The 11th International Research Conference on Management and Finance - IRCMF 2016 Faculty of Management & Finance, University of Colombo

The Faculty of Management and Finance of the University of Colombo will be hosting its 11th International Research Conference on the 09th of December 2016 at Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF), Colombo. The Faculty of Management and Finance initiated the annual research conference in December 2002. Further expanding the endavour in 2005 the Faculty took steps to make it an annual flagship event by advancing as an International Research Conference of Management and Finance (IRCMF). It is a much sought-after event for academics and researchers looking for a platform to present their contributions to the field of research. Twentythreeblind reviewed research papers will be presented at this year’s conference under seven tracks, which are Accounting and Mangement Information Systems, Business Economics and Finance, Entreprenuership and Small Business Management, Human Resources Management, International Business, Management,Organization Studies, Management of Technology, and Disaster Management and Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Organizing the IRCMF 2016 is the effort of the conference cochairs, Dr. Pradeep Dharmadasa and Dr. Maduka Udunuwara of the Faculty of Management andFinance. The event would be graced by Senior Professor Lakshman Dissanayake, Vice-chancellor of the University of Colombo, Dr. R. Senathiraja, Dean, Faculty of Management &Finance, along with all staff members of the faculty and authors. The keynote speaker of the conference will be Dr. Charles Arcodia, who is an Associate Professor of Department of Tourism, Sport and HotelManagement, Griffith University, Australia. The key note will be on “Intangible Cultural Heritage and Emerging Tourism Destinations”.

The Doctoral Colloquium is a key addition to the IRCMF 2016, which will be held the day prior to the IRCMF.This provides a fertile ground for MPhil/PhD students in the discipline of management and finance to present and discuss their research ideas, research proposal and work-in-progress. This colloquium provides opportunities for discussion and informal interaction between MPhil/PhD students and academics on issues of research and publishing as well. This year fourteen MPhil/ PhD candidates of various Universities will be presenting their work at the DocoralColloqium.

The industry dialogue of the conference will be a part of acontinuing discussion and debate which instills the knowledge of filling the gap between theory and practice. While the Industry dialogue was intitated at the 9th IRCMF in 2014, by conducting a very thought provoking and insightful dialogue on ‘Business, Society and Nature: Building Interconnectedness’, where the key themes were sustainability, profitability and ethical conduct. This year at the 11th IRCMF, this dialogue will be continued by treading into ‘Collaborating for Sustainability’.

The Panelists of 2016 Industry Dialogue are: Prof. Devaka Weerakoon (Professor in Zoology, University of Colombo and Conservation Biologist ), Ms. Farzana Kahn (Director of Sustainable Development, Communications and External Affairs at Siam City Cement Lanka Limited ), Mr. Nalaka Gunawardana (Director / General Manager of Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd), Mr. SrilalMiththapala (Former President of Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and team leader of the Greening Sri Lankan Hotel project, Chamber of Commerce), Mr.Vidhura Ralapanawe (General Manager of Environmental Sustainability, MAS Intimates).

Featuring such timely discussion fourms and providing a research platform for researchers both locally and internationally, the IRCMF 2016 is yet another stepping stone for the University of Colombo in its journey towards creating a more knowledgeable community.