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Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICA Sri Lanka) honoured illustrious personality Gamini Benedict Wikramanayake the revered Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 in appreciation of his contribution made to accountancy in particular and society in general.
A chartered accountant by profession, Wickremanayake has played a key role in the development of the accounting profession in the country apart from his influential role in the public sector.
A committee comprising senior members of the Institute unanimously decided to honour Wickramanayake with the second Lifetime Achievement Award, which is based on merit and given to a member who is recognised at the highest level and whose efforts reflects the Institute’s core values.
Wikramanayake was honoured at a gala ceremony in the presence of over 900 guests, which included chartered accountants, senior government officials and corporate leaders. In his illustrious career spanning many decades, Wikramanayake, the sixth president of the Institute commenced his career by serving at Ford Rhodes Thornton and Company from February 1951 to May 1955. After qualifying, he commenced his professional career as a partner, Page Hulugalle, Registered Accountants. Thereafter he joined the state sector as Deputy Chief Accountant, Cement Corporation. By the time he left, Cement Corporation boasted of an effectively well organized and work oriented accounts department. In 1968 he set up Management Systems Ltd and functioned as its managing director. Wickramanayake’s indomitable spirit always looked for new vistas. He ventured in to a completely new area outside the traditional domain of accountants and started a poultry farm, three acre farms Ltd. He accelerated its growth to be the largest hatchery in the country.
Wickramanayake left for Canada to read for an MBA with a view to improve his managerial skills. On his return he was appointed Chairman Oil and Fats Corporation. Thereafter his rise was meteoric. He held several influential positions in the public sector, such as Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government and home affairs, Chairman, Bank of Ceylon and Secretary Administration, Ministry of Finance.
Wickramanayake was elected President of the Institute in 1976 and the contribution he made to the profession is legion. During his tenure as President, he also managed to acquire by way of a gift, a Government property adjacent to the Institute complex to commence new constructions. He also obtained public funds to build a state-of-the-art auditorium, a long felt need of the Institute, which was also accomplished against the backdrop of several financial constraints experienced by the Institute at that time.
