Pradeep Edward re-elected as President SLIM Bucks MBA Alumni

The SLIM Bucks MBA Alumni conducted its second Annual General Meeting on 9 January 2013 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing Headquarters.

SLIM President Tilan Wijeyesekara, SLIM CEO Sanath Senanayeke, SLIM Vice President Gamika De Silva, and other officials participated in the event along with participants from the Alumni membership.

Secretary of the Alumni Madhurangi Abeygunasekera read out the Annual Report 2012, which includes the key projects carried out and other highlights of last year such as the Alumni logo launch, Inner Circle Forum 1 and 2 (knowledge sharing forum), Membership Directory, and official website, launch along with fellowship for the members.

As for other highlights, she went on to explain the workshops carried out by the Alumni Committee for current Bucks MBA students and provision of co-sponsorship for The Pull Fourm organised by SLIM.

Leading MBA Lecturer and Senior Marketing Consultant Prasanna Perera was the Pro-tem Chairman. Perera, in his introduction, after taking over the head table, gave credit to the previous Alumni Executive Committee for the tremendous job done during the last year and making a surplus, which he stated was commendable by any association.

He further stated that the events conducted by SLIM Bucks MBA Alumni were very professional and able to add value to the MBA and Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing as well.

Pradeep Edward was unanimously re-elected as President of SLIM Bucks MBA Alumni for its second term.

Pradeep received his primary education at St Peter’s College Colombo. He attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing and also a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management. He currently holds honorary status as a Practicing Marketer in Sri Lanka and as a Certified Professional Marketer Asia Pacific region.

He also holds a Fellowship from the Institute of Management Specialist (UK) and he is a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) /Member of the Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK) and is MBA holder of the Bucks MBA program.

He has over 17 years of experience in marketing both in local and multinational companies.

Pradeep currently works in the capacity of General Manager at NovEx Pharmaceuticals Limited. He also has been a Past President of the Pharma Promoters Association of Sri Lanka and was a Director of the Certified Professional Marketers Association Sri Lanka Region.

He is currently the Asst. Secretary and Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Commenting about his appointment Edward said: “It is indeed a great opportunity to lead such a professional team which has supported me tremendously last year and delivered results.”

He extended his thanks to the President and Ex-Co of SLIM and CEO and Staff at SLIM for the continuous support. Speaking of future plans of Alumni, Pradeep stated that the main objective in year 2013 would be to add further value to the membership while carrying out projects which would add value to the management and student community at large.

The Office Bearers elected for the next term of the SLIM Bucks MBA Alumni comprise Pradeep Edward – President, Anthony Jayasena and Priyantha Neelawala – Vice Presidents, Madhurangi Abeygunasekera – Secretary, Tharanga Jayawickrama – Assistant Secretary, Janaka Rodrigo – Treasurer, and Ali Ahlam Nawaz – Assistant Treasurer.

The Committee Members elected are: Vajira Kulasinghe, Anil Munasinghe, Thilanka Chethiyawardena, Laleen Jeewakarathne, Manoj Handapangoda, Dilrukshi Kodithuwakku, Aruni Abeysundere, Tharaka Dias, Viraj Perera, Ajith Ekanayake, Romesha Senerath, and Shahed Naseem.

The newly-appointed Executive Committee members plan to aggressively conduct a series of knowledge sharing events which would benefit all past and present SLIM Bucks MBA students and other professionals in the management arena. Further the committee will implement projects helping rural school students in their field of education, being in line with the Alumni’s Corporate Social Responsibility objectives.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), founded in 1970 (then called Ceylon Institute of Marketing) with the view to harness the available skills in marketing for the growth and development of the profession, was subsequently incorporated by Act No. 41 of 1980 of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

SLIM is a Member of the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF) and the World Marketing Association (WMA). The Buckinghamshire University MBA program is conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing for over five years, which is one of the leading programs in the country.