SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management graduation today

The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) will hold its 40th graduation ceremony today at the BMICH with Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga as the Chief Guest. Hilton Colombo General Manager Manesh Fernando will be the Guest of Honour. 

Inaugurated in 1966 as the Ceylon Hotel School, the SLITHM is the pioneer education institute in the field of tourism and hospitality training in the country. Today, it has earned global and local recognition as the premier institute for hospitality and tourism management in Sri Lanka and the region. SLITHM has been the backbone of the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka from its infancy producing the required professional human resources for the industry. 

The SLITHM main campus in Colombo is South Asia’s first purpose designed training facility offering students a holistic education experience in the different aspects of tourism and hospitality. SLITHM has developed an extensive network of satellite schools across the country in Kandy, Anuradhapura, Koggala, Bandarawela, Ratnapura and Kurunegala to attract and train youth in the fine art of hospitality. In addition, new schools have been opened in Passikuda and Jaffna in recent years. The SLITHM’s career path begins with an introduction to craft level courses followed by certificate, intermediate, advanced and finally diploma management levels. Programs on tourism management and training for national and chauffeur tourist guides are also available.

The graduation ceremony is the most important event in the SLITHM calendar as it marks the successful completion of the four-year management diploma in hotel operations and other management courses. This year’s graduation will see a total of 115 graduates stepping into the world as fully qualified tourism and hospitality professionals. 

This year’s convocation celebrates student academic and leadership achievements with graduates comprising students who followed the SITHM’s three-year and four-year courses, and they will receive their management diploma in hotel and catering operations. 

A total of 2,880 students pass out as fully fledged graduates at today’s ceremony. The top two awards at this occasion are Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association Trophy for the Most Outstanding Students in the three-year management diploma, which will be presented to H. W. Samarawickrama whilst the trophy for the Most Outstanding Graduate will be awarded to M. D. N. S. Sinhasiri. 

Last year, 2,525 students passed out of SLITH of whom 90 were graduates. This year, the planned output is 4,000. SLITHM said it was remarkable that every individual who has passed out has found employment in the industry.