SLF emerging as a Leading Institute of Education with a multitude of learning experiences
The Sri Lanka Foundation ( SLF) is known to be the foremost Adult Education Centre in Sri Lanka, established in 1974 consequent to an Agreement between the Sri Lanka Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Today, Sri Lanka Foundation is on a stronger footing where it is regularized under an Act of Parliament, The Sri Lanka Foundation Law No.31 of 1973. Sri Lanka Foundation functions autonomously under the purview of the Presidential secretariat of Sri Lanka and is managed by a Board under the chairmanship of Prof. Ranjit Bandara.
SLF has entered into many strategic partnerships with both local and international Institutions These partnerships have added more value and recognition to the study programmes of the SLF. The SLF has made its mark as an emerging educational hub situated in the heart of Colombo in a salubrious and enriching environment overlooking the independence square in Colombo 7. The SLF also blessed with ample space and adequate facilities, has the capacity to cater to multiple demands which will eventually enable participants to gain a wonderful learning experience. While a good number of Study programmes of the SLF are open to all there are some programmes targeting particularly the school leavers who have failed to enter the higher seats of learning like the Universities, Training Colleges or Technical Colleges but are looking forward to explore the possibility of following a course according to the demands of the job market and also matching their interests. All study programmes of the SLF are monitored and regulated by two Boards the Board of Study and the Board of Examiners and handled by dedicated officials, the registrar and the allied team. The SLF has also the advantage of being an institution accredited by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka as a certificate awarding body.
The unparalleled and unmatchable learning opportunities available at SLF make it a unique centre for education and training in Sri Lanka. Having a wide mandate to serve the masses, the SLF is geared to provide opportunities to different clusters and segments in society opening up avenues to enable them to climb the ladder of qualifications gradually. Significantly SLF is making its mark as a centre of leadership, education, and training offering a wide range of academic programs in dynamic fields namely, Social and Institutional Development, Psychology and Counselling, Business and Enterprise Management, Language and ICT, and Tourism & Hospitality Management. Its novel addition is the centre for Wellbeing to foster and nurture multi-dimensional aspects of improving quality of life.
Having established the first Digital Film Academy in the country, SLF offers a wide variety of courses in Film, Television, Fashion, 3D Animation, Graphics, Choreography, Film Appreciation, Script Writing, etc., which courses are not commonly found collectively in any single institute in the country. SLF is well known for its hospitality services with an in-house four star kitchen facility and hostel facilities for over 60 participants at a time. The SLF having launched a series of quality study programmes at craft level related to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry has marked its entry to this all important arena in order to cater to the ever increasing demands of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
The programme for Trainers of “Fitness trainers” has become a very popular course and at present there are three parallel groups following this course. The centre for well being is also another very important initiative taken by the SLF and is in line with the country’s varied health demands On the one hand, corporate wellness programmes are channelled through this centre and on the other, psychological and counselling services are offered on a scheduled basis regularly Study programmes in social and institutional development, Business and Enterprise Development, Language and ICT and Psychology and Counselling are in growing demand as they are offered in an enriching learning environment with a quality learning and assessment process. All these programmes are delivered by qualified in-house academic resource personnel and a visiting faculty.
SLF is currently getting ready to spread its wings further and is planning to spear ahead introducing a series of top up degrees and a number of post graduate courses which will be introduced in the near future. The most unique attribute of the SLF is that its doors are open to all communities irrespective of their mode of communication whether it is Sinhala, Tamil or English.