KHALID FAROOK
COLOMBO – Desamanya Prof. M.T.A Furkhan, former Chairman of the Board of Management of the Zahira College Colombo and Founder of the Confifi Group of Hotel Companies, passed away on Sunday,May 8 on Colombo and the Janaza will be at Jawatte Muslim burial grounds on Monday after Luhar prayers.
Born in Balapitiya, Furkhan became a successful professional in accounting and business. He established Tassim Foundation and helped many people and establishments for many decades.
He was a distinguished old boy and Principal of Zahira College, Colombo. He was an ardent supporter of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference, and in recognition of his tremendous contributions towards education, was honoured with the prestigious Personality of the Year Award, by the YMMA, few years ago.Prof Furkhan was the President of the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation, where he promoted the ideals and writings of Marhoom Azeez. Recently, his portait was unveiled by Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris at Zahira College in appreciation of his services to his alma mater.
Desamanya Prof. M.T.A Furkhan was one of prime movers in establishing in 1965, the basic roots of the management accountancy profession in Sri Lanka. In 1970, he was appointed as President of the Association of Cost and Works Accountants; and in 1972, when the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants (now CIMA) extended Branch Status to Sri Lanka, he was appointed the first President of the CIMA Sri Lanka Branch.
Prof. M.T.A Furkhan is the Founder of the Confifi Group of Hotel Companies holding the position of Chairman of the Group and its subsidiaries. His previous appointments include: General Manager of Walker Sons & Co. Ltd., and Professor of Management Accounting, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka from 1974 to 1976. In 1976, he moved to Australia as the Group Finance Director of a U.K. MNC; and simultaneously the Managing Director of its largest subsidiary in Sydney.
Prof Furkhan has won many citations and awards in his lifetime of achievement. He has been awarded the CIMA Institute Plaque in recognition of services to the Management Accountancy Profession. He was also been awarded a Citation by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, Sri Lanka Branch; and has been recognised as a CIMA Business Leader of the Year. He was also awarded Life Membership of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, in recognition of immense contribution to the industry.
His contributions in terms of public service has been immense. Prof Furkhan has been a Member, Advisory Committee of the Government Bureau of Audit and Management Services; Chairman, Income Tax Payers Association; Committee Member, National Chamber of Industries; Member, Advisory Council of the Faculty of Management Studies (University of Ceylon); Member, Board of Governors and Council of the Sri Lanka Business Development Centre; Finance Director, Central Transport Board; Council Member, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka; Council Member, Postgraduate Institute of Management; and Member, Sri Lanka Government Technical Training Institute;
He has also been President, Rotary Club of Colombo North; Chairman, Institute of Management Services; Chairman, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka; President, Association of Directors; Member, Executive Committee, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman, and Principal and Member of the Board of Governors of Zahira College.
For this exemplary public service, Prof Furkhan was awarded the National Honour Titles of Deshabandu (in 1987) and Desamanya (in 2005) by the President of Sri Lanka.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), Fellow, of the Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries (Sri Lanka) and Fellow of CPA Australia. He also holds the J. Dip MA(UK), and CGMA professional designations.
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants is honoured to induct Desamanya Professor M.T.A Furkhan the Global Management Accounting Hall of Fame®️ for his services to the profession in Sri Lanka””(Photos Ashraff A Samad)
