CIM Sri Lanka holds graduation ceremony and membership investiture

The Graduation Ceremony and Membership Investiture of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Sri Lanka Region was held on Friday 20 July at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. University of Moratuwa Senior Professor Civil Engineering, Malik Ranasinghe was the Chief Guest, while CIM UK Director of Education Anita Stubbs graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. CIM Sri Lanka Region President Dr. Rohan Fernando, CIM Sri Lanka Region Chairperson Chitrangani Herat Guneratne and the regional board and management committee members were also present at the occasion.

88 diplomats who had completed the CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing during the examinations held in the year 2011 joined the marketing fraternity as qualified professionals. The key highlight of the year was the international award won by Dushan Kahandagamage for being the world’s top ranked student for the year 2011for the Professional Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing. Kahandagamage created history by winning this award for the first time in the history of CIM Sri Lanka. He also received the Egerton Canagasabey Award for Best Student Performance at the final examinations.

The graduation ceremony also saw three students carrying away the world prizes for their respective subjects. The world prize-winners were A.K Dalpadado for Stakeholder Marketing of the Professional Certificate in Marketing, H.S.B Dissanayake for Marketing Leadership and Planning of the Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and S.T Wijesinghe for Marketing Planning Process of the Professional Diploma in Marketing. As customary another twenty one students were recognised at the ceremony for obtaining the highest marks for singular subjects in Sri Lanka.

The CIM Graduation and Membership Investiture Ceremony also recognised top senior marketers as they achieved CIM Fellowship status.

This year there were 10 fellow members namely, Brandix Textiles Ltd. Head of Sales and Marketing Nipun Bandara, Nations Trust Bank Chief Manager Consumer Finance Lewie Diasz, Hemas FMCG Senior Business Manager Amal Fernando, Citibank Vice President/Head of Trade Products N.A. Colombo Branch Neil Handapangoda, Hummingbird International PLC Chairman/Managing Director Shiraz Latiff, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Head of Quality Standards, Licensing, Investment Legal and Special Projects Dileepa Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka Insurance Principal Officer and Life Insurance Chief Officer Suresh Paranavitana, Hemas Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd Country Manager Thirugnanasuntharan Sayandhan, Hemas FMCG Director Brands Bimal Silva and MAS Intimates General Manager Vidiyal, Ravindranath Wijenathan.