Reflections the Official Digest of CIMA Sri Lanka Issue 1 2020 CIMA Turned 100 in 2019!
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Reflections The official digest of CIMA Sri Lanka Issue 1 2020 CIMA turned 100 in 2019! Let’s reflect on CIMA’s glorious history. CIMA was first established as The Institute of CIMA has adapted through the years to Cost and Works Accountants in 1919. Starting stay relevant to member needs, and a from only 17 members, the Institute reached an significant number of these changes active base of 1,000 members by 1936. It opened happened over the last decade. In 2012, its first international office in South Africa in 1955, CIMA introduced the Chartered Global subsequently appointing an Overseas Affairs Management Accountant® (CGMA®) Committee to advise on its development as an designation in partnership with the international body. American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The Institute gained the Royal Charter in 1975 Five years later, CIMA and AICPA joined and changed its name to The Chartered Institute together to form The Association of of Management Accountants, reaching an active International Certified Professional member base of 50,000 merely 13 years later. Accountants (The Association), the largest Today, CIMA has over 237,000 members and and most influential professional students worldwide, and operates in 177 accounting body in the world with over countries. 650,000 members in 179 countries. Centenary celebrations in Sri Lanka We commenced our centenary celebrations in February 2019, with the centenary cocktail held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The occasion was graced by CIMA President 2018 - 2019 Steven Swientozielskyj FCMA, CGMA along with the participation of Past Presidents, Corporate Partners and our members. The celebrations Honoring our pioneer member Centenary cake being cut by Prof. Furkhan Prof. Furkhan and President Steven included the launch of CIMA Sri Lanka’s corporate partners and recognition of the contributions made by CIMA Sri Lanka’s pioneering members. The occasion also saw the official induction of Ms. Manohari Abeyesekera as the Chairperson of the Country Network Panel for the year. Recognition of Global Council and Corporate Partners 2019 Association Board / RAP representatives Amal Ratnayake FCMA, CGMA Rifka Ziyard FCMA, CGMA CIMA President Chair - CIMA Sri Lanka Network Panel 2020 I am so proud of the vibrant CIMA community in Sri Lanka It is with profound pleasure that we launch ‘Reflections’ and I extend a that is supported by so many activities and engagement events warm welcome to the readership. The year 2019 was a special year for organized by the local CIMA chapter. In fact, this community of CIMA being the ‘centenary year’ and we are pleased to recollect the CIMA members and students is the largest outside of the UK, and significant moments from 2019. My sincere appreciation to Ms. Manohari I am privileged to have my roots here in this lovely country. Abeyesekera, immediate past chair and the rest of the members of the I started my first accounting job here, and because of my CIMA Country Network Panel, the members of the sub committees together with qualification, it has taken me to many places around the world the CIMA Sri Lanka office staff led by Ms. Zahara Ansary, Country Manager, where my career has flourished. Today, I have settled in Toronto, on the efforts made throughout the year to make 2019 a vibrant centenary but Sri Lanka always holds a very special place in my heart. I’m year. immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka The members of the Country Network Panel together with the CIMA in my capacity as President of CIMA in January this year. Sri Lanka staff are excited of the activities/events we have lined up for the In addition to serving as President of CIMA, I am also Chair of year 2020. These will enable our members to keep pace with the changes the Association of International Certified Professional and avail opportunities to upskill. Further, we will focus on providing Accountants, which brings together the members of CIMA and assistance to CIMA students and exam completes to enhance their the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as the most influential employability and to provide guidance to achieve success. body of professional accountants. I am keen that our members Over the years, CIMA has produced many high performers, who hold the and students in Sri Lanka continue to thrive and help their highest positions in the corporate world and we wish to recognize these businesses succeed in these times of seismic change. members who are continuously triumphing in all levels across different In a world that’s changing so fast mainly because of technology, industries. Our efforts will focus on the evolving needs of the corporate CIMA will continue to reinvent and reimagine the future. We are world and to assist our members to meet such expectations. committed to keeping all our members and students at the While we reminisce the past year, we look forward to another momentous forefront of cutting-edge skills that are fit for sustainable year which will contribute immensely to our members, profession and business success. We’ve been around for 100 years, and we society as a whole. envisage that the next 100 years will be challenging but exciting as we continue to fulfil our promise of powering trust, opportunity and prosperity for everyone. Manohari Abeyesekera FCMA, CGMA Zahara Ansary, ACMA, CGMA Immediate Past Chair - CIMA Sri Lanka Network Panel Country Manager CIMA Sri Lanka It is with pleasure that I pen these words on the inaugural CIMA 2019 saw a flurry of activity at CIMA, in lieu of the Centenary year. Launching Reflections. the year with the Centenary Cocktails, we’ve completed many Centenary CIMA being the leading management accountancy body in the Pledge activities in the past year in addition to our flagship, member diversity, world, has evolved over the years to remain as a prestigious collaborative and CPD events. 2020 had a great start with our President management accountancy qualification. 2019 was a special year Amal Ratnayake’s visit to Sri Lanka. This digest has been created specifically for CIMA, as we celebrated our Centenary. On this milestone, CIMA to update you on such activities conducted and to encourage you to be Sri Lanka is doubly proud as the current CIMA Global President engaged with CIMA. Mr Amal Ratnayake is also a fellow Sri Lankan. In February 2019, We understand that remaining relevant in times of significant change is CIMA in Sri Lanka celebrated its Centenary at a gala ceremony at important. Being a part of The Association of International Certified Cinnamon Grand which was patronized by our members, where Professional Accountants (The Association), powered by CIMA and the we also recognised our Corporate Partners. American Institute of CPAs, we bring to you the opportunity to keep Our Member Engagement Sub Committee had a successful Quiz yourselves updated with our various CPD events that will help you succeed. held at Next Innings, Dutch Hospital in August followed by our An exciting new career portal www.mycareer.aicpa-cima.com has just been flagship CIMA Business Leaders’ Summit organised by the Member launched featuring tools on résumé writing and interview coaching, as well Development Sub Committee in September at Shangri - La. The as career advice, including how to determine your worth or ways to better Stakeholder Relations Sub Committee partnered with Sri Lanka advocate in the workplace. Telecom in organizing a CXO Forum in October 2019. In November, Our exam completes are encouraged to obtain their membership soon to be the CIMA Engagement Sub Committee took our members on a a part of the CIMA family which entails event invites and a variety of visit to the Yala National Park. Our Student Development Sub opportunities to reskill and grow. They as well as ACMAs hoping to be Committee embarked on an internship program, providing FCMAs now have additional support available at the local office. Reach out opportunity to our young students to be employed in prestigious to [email protected] for details. organizations. This year too, we will have exciting events and activities for the CIMA CIMA had also taken steps to celebrate important national events, community in Sri Lanka. Check your emails and the CIMA Facebook page to celebrate diversity amongst our membership - Ifthar, Poson, regularly for more updates. Christmas in 2019 and Thai Pongal in 2020. I trust that our members, both young and old would enjoy this update and continue to reach out to us. Contributing to the global dialogue As the country hosting the largest concentration of CIMA students and members, outside the UK, we are extremely proud to present Sri Lankan CIMA members who are contributing towards the development of the global accounting profession by serving on the CIMA Council, the Board of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and the Association’s Middle East, South Asia and North Africa (MESANA) Regional Advisory Panel. Obtaining CIMA membership in 1993, Ratnayake served on the CIMA Canada Board and was appointed Board Chair in 2012. From 2013 - 2017 he served as CIMA Council representative for the Americas, and chaired CIMA Global Markets Committee from June 2015 to December 2016. In 2017, he joined the Board of Directors of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Ratnayake is a globally reputed transformation leader and strategic CFO, with an established track record in driving financial and structural transformation in businesses. He is currently the CFO at The Official Community Corporate, an online event-driven brand management company for established recording artists. He holds an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management. Amal Ratnayake FCMA, CGMA CIMA President, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Board Chair and Management Accounting Board Chair.