Buddika Jayaweera is an award-winning finance professional with over 18 years of experience in the field of finance and management.
Throughout his illustrious career, Buddika has achieved significant milestones and earned numerous accolades, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished leader in his field. Most notably, he received the Leadership Excellence Platinum Award from the Global CEO Forum in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of finance.
Buddika is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) and a Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka, FCMA (SL). He is also an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales (ICAEW).
His academic accomplishments include a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a BSc in Business Administration (Special Degree) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Buddika began his career at KPMG Ford, Rhodes, Thornton & Co as an intern (Audit), where he worked for three years. He then joined FedEx Sri Lanka (Mountain Hawk Express (Pvt) Ltd) as an Accountant, a role he served in for two and a half years. Following this, he spent five years as the Chief Internal Auditor at the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) before progressing to the position of Chief Financial Officer at Central Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd (CESL), where he served for seven years.
Currently, Buddika holds the position of General Manager-Finance at Home Lands Skyline Pvt Ltd, having previously served as Chief Internal Auditor for one year at the Home Lands Group of Companies.
In addition to his professional roles, Buddika actively contributes to the community by sharing his knowledge and expertise. He has served voluntarily as the Honorary Treasurer of the Alumni Association of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIMA) and as the Internal Auditor of the SDS of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo 07. Previously, he had served as an Internal Auditor for the Old Boys’ Association of Nalanda National College in Minuwangoda.
His extensive education and varied career experiences have established him as a respected leader in the finance industry. His dedication and accomplishments continue to inspire many in his field.
We had a conversation with him.
Q. Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your childhood that you believe has influenced your journey to success?
When I recall my memorable moments from childhood, the first thing that comes to mind is how I achieved my G.C.E. Advanced Levels with flying colours. That was the first turning point in my life, setting the stage for my future academic and professional achievements.
I attended Nalanda National College in Minuwangoda, where I pursued the commerce stream and achieved “A” passes in all three subjects at the G.C.E. Advanced Levels in the year 2000. With an average score of 80 marks, I ranked 14th in the Gampaha district.
The moment I heard about my exam results was a significant accomplishment that boosted my determination and self-confidence. I vividly remember how my family members and friends celebrated my achievement. This experience convinced me that dedication and hard work do not go in vain.
Q: What inspired you to pursue your current career path, and how has that journey unfolded for you?
My professional education began immediately after completing my G.C.E. O/L examination in 1997 when I embarked on the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification. My primary inspiration came from my sister, who was studying to become a Chartered Accountant at that time. She guided me to start my professional education, emphasising the value and importance of this path. I discovered that many subjects in the curriculum had significant real-life and business applications, which motivated me to further enhance my knowledge. I believe that such professional guidance is crucial for anyone aiming to pave a successful career path.
Ultimately, I was privileged to become a Fellow Chartered Accountant in Sri Lanka (FCA – SL), an Associate member of the Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ACA – ICAEW), and a Fellow member of the Chartered Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (FCMA). Alongside these professional examinations, I also earned a BSc in Business Administration (special degree) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM).
I started my career at KPMG Ford, Rhodes, Thornton & Co as an Audit intern and then progressed to roles such as Accountant at FedEx (Sri Lanka), Chief Internal Auditor at CECB ,Chief Financial Officer at CESL, and Currently, I am serving as the General Manager-Finance at Homelands Skyline (Pvt) Ltd, having previously served as Chief Internal Auditor at the Home Lands Group of Companies.
Over my 18-year professional career, empowered by both academic and professional education, I have had the opportunity to work with various diversified conglomerates, which has significantly enriched my expertise and experience.
Q: Can you share a pivotal moment or challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
In today’s dynamic business environment, effective decision-making is crucial for achieving organisational objectives. This necessitates professionals who not only possess strong technical skills but also have robust management capabilities. The challenge is that many professionals excel in their technical domains but often lack the essential organisational management skills. Recognising this early in my career, I took deliberate steps to bridging this gap.
To strengthen my technical foundation, I pursued professional qualifications in Chartered Accountancy in Sri Lanka and England & Wales, as well as Management Accounting. These credentials provided me with a deep understanding of financial principles and practices. Simultaneously, I enhanced my management skills by earning a BSc in Business Administration and an MBA, which equipped me with strategic, operational, and leadership insights.
Throughout my career, I have successfully balanced my technical expertise with my management acumen. As an Accountant, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager-Finance, I leveraged my technical capabilities to manage financial operations effectively. In my role as Chief Internal Auditor for two conglomerates, I relied more heavily on my management skills to oversee internal controls and risk management processes.
In conclusion, it is imperative for professionals to align their studies and career experiences to meet the demands of the real-world business environment. A balanced approach, integrating both technical skills and management capabilities, is essential for effective decision-making and achieving organisational and career success.
Q: How do you maintain motivation and drive in your work, especially when faced with obstacles or setbacks?
Maintaining motivation and drive in the face of obstacles or setbacks can be challenging, but leveraging teamwork is indeed a powerful strategy. When I worked as a Chief Financial Officer, we had to implement the ERP system in the organisation. It was challenging work given the prevailing business environment of the organisation. However, we successfully implemented the ERP system with the great efforts of the team. If I recall the main success factors of the team effort, they include open communication, identifying and utilising the expertise of the team, setting clear goals and objectives, fostering a positive work environment, providing training, and maintaining flexibility.
Q: What do you think about achieving this Leadership Excellence Platinum Award?
Achieving the Leadership Excellence Platinum Award is a significant accomplishment in my professional life. Holding such a prestigious award greatly boosts my professional reputation. This award enhances my credibility within the organisation and industry, leading to greater trust and respect from peers and subordinates.
This award recognises the efforts of young professionals under 45 years of age and is being presented for the first time in Sri Lanka. It is a timely initiative by the “Global CEO Forum”. By highlighting success stories, it inspires the next generation of professional business leaders.
Thus, this award serves as formal acknowledgement of my leadership abilities, dedication, and contributions. It validates my hard work and the positive impact I have made.
Q: What advice would you give to other young professionals aspiring to achieve similar success in their respective fields?
As a financial professional, I greatly value ethical behaviour and integrity. I maintain high ethical standards and integrity in all professional dealings. This is the main advice I can give to other young professionals: maintain and foster trust by being reliable, honest, and transparent in your professional endeavours.
I have maintained these qualities throughout my professional career, and corporates also eagerly expect these qualities from their professionals.
Further, continuous learning and skill development are a must for young professionals. I embrace lifelong learning by staying curious and continuously seeking knowledge through CPD programmes, workshops, and courses. I stay updated with the latest trends and advancements to remain competitive and innovative in the respective field.
Additionally, giving back to society by sharing your knowledge and experience is invaluable. As professionals, we have a responsibility to help build a better future for the next generation. I actively contribute my knowledge voluntarily as Treasurer of the Alumni Association of the Postgraduate Institute of Management and as Internal Auditor of the School Development Society of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo 07. Previously, I served as an Internal Auditor for the Old Boys’ Association of Nalanda National College in Minuwangoda.
