Lanka has highest number of CIMA students outside UK

by Elmo Leonard

Sri Lanka with 12,000 CIMA students has the largest CIMA student population outside the United Kingdom, CIMA International president, John Cockland said in Colombo.

CIMA International counts 90,000 students and 70,000 members, Cockland said at the 4th annual CIMA Janashakthi awards 2006, held last week.

CIMA was founded 88 years ago by business people in UK, led by the then chairman of Lever Brothers. The object was to formulate a body through which students would pass out, serving the needs of businesses at that time, and it took six years to make a dent, Cockland said.

CIMA Sri Lanka got off the ground 40 years ago and has grown much in dimension. Today, CIMA members are business leaders in the local scenario in all aspects of life.

The coming together of CIMA and Janashakthi, a leading insurer in the island is in accordance with the foresight of the business leaders of UK, to produce a human resource to assist the business needs of a country, Cockland said.

CIMA, International was very proud of Sri Lanka's contribution to CIMA worldwide, which plays a role in economic development trans borders. In two years from now, a Sri Lankan will take over the mantle of president of CIMA International, Cockland said, without naming the candidate being groomed.

CIMA Sri Lanka president, Shanthikumar Sathanandan said that the winners of the awards are ordinary people who like to do extraordinary things.

Within Sri Lanka there is a wealth of talent which CIMA wished to make use of. To reach that end, CIMA planned to hold the CIMA Janashakthi awards, by honouring excellence in the diverse fields of business.

Chairman Janashakthi Insurance W. T. Ellawala said that his company came forward to help foster a professional management and team building spirit among young Sri Lankan executives.

The sponsorship of the awards in review is meant to celebrate, identify and recognise excellence among businesspersons. Janashakthi was ready to recognise the state of professionalism among any staff. Last week, Janashakthi, 12 years in existence, recognised professionalism among its staff.

The CIMA membership has contributed much to the community in diverse fields and there is much more to contribute towards society to add value to the day to day lives of people. Within the gamut of business and commerce, there is also a responsibility and accountability of managers to shareholders.

Janashakthi is privileged to continue with CIMA in the years to come, to help develop organisations to carry out the tasks of the future, Ellawela said.

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