SLIM holds certification ceremony in splendid manner

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) held its certification ceremony on 29 September at BMICH on a grand scale. Awards were conferred on students who successfully completed SLIM programs which included the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM), Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing (Pharma), Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM) and Certificate in Services Marketing (CSM). 

More than a thousand certificates and medals were distributed among students of PCM 2017 – Batch III and IV, PCM 2018 – Batch I and II, Pharma 2017 – Batch I and 2018 Batch I and CDM 2017 – Batch II and CDM 2018 – Batch I and CSM 2018 – Batch I. This was the highest number of certificate and medal holders produced by SLIM.

The Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) considered one of the most effective local short courses in marketing, leads to a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDIP). The Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing is a qualification to excel as a medical delegate whereas the Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM) is an innovative program designed to discover the revolutionary aspects of Marketing, and the Certificate in Services Marketing is designed to introduce the changing nature of services environment, concepts and strategies unique to service businesses. 

The best student, first and second runners up in each batch were conferred with a certificate and a medal while the subject winners of the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing were awarded medals.

Awards for the Best Students were won by M.S.P. Lakshika Nilmini Menikbowa for PCM Intake III, 2017, B.G.D.I. Gunaratne for PCM Intake IV 2017, R.J. Hiruni Kristhogu for PCM Intake I 2018, T.H.S. Shahari Eranka De Silva for PCM Intake II 2018, K.J.G.P Prasad for PharmaIntake I 2017, M.R.M. Ramzy for Pharmaintake I 2018, Waruni Wijeratne for CDM Intake II 2017, and Dinusha Herath for CSM intake I 2018.

The Chief Guest Ruwan Liyanagamage, Director of Chisel Holdings Ltd. and Past President of SLIM in his address noted that the Sri Lankan school system usually focuses on engineering, medicine and accountancy. However the competitive job market in the world has challenged this conventional thinking and has called for more disciplines in the education system. “So we should start gearing towards more professional qualifications in order to secure a good job. Holding a Certification in Marketing will be a stepping stone for this world of professional qualifications hence this will open up a lot of opportunities for you and help you excel in your career,” he said. 

TV Derana Chairman Dilith Jayaweera, the Guest of Honour, noted, “SLIM, recognised as the national body of marketing in Sri Lanka is renowned for vast advances made over the years in the vital area of marketing education. So receiving an education from SLIM will be a badge of honour and your qualifications will be recognised anywhere in the world. I thank SLIM for taking the initiative in educating the country’s youth and providing a quality education in marketing for the present and future marketers in the country.” SLIM President Pradeep Edward mentioned, “We take pride in educating Sri Lankans in marketing. In addition to providing high quality education in marketing, we also train them to enhance their individuality by helping them recognise their skills and capabilities. Hence we focus not only on improving their education but also grooming quality marketers in the country. Further this year SLIM obtained both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 29990:2010 certifications, which shows that SLIM ensures the highest standard of quality education to all our students.”

SLIM Vice President – Education Suranjith Swaris said, “SLIM has humbly served the nation for the past 48 years by producing high quality Marketers in the country. We continue to provide marketing education by identifying more trends in marketing and adding more value to the fraternity through updated programs and excellent delivery. The faith that the corporate sector has in SLIM is evident through the continuous requests for ‘tailor-made’ courses. We will continue to protect that faith and do what we do best – produce excellent Marketers to the marketing industry in the country.” 

SLIM CEO/Executive Director Sanath Senanayake said that SLIM has reached the peak as a mentoring entity with endorsements from the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity that includes the corporate sector. “By taking the initiative in educating the marketing fraternity for the past 48 years, SLIM has been successful in placing marketing as a key driver of economic growth. We produce approximately 2000 professionals per year. I wish to offer my sincere congratulations to all those who received their certificates today. My wish for them is that this will be the beginning of their journey in successful marketing education and careers.”

Constantly evolving with innovations to add value to the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity has been SLIM’s key to success as the national body for marketing.