ICASL, SLIIT and SLASSCOM tie-up to develop IT, BPO industry

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) have partnered to develop the Accounting, IT and BPO industry in the country. The ICASL has decided to achieve this objective by developing industry driven education programs in partnership with SLASSCOM and SLIIT. A tripartite agreement has been entered into by ICASL, SLASSCOM and SLIIT. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs was the Chief Guest on this occasion.

The year 2009 is signified as the `Year of English and IT', which is a major initiative of the Government to help Sri Lanka meet the demands of the 21st Century in skills and capacities. The ICASL, SLIIT and SLASSCOM partnership will primarily focus on supporting the national initiative to build life skills of youth across the country to be employed by the IT-BPO industry.

The purpose of this MOU is to promote Accounting, BPO and IT as a career choice among students and the business community with a view to enhance the capacity and quality of qualified accountants suitable to serve the BPO industry.

This will initially focus as an urgent step in developing an intensive program to train youth in the North and the East in this aspect. This will contribute to the Government Development Plan "Uthuru Vasanthaya" in war affected areas.

This partnership is also aimed at developing accreditations/examinations relevant to the IT-BPO Industry. The ICASL and SLIIT have developed a customised course to cater to the needs of the IT and BPO industry which will be delivered through the ICASL.

The ICASL, SLIIT and SLASSCOM would synergise their resources to maximise the benefits of this partnership especially towards the North and the East. This strong combination would definitely open avenues for professional education opportunities in Accounting and IT especially for the student population in the North and the East regions thus providing career opportunities for them.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, which is the sole authority in setting up Accounting and Auditing Standards in Sri Lanka, was constituted by the Act No. 23 of the Parliament in 1959.Presently, the membership strength is more than 3500 of which, approximately 750 are based overseas and they are engaged in diverse sectors across commerce and industry, academia, government and public practice.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) is the largest IT degree awarding institute in Sri Lanka in the field of Information Technology, recognised by the University Grants Commission under the Universities Act.

The SLIIT was established in 1999 to educate and train IT professionals required by the fast growing IT industry in Sri Lanka.

The SLASSCOM is the unified industry chamber for the IT and BPO industry in Sri Lanka.

SLASSCOM acts as the catalyst of growth for the Sri Lankan IT and BPO industry by facilitating trade and business, propagation of education and employment, encouragement of research and innovation, and by supporting the creation of a progressive national policy framework.