The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) has decided to expand its regional presence to Jaffna district by establishing a regional knowledge centre in association with Jaffna College.

Mr. Nishan Fernando President of ICASL stated that "This is a significant move adopted by the ICASL to supplement the Northern region of the country as it awaits development which it lacked over the past three decades, and it would also provide a golden opportunity for the student population in Northern Province to enrich themselves with the knowledge of a globally recognized Accounting qualification". This would also pave the way to create Professional Chartered Accountants from this region to serve the nation.

Commenting on this new Regional Knowledge Centre Mr. Aruna Alwis, CEO of ICASL stated "The Institute initiated this bold decision with the motive of catering to the rising needs of students in Jaffna region including registration for ICASL courses, facilitating examination applications, and career guidance support". He further stated that ICASL would also make arrangements to have an examination centre in Jaffna in the near future. The students in Jaffna will have the opportunity of studying ICASL examination either in English or Tamil up to certificate level 2. ICASL programme had been famous in the Northern Province in the good old days and the people are regaining it after a long lapse of three decades." Mr. Noel A. Vimalendran, Principal of Jaffna College stated "It had been a long time dream for our students in Jaffna to study Chartered Accounting, and their expectations are fulfilled through this historic decision to establish a regional knowledge centre at their very own doorstep".

The ICASL is the premier accounting body in the country with a broad student base of over 30,000. The Institution also has over 3,500 registered members who excel in diverse business entities around the globe. The ICASL has five other regional knowledge centres established in Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Anuradhapura and Ratnapura which serve the needs of the students around the country and Jaffna would be the sixth centre in the country.