CSSL elects new council for 2019

Seated from left: Prof. Samantha Thelijjagoda (Assistant Secretary), Dr. Malitha Wijesundera (Secretary), Prabath S. Wickramaratne (President), Damith Hettihewa (Vice President), Dr. Ajantha Atukorale (Treasurer). Standing from left: Yasas V. Abeywickrama (Immediate Past President), Buddhika Senasekera (Publications Secretary), Dr. Parakum Amaranga Pathirana (Assistant Treasurer), Sajith Sameera, and Shageevan Sachithanandan. Absent: Heshan Karunatratne (Student Counsellor) and Heminda Jayaweera 

The Annual General Meeting of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) was held recently, and the new Executive Council for the year 2019 was duly elected. Prabath S. Wickramaratne was elected as the President, whilst Damith Hettihewa was elected as the Vice President.

The other members of the Executive Council are Secretary Dr. Malitha Wijesundera, Assistant Secretary Prof. Samantha Thelijjagoda, Treasurer Dr. Ajantha Atukorale, Assistant Treasurer Dr. Parakum Amaranga Pathirana, Student Counsellor Heshan Karunatratne, Publications Secretary Buddhika Senasekera, and Council Members Yasas V. Abeywickrama (Immediate Past President), Sajith Sameera, Shageevan Sachithanandan, and Heminda Jayaweera.

Prabath S. Wickramaratne, a known industry activist, has been with CSSL Executive Council over the past six years, prior to being elected as the President.  He is currently attached to Deutsche Bank AG, Sri Lanka as the Vice President / Head of Operations and Head of Information Technology.  In addition, he is a visiting lecturer at a number of leading Government and private universities in Sri Lanka.

The new President thanked the outgoing President Yasas V. Abeywickrama for his successful two-year term as President, during which he guided the Society strategically to a new level. Wickramaratne presented his vision based on Five Pillars themed ‘Strategy 2020 and Beyond”.  The Five Pillars are Profession, Empowerment, Engagement, Our Presence, and Digital Strategy. The new council will focus strategically on these five areas by implementing various events, activities, projects and initiatives. 

The CSSL was established in 1976 in Sri Lanka by a group of dedicated professionals for the purpose of promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and professionalism among those engaged in this field, and to maintain the highest professional standards among the ICT professionals. CSSL has played this role for over 40 years and is the apex body for ICT professionals in Sri Lanka. It is a not-for-profit body. The CSSL is best known in Sri Lanka for hosting the National IT Conference (NITC) which provides a platform for national and international speakers to present papers.  CSSL also organises the National Schools’ Software Competition (NSSC) as well as the popular IT MasterMind Television Quiz Show that is nationally televised on ITN.  These activities have collectively lead to a surge in popularity for the CSSL and also for a renewed energy in driving large projects for building awareness and capacity.  

The CSSL also provides networking opportunities as well as workshops and seminars that are organised on a regular basis.  One of the major achievements in the recent past is obtaining the Provisional Signatory status of Seoul Accord, which would assist to shape the dimensions of ICT higher education in Sri Lanka.

The new initiatives for 2019 will be launched shortly and interested professionals and students are welcome to visit the CSSL website at www.cssl.lk to learn about our activities and also to apply for membership.