Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, trade realignments and economic uncertainty, the CMA Sri Lanka National Management Accounting Conference 2026 brought together policymakers, global accounting leaders, academics and business professionals at Cinnamon Life, Colombo last week to examine how management accounting can help organisations navigate crises, build resilience and achieve sustainable growth.
Held under the theme ‘Crisis, Stability, and Growth: A Management Accounting Lens,’ the two-day conference highlighted the evolving role of management accountants as strategic advisers who support decision-making, innovation and long-term economic resilience.
CMA Sri Lanka Founder and President Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala, welcomed delegates and said the world is undergoing unprecedented change, making strategic financial leadership more important than ever.
He noted that organisations across the globe are facing growing uncertainty as geopolitical developments, changing trade patterns and economic volatility continue to reshape the business environment.
‘We are witnessing significant changes on the global stage that have created uncertainty and confusion. Many developments have unfolded differently from what we anticipated, requiring organisations to rethink their strategies and adapt to new realities,’ he said.
Prof. Watawala said the conference theme reflects the growing relevance of management accounting in helping organisations successfully navigate challenging times.
‘Our theme, ‘Crisis, Stability, and Growth: A Management Accounting Lens,’ is timely and relevant. Management accounting provides organisations with the insights, discipline and strategic direction needed to overcome crises, create stability and achieve sustainable growth,’ he said.
The Chief Guest Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, said strong financial governance, accountability and professional management accounting are essential to sustaining Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and long-term growth. She commended CMA Sri Lanka for awarding 100 scholarships to public sector officers, describing the initiative as a valuable investment in building a more skilled and competent public service.
‘Sri Lanka has made significant progress since the 2022 economic crisis, but the country’s future growth must be supported by evidence-based policymaking, fiscal discipline and transparent financial management. Management accountants now play a strategic role in risk management, efficient resource allocation and long-term value creation,’ said Amarasuriya.
She also emphasised the growing importance of sustainability reporting, ethical leadership and modern professional education, urging both the public and private sectors to embrace accountability, innovation and responsible governance to build a resilient, competitive and sustainable economy.
Prof. Watawala also welcomed delegates from across the South Asian region, including representatives of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP), noting that their participation demonstrated the strong regional collaboration among professional accounting bodies.
South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) President Mohammed Humayun Kabir, stressed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge sharing as the profession responds to rapid economic and technological transformation.
SAFA Past President and CMA Advisory Council Member A. N. Raman, outlined how management accounting can help organisations transition ‘from crisis to stability and on to growth.’
He identified geopolitical instability, trade-based realignments, supply chain disruptions, national interests and evolving navigation strategies as the five major drivers reshaping today’s global economy.
‘Business cannot continue as usual. Organisations cannot remain transactional or confined by traditional thinking. They must become sustainable, socially responsible and strategically focused,’ he said.
Raman explained that management accountants must move beyond conventional cost accounting to become strategic partners who support economic positioning, strategic planning, value-chain thinking, innovation-driven execution and smart pricing decisions.
Using India’s aerospace and defence sectors as examples, he illustrated how strategic partnerships, innovation and value-chain integration have strengthened economic competitiveness while creating new industries and employment opportunities. He also demonstrated how management accounting principles are embedded throughout the hydrogen economy, explaining that effective cost management, pricing strategies and value-chain analysis are essential for developing emerging industries.
He further emphasised the transition from traditional cost measurement to strategic cost management, arguing that finance professionals must support organisational planning, resource optimisation, innovation and long-term value creation rather than simply reporting financial results. Discussing pricing interventions for economic stability, he highlighted the importance of social cost accounting in balancing market efficiency with broader national and social objectives.
Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Isabelle Martin, said the long-standing partnership between Canada and CMA Sri Lanka reflects a shared commitment to strengthening professional management accounting, good governance and sustainable economic development.
She noted that Canada supported the establishment of CMA Sri Lanka through the former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and CPA Canada helping establish a nationally recognised professional management accounting institution.
Martin said strong financial management, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership are fundamental to building public trust, attracting investment and fostering sustainable growth.
She noted that in today’s increasingly complex environment-shaped by financial crime, cyber threats and global economic uncertainty-the role of management accountants has become more important than ever in strengthening governance, safeguarding public finances, managing risk and supporting informed decision-making through technology and data analytics.
She also congratulated the accounting professionals and award recipients recognised at the conference, commending CMA Sri Lanka for its continued contribution to developing future generations of finance professionals and strengthening international partnerships.
Delivering the keynote address, CPA Australia President and Chair and Curtin Law School John Curtin Distinguished Prof. Dale Pinto FCPA, explored how artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and evolving business models are reshaping the accounting profession.
He said professional accountants have evolved beyond traditional financial reporting to become strategic advisers, trusted business partners and drivers of long-term value creation, helping organisations navigate global uncertainty, strengthen governance and improve decision-making.
Pinto noted that while AI is transforming finance through enhanced forecasting, risk management and data analytics, technology cannot replace human judgment, ethical leadership and professional scepticism. He stressed that the future workplace will be defined by collaboration between people and technology, urging finance professionals to embrace lifelong learning, build capabilities in AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation and use data to generate meaningful insights that support innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
He also highlighted the growing importance of sustainability, governance and ethical leadership, saying the profession must move beyond managing numbers to creating value for organisations and society.
‘The value of the accountant will increasingly lie not in producing information, but in asking better questions, exercising professional judgment and transforming data into insights that create long-term value,’ said Prof. Pinto.
The inaugural session also featured the release of the CMA Sri Lanka National Management Accounting Conference 2026 Journal, the presentation of Golden Anniversary Awards to accounting professionals who have completed 50 years in the profession, the awarding of 100 CMA scholarships for government servants, and the presentation of the CMA Business Excellence Awards 2026 and Merit Awards for CMA Sri Lanka-qualified members.
The conference featured presentations by local and international experts on governance, sustainability, strategic management accounting, digital transformation, innovation and organisational resilience, reinforcing the profession’s growing role in helping organisations navigate uncertainty while driving economic stability and sustainable growth.