‘Marketing Sinhalen’ programme launched

A new marketing programme, ‘Marketing Sinhalen,’ was introduced to Sri Lankan students by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and hot on its heels, SLIM signed a MoU with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) on 9 February 2012 to promote and deliver this programme in Sinhala throughout the country.

Both FCCISL and SLIM are in a view of that the demand for teaching marketing in Sinhala is growing steadily and there is a huge necessity for it as consumer need are also diversifying, as the middle income basket expands and urbanisation.

Marketing in Sinhala is launched with the objective of providing marketing knowledge to all the segments of society to promote, upgrade and exchange marketing knowledge and encourage entrepreneurs, SME business owners, State sector employees and school leavers who are keen to get an exposure in marketing to develop their businesses, careers or professions.

Students who are fascinated with marketing, but find difficult to initiate in English would have a better chance to complete the preliminary stage in Sinhala language and if they want to pursue the next stages they would have to switching to the English language which may help students to be confident in the corporate world.

SLIM has been promoting marketing excellence and elevating the status of marketing in Sri Lanka and is recognised for its practical approaches in its marketing education and is the most popular amongst the business community and students for its level of study.

The text book ‘Marketing Sinhalen’ by SLIM is a most comprehensive marketing book written in such simplified language and introduces modern marketing concepts to the Sinhala reader. This is a Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) course with a duration of four months on a part time basis.

PCM is the first step towards an internationally recognised professional status in Marketing conferred by the prestigious Asia Marketing Federation. Students who successfully complete this course will be awarded ‘Certificate in Marketing (Sinhala)’.

Being the apex organisation of the chambers, sectored trade associations and professional bodies, FCCISL has taken many initiatives to establish one of the strongest education and training platform by operating a network of Chamber Academies, HandWerk Centers and FCCISL Accredited study centres belongs to the private sector enabling the FCCISL to service their members and stakeholders in every corner of the country.

FCCISL, the exclusive implementation partner of this ‘Marketing Sinhalen’ programme, intends to start it in every district where demand is available. SLIM is a member of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and their courses are conducted at the FCCISL Chamber Academies in Vavuniya, Chilaw, Kurunegala and Gampaha.

SLIM President Thushara Perera stated that employees of private and public sector and school leavers can learn the fundamentals of business and marketing and could  eliminate the barrier of language particularly benefited who are in the hinterlands or away from popular educational hubs.

FCCISL President Kumar Mallimaratchchi is of the view of that this programme will pave the path for success of a large number of medium and small scale entrepreneurs in the distant areas as they suffer from critical setback revolve around the effective marketing of goods and services. He stated at the launch that this initiative would uplift the knowledge of doing businesses and enable entrepreneurs to step in to the international level.

Further to that, SLIM CEO Sanath Senanayake stated this as an excellent opportunity for students to acquire knowledge, skills and excellence to become professional marketers. FCCISL Acting Secretary General Sam Stembo highlighted the excellent benefit packages offered to the really skilful and qualified marketers by their employers in Sri Lanka as well as around the globe.

FCCISL Head of Training Rohan Suriyapperuma and SLIM DGM Training Samantha Rathnayake also added their valuable inputs at the discussion held during this occasion and they show the countless opportunities available in this prospective profession pave the way for the pursuers to reach the pinnacle of success.

More information on this marketing course can be obtained from the FCCISL website www.fccisl.lk or email to [email protected].