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U.S. launches training to strengthen Lanka’s Public Sector accounting and auditing capabilities
The U.S. Government, through its development agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) and the Association of Public Finance Accountants of Sri Lanka (APFASL) to strengthen Sri Lanka’s accounting and auditing sectors. This partnership will train approximately 600 public sector accountants and audit professionals, and 1,200 officers on IT applications and other platforms that support strategic decision making, the US Embassy in Colombo said.
Speaking at the official launch of the training program, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung said: “The U.S. is excited to provide public sector professionals with the necessary tools to further strengthen their knowledge on compliance requirements and contribute towards greater accountability in the public sector. As one of Sri Lanka’s longstanding development partners, our vision is to help the country to emerge from crises stronger than before.”
The training will focus on Sri Lanka’s Public Sector Accounting Standards (SLPSAS), which provide a framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements in compliance with international best practices for quality financial accounting and reporting. The training, conducted in all nine provinces, will strengthen the capacity of public sector accounting and auditing professionals on the recent developments and applications of SLPSAS 11-20, enhancing public sector financial management functions and reporting as well as improving financial analysis, planning, and management in the public sector.
“Strong public financial management is very critical for Sri Lanka to achieve its long-term goals. Therefore, APFASL in its capacity as the public sector wing of CA Sri Lanka, has been playing a critical role in strengthening public financial management practices in line with international best practices. The collaboration with USAID comes at a very opportune time as we continue to strive to enhance public sector accounting and auditing professionals so that they continue to remain relevant. This partnership with USAID is also a testament to the important work both CA Sri Lanka and APFASL have been doing to enhance the sector”, said Sanjaya Bandara, President of CA Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the training program will strengthen public sector finance professionals’ effective use of IT systems to support strategic decision-making across all provinces.
As the facilitator of the training, the APFASL will support the implementation of the National Policy on Fiscal Management and enhance financial management systems in public institutions, universities, and local governments.
“Since its inception, APFSL has been at the forefront in developing the professional skills and expertise of the public sector accountants and auditors, and chief among the numerous groundbreaking initiatives the association launched was to publish the Sri Lanka Public Sector Accounting Standards. APFASL was launched with the vision to help lead the public financial management to excellence while helping the sector to continue to play a pioneering role in Sri Lanka. Therefore, I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to USAID for recognizing our efforts”, said V. Kanagasabapathy, President of APFASL.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed Ms. Thanuja Murugesan as the new Chief Secretary of the Northern Province.
The official letter of appointment was presented to her on Tuesday (20) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
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President directs officials to promptly renovate the canals and drainage system in Colombo
With the rapid increase in dengue and chikungunya cases in the Colombo district, President Anura Kumara Disanayake has directed the relevant officials to promptly address the urgent maintenance of the canals and drainage system
The President gave these directives during a meeting held on Tuesday (20) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, along with other relevant institutions.
The President questioned the officials regarding the inadequate maintenance of the canals and drainage systems, directing the Urban Development Authority to devise a plan that includes sustainable solutions for the improper disposal of waste and wastewater. The President also informed the relevant officials to submit the relevant plans promptly.
During the meeting, attention was also drawn to address the issue of improper waste disposal by enhancing the active involvement of Police Environmental Protection Division and Community Committees.
Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation and senior officials of relevant institutions were present at the meeting.
News
Committee formed under Presidential Secretariat to investigate irregularities at SriLankan Airlines
President Anura Kumara Disanayake has instructed relevant authorities to establish a committee under the Presidential Secretariat to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement at SriLankan Airlines.
The directive was issued during a four-hour meeting held on Tuesday (20) at the Presidential Secretariat, attended by the airline’s Board of Directors and representatives from all affiliated trade unions.
The discussions aimed to secure the collective commitment of stakeholders to uphold the government’s decision to retain state ownership of the airline, eliminate losses and steer it toward recovery. President Disanayake stressed that rebuilding SriLankan Airlines would be impossible without unified efforts, adding that the institution must develop its internal capacity to rebuild itself.
Asserting the government’s role as the political authority, the President reiterated its commitment to making “all necessary sacrifices” to rescue Sri Lanka from its economic crisis. He emphasised that reviving the national carrier is the shared responsibility of its entire workforce.
Highlighting the allocation of Rs. 20 billion from the budget for SriLankan Airlines, the President underscored the need for stringent fiscal accountability, noting that these funds, drawn from public taxes, must be utilised efficiently. He also welcomed the “positive trend” of April’s operational revenue surpassing targets.
New proposals have been presented by the Board of Directors to transform SriLankan Airlines, which operates under government ownership, into a profitable entity. In line with these proposals, the trade union representatives who participated in the discussions stated before the President that they would extend their full support to achieving these goals.
Key Attendees at the meeting included:. Sarath Ganegoda, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and members of the Board of Directors, representatives from trade unions, including: Flight Attendants’ Union (FAU), the Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL), the Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers (ALAE), the SriLankan Airlines Aircraft Technicians’ Association (SLAATA), and the Sri Lanka Nidhahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS), the Inter-Company Employees’ Union (ICEU) and the SriLankan Airlines Executive Association (EASLA).
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