|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 16 November 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Personality plus Mahasena Senanayake : "Be flexible and sensitive to changes"
Senanayake practises as a Chartered Management Accountant and a Chartered Accountant and works closely with the University of Peradeniya, teaches undergraduates and Masters of Business Administration Programme linked to Sterling University (UK) since 1995. He is involved in research in economics. Senanayake also functions as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Coordinator for Kandy and runs the CIMA Information Centre and associated activities. Family Senanayake's father was a national politician and a landed proprietor while his mother was a devoted and loving housewife who looked after a family of 10 of which Senanayake is the seventh. Education Born and bred in Kandy, he had his education at Trinity College where he maintained an above average performance in both academic and extra-curricular activities. He represented the Trinity College (Under 17) rugby team, was a school cadet and played rugger, cricket and hockey for both Gibson and Garret Houses while in school. Having completed his G.C.E. Ordinary Level, Senanayake left school relatively early, possibly due to his over-involvement in sporting activity for which Trinity is famous. He joined Aquinas College, completed his G.C.E. Advanced Level and was called up to Kelaniya University for a B.Com. degree. Having declined this offer, he proceeded to the United Kingdom to pursue a career in accountancy under Articles of Clerkship. He is a Fellow of the CIMA and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. Career Senanayake said he started his accountancy career with Cork Gully and Co., a premier Chartered Accountants firm in the UK which specialise in the field of receiveship in addition to the traditional portfolio of services offered by Chartered Accountants. He says the experience he obtained was exceptional and enjoyable while facing challenges of the highest magnitude. He initially spent two years in the Yorkshire offices of his firm and then moved in to the city of London where he trained and practised for four years. His Principal under whom he did his Articles of Clerkship was Sir Kenneth Cork, Alderman of the City of London and subsequently the Mayor of London. He transferred to H. W. Fisher and Co., another top level firm of Chartered Accountants in Covent Garden, London for post-qualifying training of two years to obtain a UK practising certificate under the Financial Services Act 1986 which allows him the freedom to practise within all European Union countries to date. After a period of teaching with the London School of Accountancy, he moved to the USA to obtain further exposure on assignment basis. Academic and consultancy Senanayake spends 60 per cent of his time on teaching across a wide spectrum of professional and academic programmes. He also had the privilege of being invited to teach at his alma mater, Trinity College for two years. The balance of his time is spread on consultancy, training and social services. His consultancy has enabled him to function as a national consultant to the Asian Development Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the GTZ and the Government of Sri Lanka in addition to his private clients. He has conducted and participated in several management training seminars in Kandy and Colombo. Senanayake serves on the Boards of Study in Business Administration and in the Board on Agricultural Economics and as a member at the University of Peradeniya. Publications Senanayake has authored the official textbook on Economics and Commerce used nationally by students of the Association of Accounting Technicians which has been translated to Sinhala and Tamil. His well researched paper on budgets and budgetary control has been published by the Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Sri Lanka). Future Senanayake is of the view that within a dynamic economy, all players should be flexible and sensitive to changing trends. He also feels that missions of humans should also be like the wheel of life - changing but focused. His mission at present is to give back to society by disseminating the knowledge he has acquired to younger generations on a service; quality; cost recovery basis and give the best to his consultancy clientele. Advice To the young he says: "Search, find and consolidate the core area knowledge relating to your respective professions and adhere to the governing ethics. Allow creativity and innovation to permeate your system. Above all be persevering and courageous while obtaining 'Hands On' experience". Fact File |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Academics, consultancy and social service are the main facets of
Mahasena Senanayake's life. He pursues these diverse activities with the
help of large doses of courage, perseverance and a solid education
obtained in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
