Company Secretarial Courses in Sri Lanka
Your Route to Becoming a Chartered Company Secretary
Company secretarial courses in Sri Lanka lead to the chartered company secretary qualification through bodies such as CGI (ICSA UK) and the Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries (ICCSL), taking 1 to 2 years for a diploma and 3 to 4 years for full chartered status, with total fees ranging from about LKR 100,000 to LKR 900,000.
Learn about the corporate secretaryship qualifications available in Sri Lanka, the awarding bodies behind them, how long each route takes, what they cost, and the careers they lead to.
What Are Company Secretarial Courses?
Company secretarial courses in Sri Lanka train professionals in corporate governance, company law, and statutory compliance — the discipline of keeping a company legally and ethically well-run. A company secretary is a senior officer who ensures the board of directors follows the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007, maintains proper records, and meets its obligations to shareholders and regulators. It is a respected, stable, and well-paid governance career.
Every company incorporated in Sri Lanka is legally required to appoint a secretary, which creates consistent demand for qualified corporate secretaryship professionals. These courses range from short introductory diplomas to full chartered qualifications recognised internationally, so there is an entry point whether you are just starting out or already working in a compliance or administrative role.
Company Secretarial Qualifications & Awarding Bodies
The table below sets out the main company secretarial courses and qualifications recognised in Sri Lanka, the bodies that award them, how long they typically take, and the career outcomes they support.
| Qualification | Awarding Body | Typical Duration | Career Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartered Governance Qualifying (ICSA / CGI) | Chartered Governance Institute (UK) | 3 - 4 years | Chartered Company Secretary |
| ICCSL Membership | Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries of Sri Lanka | 3 - 4 years | Chartered Corporate Secretary |
| Diploma in Corporate Secretaryship | Professional / higher-ed institutes | 1 - 2 years | Assistant Company Secretary |
| Certificate in Company Law & Governance | Professional institutes | 6 - 12 months | Governance / Compliance Assistant |
| Foundation in Business & Law | Higher-education institutes | 1 year | Entry to CS pathway |
How to Become a Chartered Company Secretary
The path to full chartered company secretary status in Sri Lanka usually follows these stages:
- Complete a foundation or introductory course in business, law, and governance if you are new to the field.
- Register with a recognised body such as CGI (ICSA UK) or ICCSL and progress through their examination levels.
- Study the core subjects: company law, corporate governance, board practice, financial reporting, and compliance.
- Gain relevant practical experience in a corporate secretarial, compliance, or governance role.
- Pass the final professional examinations and be admitted as a member, earning the chartered designation.
Because the examinations are demanding, many students study part time over several years, spreading the subjects across examination cycles while gaining the experience the professional bodies require for membership.
Careers & Salaries for Company Secretaries
A corporate secretaryship qualification leads to roles such as assistant company secretary, company secretary, corporate governance officer, and compliance manager. In Sri Lanka, entry-level governance and compliance roles typically pay around LKR 50,000 to LKR 90,000 per month, while a fully qualified company secretary at a listed company, bank, or large group can earn LKR 150,000 to LKR 400,000+ per month depending on the size of the organisation and their seniority.
The chartered company secretary designation is portable and internationally recognised, which opens doors to governance careers in the Gulf, the UK, and other Commonwealth markets. Combined with the steady local demand created by the Companies Act, this makes company secretaryship one of the more secure professional routes in the country.
Building the Foundation at Ceylon Open Campus
Ceylon Open Campus is a private higher-education institute in Kattankudy serving the Eastern Province. We are honest about our scope: chartered company secretary designations are awarded by the professional bodies listed above, not by us. What we offer are the accessible business, accounting, and foundation programmes — delivered through flexible evening and weekend classes — that give working adults in the East a strong starting point before or alongside professional corporate secretaryship examinations. If your goal is a governance or compliance career, our team can help you plan a realistic step-by-step pathway from your current level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What company secretarial courses are available in Sri Lanka?
The main company secretarial courses in Sri Lanka lead to the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI, formerly ICSA UK) qualification, membership of the Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries (ICCSL), and corporate secretaryship diplomas offered by professional and higher-education institutes. These programmes cover company law, corporate governance, board procedures, and statutory compliance under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007.
How do I become a chartered company secretary in Sri Lanka?
To become a chartered company secretary in Sri Lanka you complete a recognised governance qualification — most commonly the CGI (ICSA) programme or ICCSL membership — pass the required examinations, and gain relevant practical experience in corporate governance or compliance. Once qualified and admitted as a member, you can act as the company secretary for registered companies and use the chartered designation.
How long does a company secretary qualification take in Sri Lanka?
A full chartered company secretary qualification (ICSA / CGI or ICCSL) typically takes 3 to 4 years of part time study alongside work. Shorter corporate secretaryship diplomas can be completed in 1 to 2 years and are a good entry point. The exact duration depends on your entry level, exemptions from prior qualifications, and how many subjects you attempt each examination cycle.
How much do company secretarial courses cost in Sri Lanka?
A corporate secretaryship diploma in Sri Lanka generally costs LKR 100,000 to LKR 300,000 in total. Full chartered qualifications such as ICSA / CGI or ICCSL cost more when tuition, registration, and examination fees are combined — commonly LKR 400,000 to LKR 900,000 across the whole programme. Fees vary by tuition provider and the international body's exchange-rate-linked charges.
What jobs can I get with a company secretary qualification?
A company secretary qualification opens roles such as company secretary, assistant company secretary, corporate governance officer, compliance officer, and board or governance manager. These professionals ensure companies meet the Companies Act, maintain statutory registers, organise board and shareholder meetings, and advise directors on governance. Qualified company secretaries are in steady demand across listed companies, banks, and large private firms in Sri Lanka.
Can I study a company secretarial course part time in the Eastern Province?
Yes. Company secretarial and governance-related courses can be studied part time through evening and weekend classes, and blended online delivery makes the professional examinations accessible from anywhere in Sri Lanka, including the Eastern Province. Ceylon Open Campus in Kattankudy supports working adults in the East with business and professional foundation programmes that help build toward corporate secretaryship pathways.
Start Your Corporate Governance Journey
Ceylon Open Campus offers flexible business and foundation programmes that help you build toward a company secretary career from the Eastern Province.