Formation of Asia Business Research Council proposed

Thursday, 31 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Efforts are being made to form an Asia Business Research Council aimed at articulating the interests of Sri Lankan international business operations in Asia, as an initiative of the Graduate School of Management, the official centre of the Open University of Malaysia in Sri Lanka (GSM), Colombo.

GSM Academic Advisor Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, who is spearheading the initiative said, “In the evolving knowledge markets, Sri Lankan business must prepare with greater attention to data, researched and organised into economic sectors so that decision-oriented information will be available to businesses as well as international investors.” GSM Board of Management Chairman Dr. Ranjith Cabraal said that this is a major initiative GSM is promoting this year with the assistance of overseas partners in education and local business firms. The President and Vice Chancellor of Open University of Malaysia (OUM) Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali and OUM Vice President Professor Repin Ibrahim will be visiting Sri Lanka this month as part of the program for the promotion of higher education in business, management and international research.

A discussion on the subject, to be attended by a large number of leading business managers and professionals, is scheduled for 30 January at Galadari Hotel, Colombo. Visitors will have discussions with the representatives of the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a premier institute in health sciences headed by Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe in IDM, a leader in the IT education sector, mentored by Dr. Bandu Ranasinghe. Minister of Petroleum Industries Susil Premajayantha has taken the initiative to organise the event, with his ministerial interest in promoting cooperation in the petroleum resources of Sri Lanka and Malaysia in particular. A large number of doctoral students of the GSM have already commenced studies on key economic sectors to formulate sectoral databases that will enhance further research into specific product and service areas.