Twenty year-old Maleen Abeydeera is a shining example of how CIMA Sri Lanka continues to shape many young talented business leaders who are sharp, competent and fresh. Maleen is CIMA's latest world prize-winner, scoring the highest marks in the world (94) for Financial Accounting and Tax Principles at the May 2009 Examinations .A student of Royal College, Maleen started the basic foundation stage of CIMA when he was just 16, thanks to the advice of his parents and has recently entered local university, studying engineering at the country's premier Engineering Faculty which belongs to the University of Moratuwa.

Maleen also had the opportunity of representing Sri Lanka at the International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Vietnam back in 2007. The competition brings together the best young mathematical talent in countries across the globe to participate once a year after a rigorous selection procedure. He considers it as his finest achievement so far along with the CIMA world prize.

The purposeful youngster is into swimming, badminton and cricket in his free time and has a lot going for him. He says he owes the world prize to the encouragement, dedication and support of his parents and the CIMA lecturers.

He said, "It was a good decision." According to Maleen, more than the subject knowledge the CIMA lecturers provide students, it's the sharing of experiences in the corporate world which is really valuable. He says, "What matters finally, is not how you fare at exams, but how you perform in the real world."

He said, "I did a lot of self studying, and I'm very thankful for the library facilities at CIMA which offers students an excellent collection of books and magazines on Economy and Finance." Asked why he chose CIMA, Maleen said, "In Sri Lanka, and elsewhere in the world, CIMA is considered a premium qualification and for a good reason.

CIMA is the next generation Qualification, far more diverse, covering other important aspects such as marketing, HR, Risk Management , Strategy and Project Management. For a student like me with no work experience CIMA prepares you for more than a desk job. It gets you on track for life in the world of top management. No other accounting degree can give you that."

He added that many of his friends, including his colleagues at the University of Moratuwa have also decided to go for CIMA. Maleen says, "I've learnt a lot from lecturers who are also in high places in Sri Lanka, from MAS Holdings to Richard Pieris and NDB, so that the learning experience is inspiring and insightful."

Maleen, who was ranked 15th in the All Island AL/s Maths Stream says while some of the subjects are challenging, he feels comfortable with the CIMA course so far, but also stresses that prospective CIMA students need to take a keen interest to get through the many complex, sometimes daunting stages of CIMA. He said, "A lot of students set themselves up for failure by underestimating the challenge of earning this qualification. No amount of reading and memorizing will get you through. You must have the capacity to understand what you're being taught and it helps if you actually enjoy the subject."

Maleen is just one of the many world prize-winners to emerge from Sri Lanka in the recent past, and has done his country proud while reinforcing the importance of the CIMA qualification among those looking to reach new heights in their future careers. He also joins many other Sri Lankan youngsters who are a part of the global CIMA fraternity of 171,000 students and members spread across in 165 countries. With four more years ahead of him, Maleen is confident that by then he would complete CIMA to have both an academic degree and a global professional topping to enter the international job market.

CIMA Sri Lanka has over the years, enabled many students in Sri Lanka to reach dizzying academic and career heights. It continues to shape and produce many talented youngsters full of ambition and spirit, ready to take on today's corporate world and Maleen is just another example.