SLIM awards best performers at annual Certification Ceremony
Wednesday, 11 September 2013 00:01
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The annual Certification Ceremony of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) was held on 8 September 2013 at the grand ballroom of Waters Edge, Battaramulla. The ceremony was held for the purposes of recognising and awarding all those who have passed out and successfully completed the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) and the Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing (PharMa).
The PCM qualification is a course especially designed for beginners in Marketing with a duration of three months of study leading to the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (Sri Lanka). It is an entry point for an internationally recognised professional status in Marketing. The rich content of PCM coupled with practical scenarios provide an individual with adequate knowledge to commence a career in marketing or add value, if employed in the field of sales or marketing.
Students of the PCM intakes PCM III and PCM IV of 2012 and PCM I and PCM II of 2013 attended the ceremony. Medals and special certificates were awarded to the best students, first runners-up and second runners-up of four PCM intakes in recognition of their achievement. Overall, a total of 795 PCM holders received certificates at the ceremony.
J.A.N. Jayakody, A.C. Attanayake and V.B.D.P.V. Babarandage were awarded as Best Student, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up from the PCM III 2012 respectively. The best performers of PCM IV 2012 were best student, G.B. Warnapura, 1st Runner-up, H.M.C.S. Huruggamuwa and 2nd Runner-up, R.H.S. Fernando.
The award for best student of PCM I 2013 awarded to M.P.M. Achini Chathurika while B.M. Hettiarachchi and K.M.T.M. Kulathunga were the 1st and 2nd Runners-up respectively. PCM II 2013 best performers were best student, M.F.M. Fayiz and 1st Runner-up, P.T.G.A. Mahesh Dissanayake, while M.F. Mohamed and T.R. Withana were joint 2nd Runners-up.
Past President of SLIM Managing Director/CEO of Global Tech Services (Pvt) Ltd. W.S.K. Mallikarachchi and participated as the chief guest of the ceremony. In his address he stressed on the heightened importance of the quality of education provided by SLIM in the changing landscape of Sri Lanka.
“Education is the key ingredient in character building and socio-economic transformation. Education can empower our human capital to be a major constructive force to propel inclusive growth of the nation as a whole. Let us look at today; we are in a way passing through a critical phase in our country. Are we well prepared for this transformation? How are we to respond proactively to the emerging situation? You will all agree with me that quality education that prepares our young people to embrace the changing scenario, would be the key to success in this regard,” he noted.
SLIM President Gamika De Silva spoke about the value of PCM and the future prospects of the certificate holders in his address.
“SLIM has been nurturing the marketing fraternity in Sri Lanka for the past 43 years and has been in the forefront of professional marketing education. The key to the consistent growth of SLIM is attributed to quality education and an array of qualifications. SLIM being the national body of marketing in Sri Lanka, ensures an educational career path for the development of aspiring marketers. SLIM has always striven to improve the standard of marketing education in Sri Lanka and introduce indigenous products as well as professional qualifications through affiliated educational institutions both local and international. I invite all of you who pass out today to get involved any way possible to gain exposure in marketing. SLIM also provides numerous opportunities that are focused on strengthening the fraternity; it is the individuals’ choice to grab them,” he said.
SLIM CEO and Executive Director Sanath Senanayake also participated in the ceremony and noted the dynamism of PCM qualification. He detailed the enhancements made to the qualification over the years in order to maintain its relevance in the modern commercial world.
“The demand for PCM has been growing over the years and it has been enriched with more practical aspects for fledgling marketers to face the challenges posed by the markets. This demand undoubtedly speaks of its contemporary nature and rich content favoured by our students. Our education team, Council of Education, Education Reforms Committee and Board of Study make their regular observations on the product and special committees are instituted to review the content as and when necessary. The majority of our lecture panel being practicing marketers and employed in numerous industries, has been able to share industry behaviours and practices from a practical perspective. Our students therefore are nourished by a well-balanced course with theory and practice.”
