ICASL to woo Sri Lanka’s future leaders at SLMUN conference

Tuesday, 9 August 2011 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), the platinum sponsor at this year’s Sri Lanka Model United Nations Conference (SLMUN), will utilise the conference as a platform to woo the country’s future leaders to pursue a career in chartered accounting.

This year’s SLMUN conference, scheduled from 8 to 10 August 2011 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, will be held under the theme ‘Freedom is Free’ and is expected to see a participation of around 1,000 delegates, consisting of both local and foreign students between the ages of 13 and 19.

The ICASL, which is the country’s national professional accounting body, stepped in as the platinum sponsor for this year’s event as it recognises the SLMUN conference as a platform which moulds the nation’s future leaders.

The institute, which is the largest tertiary education establishment in the country outside the university system with a student base of 36,000, promotes business, finance and management studies in Sri Lanka and ensures a high level of professional competence among its 4,200 members and students.

The ICASL qualification, which is well recognised both locally and internationally, gives the student a thorough understanding on key subjects related to accounting such as accounting and finance, assurance and related services, performance measurement and reporting, strategic business management, taxation and business strategy, which are key elements that sharpen and nurture the capabilities of a competent accountant.

The most important and unique feature of the ICASL qualification is a minimum three-year practical training period that a student has to undergo during his course of study.

According to ICASL President Sujeewa Mudalige, accountants play a major role in most of the well respected and large companies in Sri Lanka, with approximately 70 per cent from the top 50 companies listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange having at least one member from the ICASL on their Board.

He also emphasised that employment opportunities were increasing for chartered accountants in all sectors of the economy. “Chartered accountants are in high demand right now and play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economic outlook,” he added. The ICASL also contributes significantly to the country’s national development in terms of the accounting profession and influences national policy formulation in areas related to the accountancy profession. The model United Nations conferences held around the world are an academic stimulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about civics, current events, effective communications, globalisations and multilateral diplomacy.

The Model United Nations concept continues to grow annually with more than 400,000 middle schools, high schools and university students participating every year in these conferences worldwide.