Second batch graduates from Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management at SLIIT

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) at SLIIT celebrated the success of their second batch of students who graduated on 6 October at The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on a lovely evening setting. 

56 students graduated on that day where 24 of them were not able to be present as they had work or educational commitments in the Middle East, Maldives, Australia and also in the United States of America. CAHM at SLIIT mentioned that some of the students at the ceremony were already employed at hotels that are recognised internationally in Sri Lanka itself; and acquiring the William Angliss Institute, Melbourne, Australia qualification has given them that extra edge of recognition.

The Chief Guest of the event was Prof. Chandana Jayawardene, a renowned academic and hotelier who has been in the industry for over 40 years and the Guest of Honour was Ian Nicolson, Head of Regional Development Singapore and Acting Head of Academic Programs, William Angliss Institute, Singapore. The parents and family members of the graduates and other dignitaries from the hospitality and tourism industry present at the event added the extra encouragement the students needed to see themselves through to a brighter future in the corporate world.

CAHM CEO Steven Bradie-Miles shared the following at the event, “For the first time in the history of CAHM we had 15 International students from the well renowned multinational Omani company – The Renaissance Services Group. The ties between Sri Lanka and Oman have been enriched by the friendships made and the experiences shared over the past two years.”

The students at CAHM gain cross cultural exposure due to the fact that the Academy receives a batch of students from Oman through the Renaissance Group and other countries every year and together they are able to learn and execute projects and events organised. 

The students are hands on at every event held at the academy; open days, guest lecture luncheons; where the students prepare the dishes, taking part in the Annual Culinary Arts competition and also battling each other to winning the opportunity to represent CAHM at the Young Chef Olympiad Competition in Kolkata every year. CAHM is full of opportunities and helps a student grow in to an individual with the right attitude to enter the industry and be ‘job ready’.

The special awards for the night were one of the highlights for these young graduates where the following students won their respective awards:

1. The East West Foods Solution Challenge Trophy for the Best Culinary Student – Harsha Madusanka Wijerathna Alahakoon

2. Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management Challenge Trophy for the Best Student in Human Resources Management – Chanaka Lakshitha Tennekoon

3. The Ozo Hotels Challenge Trophy for the Best Student in Sales and Marketing – Krishanthi Devenie Warnakulasooriya

4. The Kingsbury Colombo Challenge Trophy for the Best Student in Food and Beverage Management – Pushparaj Nishanth

5. The Nestlé Challenge Trophy for the Best Student in Beverage Knowledge and Coffee Service – Dimitri Daniel Jozef Paiva

6. The Galle Face Hotel Challenge Trophy for the Best Student in Hospitality Operations/ Finance Management – Mohammed Salim Al Hajri

7. The Hilton Colombo Challenge Trophy for the Most Outstanding Graduate – Ahad Abdullah Ali Al Jabri

Ahad Abdullah Ali Al Jabri received a scholarship from the Renaissance Group, Oman and joined CAHM and was awarded the Most Outstanding Graduate since she was able to acquire 61 As’ for all subjects by the end of the two year program.  

The lecturers and staff at CAHM congratulate every graduate on this special moment in their life as it is one of the main turning points towards a successful career. 

While the students get first preference at the campus, the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) is a joint venture between Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and William Angliss Institute (WAI), Melbourne, Australia specialist centre for Foods, Hospitality, Tourism and Events. The academy is situated 30 minutes away from Colombo at the SLIIT campus, Malabe and is equipped with the largest training kitchen in Sri Lanka and it also has model accommodation suite, state of the art facilities and practical space and follows the curriculum of WAI, Melbourne.

A student should have five passes from their OL examination including English and must sit for an aptitude test in order to gain admission to enrol for the programme. From there on the experienced lecture panel and staff will ensure that the students are just what the industry is looking for. It is truly a grand achievement for the Academy to see these youngsters go in to the corporate world already equipped with the qualifications that mould the future of the economy of the country and the world at large. For more information, please contact Tel: +94 11 240 7780, E-mail: [email protected].