SELLADURAI PREMAKUMARAN

M.A.A.T., A.C.E.A  , M.A.B.E., A S.C.A., A.A.I.A,
B.A.(Hons) Accounting & Finance, Post Graduate Dip. In Marketing (U.K) 
B.Com (Business Administration), C.G.A. (Level 4) - Canada

Selladurai Premakumaran (preferred name Premm) was born in a prominent, respectable, modest middle-class family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He was the second son in a family of nine, one brother ahead of him, another brother and four sisters after him. His grandfather Chellappah, a retired post-master was the family’s guardian while his late father Sabapathy Selladurai an out-standing government officer was working and living in Colombo.

In 1972, Premm worked for Terrence Perera and Company Chartered Accountants while completing his then highest Education G.C.E   ‘A’ Levels [Four subjects in one sitting]. He continued with the same firm until 1976 when he immigrated to the United Kingdom to further his education with the help of his older brother, and his late uncle Dr T Mylvaganam who sponsored him.

As a young man in his early twenties, he was very independent, and self-supportive, never relying on his family or the government. In all his achievements it was done through his own will power and strength. Premm had many adventures such as those between the years 1976 to 1992 while working in the evenings with various theatres around Piccadilly Circus, Strand and Charring Cross. During these years he met various dignitaries and celebrities such as: 

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Anne The Princess Royal, Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, The Norway Royal Family, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Omar Sharif, Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Yulbrynner, Deborah Kerr, Micheal Cain, Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean), Robbie Coltrane, Rosemary Harris, Colin Blakely, Joanna Lumbly, Trevor Eve, Lenny Henry, David Mc Cullum, Tracy Ulmann, Shaking Stevenson, Charlton Heston, Frank Finaly, David Essex, Albert Finney, Mia Farrow, Geofry Huges, John Inman, Barbara Windsor, Barry Foster Newman, Russ Abbott, Tom Conti

Despite all these adventures his families’ safety, welfare and happiness was always in his heart. In 1977, with the help of his uncle he brought his younger brother to United Kingdom, further completed his Ordinary National Diploma at South East London Technical College before continuing his education with the Association of Accounting Technicians, a junior body, set up by major British Accountancy professionals, such as CA, ACCA, CIPFA and CIMA

Nevertheless Premm was homesick, and unable to concentrate on his studies. When the college fees kept increasing and he was unable to meet the demands of paying the fees and sending money home to his family, he made his decision to go to Ireland and join Waterford Regional Technical College where he was the first East Asian student to take and complete the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant Foundation A & B exams.

On completion, Premm left Waterford and joined Galway Regional Technical College in Ireland, where again he was the first East Asian student. Premm’s attention was to complete the National Council of Education Award in Business Studies (Accounting), which was a two year course The college Head of Department, Mr Bernard O’ Hara, had refused Premm entry into the course claiming that Sri Lankan qualification was not recognised by the college. Premm challenged Mr O’Hara that he will obtain recognition from the top, which he maintained by meeting the then, Minister of Education in Dublin who went through Premm’s documents thoroughly and authorized acceptance. Premm returned back on that same day to Galway Regional Technical College and submitted the letter of authorization surprising Mr O’ Hara, further gaining Mr O’Hara’s respect. The comment Mr O’Hara made was:

“How did you manage to see the Minister immediately?

This has been an experience and a learning process for the college”

In 1982, Premm received an offered from Ulster University in Northern Ireland to do the Master of Science (Accounting). At the same time he received a second offer to do the Certified Public Accountant at Texas University. With high hopes Premm returned back to London, only to be dash by the unrest in Sri Lanka.

During the unrest, riots broke up and about 40 rioters entered, Premm’s family dwelling in Sri Lanka and held his parents and four sisters at knifepoint and other weapons. These rioters were looking to kill all young men were they good or bad, and they were looking for the young men in Premm’s family to kill. It was with sheer luck due to the families’ good nature and helpful manner the parents and four sisters managed to escape. This triggered off unrest and worry for Premm who started immediately to make arrangements to get one by one his sisters to United Kingdom for safety and to secure their future.

In 1984, Premm gave up his dream and joined Sugarwhite Halle Davis and Company as a Semi Senior Audit Clark, at the same time he started back his ACCA Level 2.  However he tried, his heart was not at peace and decided to call it off. Instead while working with this company, he decided to take on contract accounting as a side business. During this period he had discovered, that there were other avenues opened to him to become a qualified Accountant, that was, by joining, and qualifying the other Accounting bodies examinations which were equivalent to  the  major United Kingdom Accountancy Bodies such as:-

He discovered that these standing bodies were not just recognised in United Kingdom but also world wide. He decided to take the alternative route to reach his target.in 1985

In 1987 he got married, the same year he joined the Mediterranean Insurance & Reinsurance Company as an Assistant Company Accountant.  After the birth of his eldest son in 1988 he decided to pursue his degree in Accounting & Finance with Middlesex University. 

In 1991, he became the Associate member of the Society of Company & Commercial Accountant and Full Member of the Association Of Business Executives. In 1992 he formed a company and followed the Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing that was equivalent to  MA (Marketing) to improve his business at the University of Westminster.  

During the years 1993 to 1995, he became the Head of Accounting and Business Department for a private college known as the London School of Management.

In 1996, Premm came across an advertisement on Television that Canada was looking for professional skilled workers, to immigrate to Canada. Unfortunately like many professionally skilled immigrants, Premm fell for the advertisement and so began his journey to a life of disaster leaving behind all his hard earned qualification, skills and experiences.

Years of sacrifice down the drain …. What a waste?