International Conference for Accounting Researchers and Educators (ICARE) 2022

International Conference for Accounting Researchers and Educators (ICARE) 2022

"Accountants' Role in Economic Revival”

The Department of Accountancy hosted the International Conference for Accounting Researchers and Educators (ICARE) for the 8^th consecutive time on 15^th December 2022 via hybrid mode. ICARE 2022 was conducted under the theme of "Accountants' Role in Economic Revival”. DoA believes that ICARE comforts academics and professionals to rethink its strategies to cater contemporary accounting atmosphere while opening new directions for accounting educators and researchers to enlighten the future of accounting discipline with collective learning to explore opportunities for sustainable corporate development.

This year's conference featured with a technical forum, magazine launch, and student conference. The purpose of the technical forum was to create a platform for an eminent panel of speakers to stimulate discussion on policy-making toward economic revival in Sri Lanka.  ICARE magazine addresses corporate strategies of businesses in economic revival and includes articles on contemporary topics relating to the conference theme and presents practical overviews from renowned professional institutes and audit firms. The key events of the student research conference comprised of Digital Poster Presentation, 5MT Research Competition, and Students’ Abstract Book Publication. Final year undergraduates participated for the 5MT Research Competition where M.A.M. Akil won first place while second and third places were secured by T.M.A.Y.M. Perera and A.M.A.S.N. Alagiyawanna respectively.

Associate Professor Michael Falta (Associate Professor in Accounting) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand graced the event as the Keynote speaker. The technical forum was facilitated by renowned industry experts. Accordingly, Mr.Chanuka Wettegama, Director Policy, Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka, Mr. Sanjaya Bandara, President, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA) of Sri Lanka, Ms. Amanda "Jo" Erven, President and Founder, Audit. Consulting. Education. LLC, USA, and Dr. Anil Perera, Director - Domestic Operations Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka participated as the panelists of the technical forum. The technical discussion was moderated by Dr.Mudith Sujeewa, Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, University of Kelaniya.

The contributors to the ICARE 2022 magazine were Mr. Thilan Malinga, Senior Technical Manager, Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA) Sri Lanka, Mr. Prasenna Balachandran,  Chief Internal Auditor, Laughfs Holdings Limited (representing the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)), Ms. D.M.N.P. Dandeni, Assistant Director – Technical, Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (SLAASMB), Mr. Nuwan Fernando, General Manager – Group Governance, Risk & Control, Ceylon Biscuits Limited Group (representing Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Sri Lanka Chapter), Ms. W.M.Thasanthi R. Perera, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Department of Inland Revenue, Mr. Romal De Silva, Manager – Audit & Assurance, Ernst & Young Sri Lanka, Mr. Chathura Jayawardhane, Director – Abans Information Systems, Mr. Sarath Singhapurage, Chief Financial Officer, Pizza hut and Taco Bell, Sri Lanka, Ms. Portia Jayamaha, Director Finance, Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd.

The event was graced by the Chief Guest of the event, Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Professor P.M.C. Thilakarathne, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka, the Guest of Honor of the event, Dr. Narada Fernando, Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Professor Dilrukshi Yapa Abeywardhana, Head - Department of Accountancy. Further, the event was graced by Professors, Senior Lecturers & Lecturers of the department and faculty, industry experts, alumni members, professionals, and undergraduates of the Department of Accountancy.

The conference was hosted under the guidance of the Head of the Department of Accountancy, Professor Dilrukshi Yapa Abeywardhana and the conference was chaired by Dr.Amila Munasinghe, co-chaired by Dr.Mudith Sujeewa, and secretary to the conference was Ms. Shashikala Wijerathna, editor in chief was Ms. Navini Perera and conference treasurer was Mr. Viraj Weerawickrama.