ACCA strengthens collaboration with University of Colombo

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka recently strengthen their relationship with the University of Colombo through the formal signing of an MOU.

The move was with the aim of producing talent with cross-sector accounting and finance knowledge, skills,  professional and ethical values, and backed by the goal of  sharing ACCA’s global expertise with the next generation of finance professionals who have a critical role to play in uplifting and developing the economy and future of Sri Lanka.

The MoU was signed between the Chief Executive of ACCA Global, Helen Brand during her recent visit to Sri Lanka and Vice-chancellor and Senior Professor H.D. Karunaratne, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo. The event was also attended by the Head of South Asia at ACCA Nilusha Ranasinghe and Dilani Perera Business Relationship Manager , ACCA Sri Lanka.

The underlying core expectancy of the MOU would be in working in collaboration to develop the accounting profession in Sri Lanka by conducting joint workshops, seminars, research, discussion events and conferences. The outcomes of these activities will ultimately contribute towards the betterment of the accounting profession in the country.

The MOU will also enable the sharing of information about ACCA qualifications and the University of Colombo programs with students of both parties, along with granting exemptions for the graduates, as well as helping them gain specialist knowledge and accountancy skills and managerial skills that are on par with global standards. 

University of Colombo Vice Chancellor Senior Professor H.D. Karunaratne, stated that he strongly believed that this was an excellent opportunity for students of the University to enhance their academic degree with a globally recognized professional accountancy qualification such as that of ACCA, which is highly recognized by employer’s across the world.

ACCA Global Chief Executive Helen Brand added: “It’s been almost ten years since I signed the initial MOU with the University of Colombo and since then we’ve been working together to accelerate career paths for professional accountants. As a pioneering University, producing a high calibre of graduates, this latest collaboration is an important step towards developing the next generation of finance professionals to support and build the Sri Lanka economy of the future.”

Endorsing these comments Head of South Asia at ACCA Nilusha Ranasinghe said: “We look forward in working together towards producing professional accountants that the future industries in Sri Lanka so badly needs. We are confident that graduates from the University of Colombo by attaining our qualification, will have better acceptability in both local and international job markets which have become increasingly competitive.”