Catering to the boom in the Tourism Industry – SLITHM’s qualified hoteliers
Established in 1964 by a Parliament Act, the institute provides the opportunity for Sri Lankan students to train at major tourism hubs in the country since provincial schools are situated in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Bandarawela, Pallekelle, Koggala, Ratnapura, and Kurunegala ensuring that training is available for students, island wide. Managed by the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, the Institute conducts courses at Craft, Certificate, International, Advanced and Management levels. Every subject of every course comprises of theoretical and practical knowledge. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience and these practical sessions too are evaluated to ensure that students are equally motivated towards gaining knowledge and gaining skill.
The options available at the institute seek to cater to needs of all types of students, with clear pathways from apprentice level to diploma level.
At Craft level, you can study the very basics and find work in the industry, but most of these students usually follow up and study the advanced diplomas, ending up with posts such as manager at 5 star hotels.
At Certificate level, students learn the basic crafts of housekeeping, reception, professional cookery and restaurant & bar service. By completing this qualification, students are able to pursue careers in hotel food production as a cook or baker while those interested in housekeeping can pursue upholstering and tailoring. If you are looking for a qualification to find work as a receptionist or computer operator this would be the perfect qualification for you.
The 3 year Management Diploma is more advanced with lessons in Food & Beverage Operation and Front Office, among other crafts. The 4 year Management Diploma goes into the depths of these crafts so a student will have all the knowledge they will need to set up their own hotel in the future or special- ize in a field of their liking. Practical sessions begin in the 3rd semester, where students explore professional cookery, and during the 4th semester, they learn about different wines. The final semesters include lessons on cocktail and mocktail preparation, which is an important skill to have if you plan to run your own restaurant.
The extensive knowledge acquired from these two diplomas allows students to pursue work in the Food & Beverage sector, where supervisor, director and manager are all posts with high demand. If you’re more talented at preparing food, you can apply for the post of Executive Chef, Sous Chef or Pastry Chef. If you are more inclined towards housekeeping, this qualification allows you to find work as an Executive Housekeeper, Laundry Manager or Florist. Those interested in the front office can apply for a position under Guest Relation Officer, Rooms Division Manager or Information Systems Manager.
Being the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is no stranger to being a highly desired tourist destination as we sit comfortably just southeast of the tip of the Indian subcontinent. Our famously spicy curry, interesting culture, and beautiful surfing beaches have always intrigued travelers of South Asia, since even Lonely Planet, the travel guide book named Sri Lanka the “best travel destination” in 2013.
To cater to the needs of the country’s booming industry, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) strives to train students so that enter the tourism industry as well trained and qualified men and women.
SLITHM has been producing trained and qualified individuals for 53 years. Students of the institute have gone on to become extremely successful hoteliers and other distinguished personalities in the industry, both locally and overseas. The institute would like to encourage any females considering a career in the hotel industry to join as soon as they can, since there is a high demand for female employees in the hotel industry, especially female chefs. The industry in Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of labour, to the point where ladies have to fly in from other countries to fill the gaps.
If you feel like this is your calling, don’t hesitate to contact the institute because it will ensure you receive the guidance you need, to step onto the path of a very enjoyable and fruitful career.
Ayeshni Wickramasinghe