1144 graduands conferred degrees at SLIIT
SLIIT held its convocation recently at the SLIIT Malabe campus, where 1144 graduands following Undergraduate and Masters degree programmes in Information Technology, Business Management and Electronic Engineering were conferred degrees at a grand ceremony.
The convocation, conducted in six sessions, was attended by chief guests His Lordship the Chief Justice Hon. Mohan Peiris, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering of Curtin University - Professor Andris Stelbovics, Secretary Treasury - Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, former BOI chief and board member -Thilan Wijesinghe, and Professor Roger Eccleston - Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences (ACES) at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) UK.
Chief Justice Hon. Mohan Peiris in his address to the gathering said; “We must recognise the strength IT students possess and the IT sectors’ contribution for the speedy development of Sri Lanka, especially in the spheres of banking, financing, telecommunication, leisure, aviation, military, and related sectors. Students are responsible for the advances in Information Technology. SLIIT, which today has become a flagship symbol of the best IT education, deserves our plaudits for producing a pool of resources for the country to draw from. I toast the success of our graduates and applaud the yeoman service of SLIIT rendering for the greater good of our country on its onward march towards e-governance”.
Dr. P.B. Jayasundara stated that “the industry itself has expanded remarkably. Sri Lanka has now entered a middle income country journey. It is a new way of life with a high value chain, which can be created by graduates”. Thilan Wijesinghe shared valuable life lessons and principles with the graduates; “I wish the graduates success not just as graduates of SLIIT, but as productive citizens who will contribute towards the betterment of this country”.
Professor Roger Eccleston from SHU highlighted the longstanding relationship between SLIIT and SHU, focusing on the importance and quality of education in Sri Lanka and the factors which contribute towards Sri Lanka becoming an international education hub. “Another trend I would like to predict is the grow- ing importance of the ability to work across disciplines to design and develop innovative products to address fast-moving markets” he further stated.
“Information and computer technologies have become without a doubt the most progressive disciplines in the modern era and are impacting on the way we work, rest and play” highlighted Professor Andris Stelbovics - Pro ViceChancellor for Science and Engineering of Curtin University. “My advice is to recognise that what your career paths leads to, is one the most exciting in the 21st Century, as the demand for ICT graduates will continue to increase”
Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman of SLIIT said; “we are extremely pleased about our students’ achievements, and take pride in their ability to excel on a competitive global platform, both in the classroom and within the work environment. We wish them all the very best in their future endeavours”.
“We would like to congratulate our graduates and wish them all the best as they step into the world to explore new horizons” states President and CEO of SLIIT, Professor Lalith Gamge. SLIIT’s long-standing global academic partners were among the distinguished guests who attended this grand occasion.
Industry sponsors for special awards at the convocation include IFS, Virtusa, Metropolitan Computers Pvt Ltd ,EPIC Lanka Group and Zone 24 x 7 Pvt Ltd.
SLIIT has produced over 20,000 professionals to the relevant industries and nearly 50% of the nations IT professionals including 7000 graduates, making a significant contribution to the country’s fifth largest export earner. The institute conducts a wide range of programmes for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the spheres of Information Technology, Business Administration, Engineering and Hospitality Management, making it the largest degree awarding institute in the country.