In December 1987 the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka AATSL was established on the initiative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka ICA-SL, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the International Federation of Accountants IFAC-US, Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants CAPA, and based on the Association of Accounting Technicians of U.K AAT - U.K.

The AATSL was established to meet the shortage of Accounting and Audit Personnel at the middle level in Government Departments, State Corporations, Audit Firms, Industrial Organisations and Commercial Establishments. It is a non-profit making Institution.

Many Developments have taken place internationally since the Asian and Pacific Conference for Development, organised by the International Federation of Accountants IFAC and the Asian Development Bank ADB and the World Bank WB, which was held in November 1984.
The AATSL is an organisation, which conducts three examinations for youth with or without G.C.E. O.L. or G.C.E. A.L. qualifications, or for adults with or without educational qualifications, and with or without any employment.