Rienzie Fonseka writing for Ozlanka

It was a great event for the Accountants of Sri Lankan descent living in Sydney, who gathered on the 9th May at “The Sebel” Parramatta to celebrate the fiftieth year of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and raised their glasses wishing the Institute continued success in growing the profession.

It was good to see that not only do these accountants young and old remember the schools they went to but also the tertiary institutions that helped them on the path to a successful working life.

The “Chartered Ball” was the best event in the accountancy calendar in Sri Lanka in the days gone by. Australia has the highest number of overseas resident members and it was fitting therefore that the golden anniversary was celebrated in Sydney with the first “Chartered Ball” to be held outside of Sri Lanka.

The cream of accountants –Professionals, business owners, CEO's of organizations, community leaders, members from Interstate, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, CIMA members led by the Deputy President of CIMA (who started his career at the Institute, albeit for a short while) and well wishers 220 in all were gathered together.

The event was organised by a group of Chartered Accountants and their spouses. The guests were greeted with canapés and drinks on arrival followed by a scrumptious three course meal carefully chosen by the organisers. A surprise of the evening was that there was no ticket checking at the door as is the case at all Sri Lankan events.

The cabaret. Ah yes, the best that Sydney could offer and it was delightful fun which the guests enjoyed. (As it was in the days of Articled ship).

The décor for the evening was an enchanting mixture of Gold Dollar signs and coins, laced with tea lights and centre glows. The tables were laid out in black and had all the trappings of elegance and class... The Hall looked exquisite and one could say that the accountants had used their very professional touch with painstaking effort to recreate the atmosphere that for many was but a nostalgic memory.

The highlight of the evening was the crowing of a chartered queen as of old times.

Everyone had a good time, meeting and greeting batch mates, old friends and making new ones among them, the new arrivals. It was an evening of Chattering noises and burst of laughter. Then it ended at 1p.m. longing to come together again.

Click here to view a bumper album of photos submitted by the organisers