ICASL should play bigger role in policy making

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) will support the public sector in building capacity and in gaining globally recognised qualifications, said President, (ICASL), Sujeewa Mudalige at a ceremony to launch the 32nd National Conference of ICASL on Tuesday.

He said the ICASL will help develop the public sector which promotes and facilitates development in the country.

The confab will focus on themes beyond numbers to explore opportunities at present.

"ICASL will provide opportunities for rural youth to obtain professional qualifications and scale up in their career. The Institute has identified the potential of the country to achieve economic prosperity", Mudalige said. He said that with new vistas for development in the country chartered accountants will have a greater role to play in policy making.

The ICASL, a major educational institution in the country helps in formulating policies for economic development. Over 25 percent of the ICASL members are employed overseas and around 250 pass-out as chartered accountants annually.

Mudalige said that it was gratifying to see members at the helm of most of the leading organisations and added that ICASL will be a centre of excellence contributing to the growth of the accounting profession in the country.

"Around 60 percent of the top 50 corporates in the country have at least one chartered accountant on its board", he said. National Conference Chairman, Arjuna Herath said the conference will not be confined to accounting professionals but will be open for policymakers and members of departments and institutions.

He said with the changing dynamics of the accounting profession and the business environment the conference has increasingly deliberated on themes beyond numbers.

- LF