Orientation Seminar for new AAT Sri Lanka Members 2015

The Orientation Seminar for new AAT Members for the year 2015 was held recently at the Auditorium of the AAT Centre, Colombo. 

The Chief Guest at the event was Dr. W. Hilary E. Silva, Director General of the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education. J. Godwin Perera, Chairman of Ceylinco Insurance Co. made an inspiring presentation full of insights on ‘Towards Greater Professionalism’. The Institute auditorium was packed to capacity together with over 230 new members who have just begun their professional career. 

Dr. Silva addressing the gathering emphasised that when starting a career as accountants, many challenges would be line up but as accountants one must have the courage and ability to face those challenges and overcome them successfully, with integrity safeguarding transparency and accountability, which is no easy task.

The motivational speech was delivered by Perera. He elaborated on the seven attributes of a true professional. “AAT Membership is not a destination; it is only a way-side stop. You must acquire further accounting or financial management qualifications,” he said. 

He advised new AAT Members not to consider work as a job and to consider it as a career. He quoted from Dr. Albert Schweitzer, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” Put the customer first, especially the external customer, but do not push the internal customer last. “Do more than expected and do what you say you will do and say what you know you can do. Communication is much more than merely exchanging information. As budding accountants you must always be able to look at and understand the big picture” he said.  His golden words to new AAT Members were “the true character of a person is judged by what he would do if he knew he would never be found out”. AAT Sri Lanka President Lalith T. Fernando highlighted on the responsibilities placed on the AAT Sri Lanka members to continue the Association’s prestigious legacy going along and following the footsteps of their forefathers. “Think of your journey so far. For your own part it has been full of hard work, taking up new challenges given a solid foundation that would bring happiness with accomplishment of new goals in life. Clearly you have achieved a great milestone quite brilliantly,” he added.

A career guidance workshop was held and members were given the opportunity to recognise strengths and weaknesses in order to assess and acquire the best in them. A couple of reputed companies made presentations and demonstrated the career path in their respective organisations. Subsequent to the career guidance program participants were given the opportunity to meet representatives from reputed organizations and submit their CVs which provided them with a significant opportunity to choose their desired career path.