AATSL calls for finance to produce middle level accounting technicians

by Elmo Leonard

The Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AATSL) has called on the government to contribute financially towards its education programs of producing middle level accounting technicians.

AAT President, Lal Nanayakkara said that each year, AAT accommodates a large number of students left out of universities, most coming from the rural sector. In producing these middle level accounting technicians, AAT adds value to the local human resource, which in turn assists the local economy. Thus, AAT education merits government assistance, he said at AATs' annual conference held last week.

Each year, 135 to 140,000 students are eligible to enter university, however, room available, permits 17,000 students to enter. Currently there are 30,000 AAT students in Sri Lanka. If AAT had more funds, it could widen its educational programs and improve library facilities, it lacked.

Governor Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, a member of the founding council of AAT, said that in 18 years, AAT had done well in producing so many accounting technicians. He advised AAT to continue being independent, for the government, like the World Bank does not give money without strings attached.

AAT also called on the government to recognise AAT qualified middle level accountants, they being an integral part of the nation's accounting systems. Trade union pressure was preventing that recognition, in fear that its area of representation was being challenged, Nanayakkara said.

The AAT conference was themed, 'towards development of the SME sector'. The Central Bank governor said that an SME enterprise is one which lacks capital, to grow, and marketing skills to sell its products.

When SMEs ask for a bank loan, banks ask SMEs questions like, what will be your turnover in two years? For which, they have no answers. AAT technicians working with these SMEs can help provide such answers.

SMEs do not know to modify their products, to meet the changing market and here again, AAT technicians can help, as they have to learn more than accounting, while, management is also part of their curriculum. AAT technicians could also help SMEs to develop business links and grow into medium and large enterprises, Cabraal said.

AAT technicians can help their companies keep abreast of change and perhaps grow into an international company, Cabraal said.

Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, a banker of the past, thought aloud that the middle level of accounting was very important to improve the accounting system of the country.

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