Sri Lanka’s largest private retail bank HNB PLC, launched special Education Loans for Sri Lankan students of the esteemed Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA® & CIMA®). The new exclusive facility will provide low interest loans for CIMA students, providing each with the opportunity to obtain the most sought-after Business and Finance credential – the CGMA® Professional Qualification.
“Professional education is going to play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s economic revival. By attracting and developing their skills and technical expertise, this next generation of game changing CIMA students will help to build greater financial discipline, and support enterprises of every size to navigate an increasingly complex business landscape.
“As the immediate past Chair of CIMA/AICPA South Asia Area Committee and a member of both MESANA Regional Advisory Panel and Regional Engagement Group, I have direct experience of the value that these qualifications enable. HNB is therefore proud to partner in the progress of each of these students, as they join one of the world’s largest professional networks and work to integrate global best practices locally. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our partnership with CIMA Sri Lanka continuous to grow from strength to strength,” HNB Deputy General Manager – Wholesale Banking Group, Damith Pallewatte stated.
Commenting on the significance of the partnership, HNB Assistant General Manager – Personal Financial Services, Kanchana Karunagama said: “As a private sector bank with the largest retail footprint, we have been continuously engaging with our customers to understand how to offer the best support during this challenging period in the Sri Lankan economy.
“One of our top priorities has been to ensure that our young Sri Lankans who are determined to develop their knowledge and professional capabilities do not have to put their aspirations on hold due to financial constraints. Our collaboration with AICPA® & CIMA® ensures seamless and trouble-free transition towards global education. This initiative is intended to support students, encouraging them to pursue their professional higher studies with enthusiasm and confidence.”
Students will reap the benefits of the initiative via unique, low interest education loans tailor-made to ensure their journey to success is funded successfully. These will be applicable for the CGMA Professional Qualification done in the traditional way – subject by subject or level by level and also the digital route via the CGMA Finance Leadership Programme (FLP).
AICPA® & CIMA® serve 698,000 members, students and engaged professionals in 188 countries and territories. By providing exclusive guidance and specialized resources – including prestigious designations, certifications and credentials – AICPA® & CIMA® empowers to create an even brighter tomorrow, both for students and for their profession. The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA®) designation, provided by AICPA® & CIMA® to its members is the premier management accounting credential, indicating one has advanced proficiency in finance, operations, strategy and management.
With 254 customer centers and 800+ Self Service Devices (SSMs) nationwide, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative private banks. Consolidating its legacy in sustainability, good governance and corporate excellence, HNB was crowned the Best Corporate Citizen for 2022 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Awards. The bank further secured four additional accolades, including being ranked among the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens and taking home the Governance category and Sustainability Champion for the Finance sector titles.
Additionally, HNB was ranked among the World’s Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for the sixth consecutive year in 2022, in addition to being crowned the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 13th occasion at the prestigious International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2023 hosted by the Asian Banker Magazine.
