In a significant milestone for collaboration between academia and the professional community, the University of Kelaniya and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Sri Lanka Chapter officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13^th March 2026 at the Senate Room of the university.

The ACFE Sri Lanka Chapter is the sole local professional body representing ACFE USA. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, ACFE USA is recognized globally as the largest anti-fraud organization and the premier provider of anti-fraud training and education, setting the international standard for the profession.

This new partnership aims to strengthen financial forensics education, research, and professional practice, focusing primarily on collaboration between the ACFE Sri Lanka Chapter and the Forensic Accounting Unit, Department of Accountancy, University of Kelaniya. Notably, the Unit is a pioneer in the field, having launched Sri Lanka’s only Bachelor's Degree in Auditing and Forensic Accounting in 2020.

The signing ceremony featured several prominent figures including Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Prof. Bandara Wanninayaka, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Prof. Amila Munasinghe, Head, Department of Accountancy; Dr. Mudith Sujeewa, Head of the Forensic Accounting Unit at the Department of Accountancy; Mr Ashane Jayasekara, President of the ACFE Sri Lanka Chapter; Dr Udaya Sri Kariyawasam, Director, ACFE Sri Lanka Chapter; and academics of the Department of Accountancy.

This collaboration will pave the way for numerous successful initiatives in the specialized field of forensic accounting.