Emeritus Professor M. W. Wickremarachchi Honoured with CA Sri Lanka Lifetime Achievement Award 2026
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Emeritus Professor M. W. Wickremarachchi, the Founding Father of the Department of Accounting, for his exceptional achievement of being awarded the CA Sri Lanka Lifetime Achievement Award 2026.
The Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, takes immense pride in announcing that Emeritus Professor M. W. Wickremarachchi, the founding Head of the Department, has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) in recognition of his outstanding and lifelong contributions to accounting education and the accounting profession in Sri Lanka.
A pioneering figure in accounting education, Professor Wickremarachchi established the Department of Accountancy and Financial Management (now the Department of Accounting) in 1991 and introduced Sri Lanka’s first university degree programme in Accounting in 1992 (now known as BSc Honours in Accounting). He subsequently became the first Professor of Accounting in the Sri Lankan university system in 2003.
His visionary approach transformed accounting education by integrating academic excellence with professional competencies. The Accounting Degree Programme was founded on four distinctive pillars: English language proficiency; the application of information technology in accounting; a compulsory two-year internship programme; and the development of professional and personal skills. These innovations have significantly enhanced the employability and professional standing of graduates of the Department of Accounting and influenced the subsequent development of accounting degree programmes across Sri Lanka.
His contributions extend beyond the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to several other universities, school-level accounting education, and the accounting profession. He has served CA Sri Lanka in numerous leadership and advisory capacities, including as a Member of its Council and played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between academic and professional accounting strands in Sri Lanka. Professor Wickramarachchi’s services to the wider society stretch over a wide range of activities. He served as a member of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, the Consumer Affairs Authority, and the Expert Group on Cost and Financing of Higher Education in Sri Lanka.
Beyond his institutional and professional achievements, Professor Wickremarachchi has inspired generations of academics and students through his commitment to mentorship, fairness, teamwork, and academic excellence.
The Department of Accounting extends its heartfelt congratulations to Emeritus Professor M. W. Wickremarachchi on this prestigious recognition. His extraordinary vision, leadership, and dedication have left an enduring legacy that continues to shape accounting education and the profession in Sri Lanka.
