CA Sri Lanka launches e-learning course on financial reporting

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently launched an online certificate course on Sri Lanka's Financial Reporting Standards (SLFRS), which has been designed for the professional advancement of accounting and finance professionals in Sri Lanka and overseas.

Program Leader, Growth and Competitiveness, World Bank, Emanuel Salinas Munoz commended CA Sri Lanka for its farsightedness and being innovative.

"In today's world, online education is rapidly gaining importance, and will be one of the main channels to educate people. The potential for mass online courses is widely recognised as part of the future in the provision of education," he said.

He also applauded CA Sri Lanka for being among the first in South Asia to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards and for taking the initiative to drive reforms. Munoz said that with the launch of the e-learning course, CA Sri Lanka has proved that the accounting profession is also good at innovation.

"The World Bank is committed to supporting the development of professional education and training opportunities that meets the needs of countries such as Sri Lanka," he said.

CA Sri Lanka President, Arjuna Herath said that every effort has been made to ensure that financial reporting, auditing standards and best practices in corporate governance has been carried out as effectively as possible.

"CA Sri Lanka is also determined to build capacity to ensure implementation is effective and we have been successful in that journey and we can match any accountant in the world in terms of accounting and auditing standards," Herath said.

Herath said that the fact that 30 percent of the 4,600 CA Sri Lanka members were working overseas, was an indication that CA Sri Lanka members were mobile and recognised around the world.

"We have over 330 in Australia, over 100 in US and UK, and a significant number in the Middle East, which is a clear testimony that we have built skills and knowledge and attitude that a professional accountant needs," he added.

He said that with the launch of the e-learning course which was developed with the support of the World Bank, the course will help to maintain and build the capacity, skills and knowledge of members of the profession.

"We want to ensure that our members' skills and knowledge are maintained. For this task, technology is needed, hence we launched the e-learning module. They can refresh their knowledge on the latest updates on SLFRS in the comfort of their office or home," he added.

CA Sri Lanka, SLFRS Education Committee Chairman, Sanath Fernando outlining the key features of the SLFRS Certification Course said that this course basically covered the A to Z that anyone wanted to know on SLFRS and gives full coverage on all the standards that are applicable today. He said that the course is available for students, members of CA Sri Lanka and members of other professional bodies and academia.