SLIM awards best performers at annual certification ceremony

The annual certification ceremony of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) was held on 7 September at the grand ballroom of Waters Edge, Battaramulla. The ceremony was held for the purposes of recognising and awarding all those who have passed out and successfully completed the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) and the Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing (PharMa).

The PCM qualification is a course especially designed for beginners in Marketing with a duration of three months of study leading to the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (Sri Lanka). It is an entry point for an internationally recognised professional status in Marketing. The rich content of PCM coupled with practical scenarios provide an individual with adequate knowledge to commence a career in marketing or add value, if employed in the field of sales or marketing.

Students of the PCM intakes PCM III and PCM IV of 2014 and PCM I and PCM II of 2015 attended the Certification Ceremony. Medals and special certificates were awarded to the best students, first runners-up and second runners-up of four PCM intakes in recognition of their achievement. Overall, a total of more than 1000 PCM holders qualified at the certification ceremony 2015.

M.M.T.N. Rajapaksha, G.D.K.C. Fernando and K.N.M.L.N. Kosgahakubura were awarded as the Best Student, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up of the PCM III 2014 respectively. The best performers of PCM IV 2014 were; best student, M.N. Weerakotuwa, 1st Runner-up, H.N. Matarage and 2nd Runner-up, N.S. Hewavitharana.

The award for the best student of PCM I 2015 was awarded to W.I.N. Perera while A.D.H.B. Udamvita and A.W.A.I.S. Wickramasinghe were the 1st and 2nd Runners-up respectively. PCM II 2015 best performers were, the best student, A.M. Meepage and 1st Runner-up, G.D.B.P. Premaratne, while N.N. Pathirana were joint 2nd Runners-up.

SLIM Past President and Ceylinco Insurance PLC and Ceylinco Life Insurance Ltd. Chairman J. Godwin Perera graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest. In his address he stressed on the initiatives taken by SLIM to improve the quality of education in the changing landscape of Sri Lanka. 

“I congratulate this honourable institution for the vast advances made over the years in the vital area of Marketing Education and I must at this stage commend SLIM for the initiative taken in conducting a special course in Pharmaceutical Marketing. Also would take pleasure to offer my sincere congratulations to all those who would be receiving their certificates today and my only wish for them, is that this will be only the beginning of their journey along the learning curve of marketing.” 

While congratulating on the success, SLIM President Ruwan Liyanagamage spoke about the value of PCM and the future prospects of the certificate holders in his address.

“The PCM or Preliminary Certificate in Marketing is your doorway to the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and thereafter to an MBA. In tandem, or independently, you could also specialise according to your field of work, and choose from an array of Diplomas and Certificate Level courses which have specially been designed by SLIM, with the needs of the corporate world in mind. Being the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka, we always look at how we could innovate and offer you a competitive edge so that it will arm you with the qualifications that you require to move upward in the hierarchical ladder of your organisation.”

“We are enthralled by the fact that students of other professions undertaking marketing studies and following the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing which is a testament to the value proposition created by this short course. We have observed many from different other professionals completing this course of study which provides an understanding of the marketing fundamentals and a philosophical notion that marketing is for everyone. Irrespective of one’s career, occupation or the profession, indulgence in the marketing arena makes a person successful. A more logical approach could be provided to the behaviour, interactions & Presentations of those who qualified by marketing theory,” SLIM CEO/ED Sanath Senanayake added in his vote of thanks.