajendra Theagarajah and Melanie J Kanaka appointed to CIMA Global Council

The Global Council of CIMA, the governing body of CIMA UK, consisting of 57 Members from around the world has announced the appointment of 2 Sri Lankans Rajendra Theagarajah and Melanie J Kanaka two long standing members of CIMA to the Global Council for a period of 3 years commencing 13 June,2013. Mr. Rajendra Theagarajah’s appointment was based on an invitation whilst Ms. Melanie J Kanaka’s appointment was on her success at the election amongst members representing South Asia (Area 14). Ms Melanie J Kanaka is the 1st lady from Asia to be appointed to the global council.

Rajendra Theagarajah is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hatton National Bank PLC Sri Lanka’s premier private sector commercial bank. He counts for over 29 years of experience in banking both in Europe and Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Having obtained an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management, UK, he joined the Chase Manhattan Bank (now known as JP Morgan Chase) in London and obtained extensive experience in Internal control systems, Branch operations, Global Custody and Treasury management within the bank s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1992 and joined the Colombo Branch of Banque Indosuez (now part of the CALYON Group) and served as its Deputy General Manager.

Mr. Theagarajah is the Deputy Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Sri Lanka Governing Board, Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce EXCO, Member of the Sri Lanka Auditing Quality Assurance Board, Member of Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards .Monitoring Board, Member of Academic Council of the Institute of Bankers Sri Lanka, Colours of Courage (Cancer Trust), Director of Colombo Stock Exchange, and Council Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. Mr Theagarajah is a past Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks Association and Past President of the Association of Professional Bankers in Sri Lanka. He is the first Sri Lankan to assume Chairmanship of the Asian Bankers Association from November 1st 2010 for a twoyear tenure. He is also a member of the Governing Board of the World University Service of Canada and an Independent Non Executive Director of Carson Cumberbatch PLC.

Melanie J Kanaka, FCMA (UK), CGMA, B.com (Hons - 1st Class), MBA (Emory University, USA) Head of Finance and Administration, The World Bank - Sri Lanka & Maldives. Overall responsibility for Finance and Resource Management for the World Bank and attached to the South Asia Region. A Fulbright scholar, an accredited SAP Finance and Controlling consultant and a fellow member of CIMA (UK). She is a former Sri Lanka national swimmer and had the rare distinction of officiating at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. USA. Melanie has served on the Sri Lanka Divisional Council for nine years and was also a past Vice President of CIMA Sri Lanka Division. She was the first Sri Lankan and non-UK assessor to be invited to serve on the CIMA Global Membership Board and was appointed a CIMA Global Membership Assessor in 2008. Presently a member of the CIMA Sri Lanka Divisional Board and a Member of the CIMA Global Technical (Policy) Committee and a CIMA Global Membership Assessor. Recently elected to the CIMA Global Council effective June 2013 to represent the electoral constituency of South Asia.