Former cricket captain Roshan Mahanama speaks of ‘Leading a Life with Values’ at CA Sri Lanka’s YCAF Knowledge Forum

One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic cricketers, Mr. Roshan Mahanama treated young Chartered Accountants to an inspiring evening recently where he shared his knowledge on ‘Leading a Life with Values.”

The event, organised by the Young Chartered Accountants Forum (YCAF) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), was the first physical event after a gap of two years since COVID, and attracted a full house with over 100 Chartered Accountants in attendance to listen to the former cricket captain. President of CA Sri Lanka Mr. Sanjaya Bandara, Members of the Council, as well as Past Presidents and the CEO of CA Sri Lanka, were among the special invitees at the event.

President of YCAF Ms. Thilini Nadeesha, set the tone of the event with a quote from C. S. Lewis which stressed the importance of adhering to values. She called on everyone to practice values in their personal and professional lives and walk the talk always. She highlighted that the world is in turmoil today due to the callous disregard shown towards values and ethics and emphasized that unless values are practiced, a professional may end up being an agent of socio-economic calamity rather than a catalyst of common well-being and upliftment.

Mr. Mahanama, who ascended the podium at the invitation of the YCAF President delivered a captivating speech while conveying a powerful message and drawing examples from his momentous international cricketing career, including the 1996 World Cup tournament where he contributed as a senior member of the winning team. He spoke of the multitude of challenges he encountered in the diversity of roles he had played as a captain, a coach, a match referee for ICC, a social worker, and a husband and father.

Some of the key takeaways from his speech were cultivating a passion for hard work and giving the best shot to one’s role and intended contribution in spite of the formidable challenges against all odds. He emphasized the importance of leading a life according to what we believe in terms of values, and sticking to principles and values, come what may.

Mr. Mahanama, who was both dignified and elegant on his feet, kept the audience captivated with a slew of thought-provoking and soul-searching messages. During his inspiring speech, he also called upon the young CAs, as future leaders of Sri Lanka, to build their lives and careers based upon values and become role models worthy of emulation by many misguided youth in society.

Mr. Mahanama’s speech is available for viewing via the Young Chartered Accountants Forum YouTube channel. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQBVe4j8gB0)

The YCAF Knowledge Forum is organized regularly in an effort to groom the younger generation of the CA fraternity with a multitude of skills, morals, and an inimitable brand to help them stand out and excel as individuals as well as accomplished professionals in a class of their own.