SLIIT hosts Business Management Students Conference for 9th consecutive year

Under the theme ‘Beyond Local Strategies to Global Success’ the Business students at SLIIT hosted the Business Management Students conference for the 09th consecutive year.  

The aim of the industry-based student conference was to help undergraduates from state universities and private institutions of higher education to improve their understanding about the industries they will find themselves employed in after successfully completing their degrees. 

“It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Faculty of Business student conference. Based on the theme today, global success is applicable to everybody. If we want to become a developed nation we have to be globally competent. We have to develop global strategies. The Faculty of Business and SLIIT make an effort to produce globally competitive students by developing programs with top universities in the world, organising forums to build continuous dialog with industry leaders and providing the best learning environment,” stated Prof. Chandana Perera, Dean – Faculty of Business. 

Chief Guest at the event was Mahendra Amarasuriya, President of the Lions Clubs International 2007/2008, who delivered the keynote speech. The Guests of Honour were Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman/CEO E-W Information Systems Ltd. and Feroz Cader, Vice President Trading Systems – Millennium Information Technologies Ltd. 

“Reaching beyond local strategies to global success: Strategic Transition is an appropriate theme in today’s ever changing competitive business environment.  This conference offers over undergraduates the opportunity to meet with reputed industry professionals, experts and other key people in the corporate arena. Conferences of this manner contribute to improving the employability of our students at SLIIT,” commented Prof. Lalith Gamage, President and CEO of SLIIT. 

Muttiah Muralitharan, former Sri Lankan cricketer also delivered an inspirational speech at the conference and answered a wide variety of questions of the students.

A panel discussion was held with the participation of leading figures in the industry. Sanjeewa Wickramanayake (Chairman/CEO E-W Information Systems Ltd.), Nirmal Peiris (Chief Operating Officer E-W Information Systems Ltd.), Bani Chandrasena (Head People Management & Development – Millennium Information Technologies Ltd.), Tyronne Silva (Product Manager, Post Trade Systems – Millennium Information Technologies Ltd.) and Buddhika Hewawasam (Deputy General Manager – Marketing and Business Promotions, Sri Lankan Aviation College) participated in the panel discussion with Kingsley Bernard, Head, Department of Business Management acting as facilitator. 

Following the panel discussion, the grand finale of the inter university competition, titled ‘Lead Quest’ was conducted by the students of the Faculty of Business. With the aim of developing research and business analytical skills, the event was designed in a manner in which participants apply what they have learned to a scenario in the real business world. For the competition this year, 14 universities and institutes participated. Moratuwa University emerged winners, while Jayawardenapura University and Saegis Campus came in second and third respectively. 

The Main sponsor for the conference was E-W Information Systems Ltd. and the Strategic Partner was Millennium Information Technologies Ltd.