Students of Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Degree Specialising in Accounting and Finance, SLIIT Business School taking steps to career success through preparation for the CFA Programme SLIIT has become the first nonstate university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program from Sri Lanka. Dinesh Warusavitharana CFA, the President of the CFA Society of Sri Lanka said that we warmly welcome SLIIT for the CFA Institute University Affiliation Programme.

They are recognised as part of our mission to promote the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence, we have a long history of working with educational institutions around the world. Professor Lakshman Rathnayake, the Chancellor of SLIIT added that CFA Institute University Affiliation programme is an essential part of our Accounting and finance education at SLIIT and we thank CFA Institute for welcoming the Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Degree Specializing in Accounting and Finance as an affiliated programme as the first non-state university.

He further added that it will strengthen the industrial finance knowledge of our students. Florence Wong, Director, University Relations, Asia Pacific, CFA Institute added that the Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Specialized in Accounting and Finance of SLIIT has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Programme Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the programme.

Professor Nimal Rajapakse, Deputy Vice Chancellor of SLIIT acknowledged that the CFA designation is globally recognized as the gold standard in the finance industry. Also, he stated that affiliation with CFA Institute helps SLIIT to ensure that the students graduate with a solid foundation in the theory and practice of finance, a deep understanding of the importance of ethics and professional standards, and a significant competitive edge in the global job market. Nuwan Jayawardena CFA, Chair of the University Outreach Programme CFA Society Sri Lanka said that these programmes position students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognised investment credential in the world.

Professor Samantha Thelijjagoda addressed the contribution that is made by the SLIIT Business School to society through ways of education and research. He further pointed out the need for collaboration with the professional bodies and added that CFA has become a significant partner of the BBA (Hons) De g ree specializing in the Accounting & Finance programme. Aruna Alwis, CEO of CFA Society Sri Lanka added that entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Programme signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that SLIIT’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations.

Through participation in this program, SLIIT is eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Programme each year and work with CFA Society Sri Lanka to support student teams in the annual Research Challenge Here Arati Porwal, Director of Society Relations at CFA Institute presents the partnership agreement to Prof. Lakshman Ratnayake, Chancellor, recently. Prof. Nimal Rajapaksha, Deputy Vice Chancellor, SLIIT, Prof. Samantha Thelijjagoda, Dean, SBS, Prof. Nagalingam Nagendrakumar, Associate Dean, SLIIT, and CFA Society Sri Lanka officials attended the event.

Notes to Editors About the CFA Programme The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing programme. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the programme successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the “gold standard” for investment professionals.