Legendary Int. Hotel School wins at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards

Friday, 14 September 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

At the recently held Sri Lanka Tourism Awards, the International Hotel School (IHS) affiliated with the Mount Lavinia Hotel Group won the award for small scale enterprise in the discipline of Tourism Education and Training Efforts.

The efforts at the IHS not only provide a launching pad for those interested in taking up careers in the hospitality industry, but also focus on a holistic training program which will cultivate and nurture leadership qualities and quality contributors to the industry.

The objective of the program was to train youth from a grass root level enabling them to emerge as an asset to the hotel or hospitality trade in Sri Lanka, and indeed sustaining their livelihood. The curriculum contains a unique blend of theory and practical which makes the courses exciting and rewarding at the school. The certificate issued from the International Hotel School is recognised the world over hence the possession of a certificate is a passport to employment, as students require no more further recommendation. The IHS has an alumni of over 500 students who are currently working internationally and locally at Managerial levels and many more other positions.

Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman Sanath Ukwatte’s vision is to offer equal opportunities to the rural youth in hospitality education in the rural villages itself. The concept of ‘Gama hada rata hadamu’ enables deserving youth to study hospitality education without any additional expenses by living out of home. Ukwatte strongly believes that hospitality education is not only for the privileged in the main cities but it should be a privilege for rural youth also. It was his opinion that the technology should go to the village and that too at grass root level.

Hotel School Principal M.N. Hulangamuwe states, “We are proud to add that the International Hotel School is the only functional hotel school in Sri Lanka with the history of 21 years.”