Sri Lanka’s largest education exhibition and job fair, EDEX Expo to mark 15 years

By Shannon Jayawardena

Sri Lanka’s largest education exhibition and job fair, EDEX Expo will be celebrating 15 years this year with its annual fair which is to be held from the 19-21 January 2018 at BMICH. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to declare the event open.

With the goal of empowering local youth to be globally competitive by bridging the gap between secondary education and career paths, EDEX was initially formed in 2004 and since has grown to inspire millions of students.

EDEX Chairman Mahinda Galagedara said: “Our youth exposed to world class education locally and abroad have become very employable and have brought in a very positive impact to the country’s economy. Activating youth to realising their full potential and to be active and engaging in promoting sustainable living has been given significance. We hope that this CSR project will be a role model for the youth by creating excellence and empowerment.”

To mark its 15th anniversary, the event will feature a job fair and an entrepreneurship zone this year to provide not only students but graduates and job seekers the opportunity to fulfil their dreams and aspirations. The zone will share expert advice on start-up businesses and corporate regulations and management information.

The Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Highways, Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Ministry of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamu Development, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environmental and the International Labour Organisation have all come together to endorse the event where as the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Employers Federation of Ceylon similarly have partnered to make the event a success.

EDEX will feature over 200 education exhibition booths representing both local and foreign universities and institutes from over 20 countries varying from an Education Malaysia sponsored Malaysia pavilion together with stalls from countries such as Japan, Australia, India, USA, UK, Russia, China, Switzerland, Singapore, Singapore, Turkey and so forth. Further 30 stalls of reputed corporates of the country will be present as well. A celebrity interview session themed ‘Edutainment’ will take place on all three days from 3-6 p.m.

Royal College Principal B.A. Abeyrathna stated: “EDEX Expo this year will continue to offer choices, options and opportunities for students across the country. As EDEX celebrates 15 years of service to the nation, I am confident that they will continue to create a comprehensive platform of knowledge and information for students, teachers and parents.”

The event is sponsored by the National Institute of Business Management, the National School of Business Management, Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology and Education Malaysia under the Platinum category and by the American Education Centre, ESOFT Metro Campus, Royal Institute of Colombo, CINEC Campus, Scottish Qualifications Authority and the American International Campus under the Gold category.

Associated News Papers of Ceylon is the event’s Print Media partner whereas Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Channel Eye are the Electronic Print Media partners. Citypak is the official courier service of the event.

NDB Personal Banking and Branch Network Management Vice President Sanjaya Perera, CINEC Campus Senior Consultant Thisara Samarasinghe, Colombo ESOFT Metro Campus Head of Operations Dilan Perera, Royal College Union Secretary Athula Munasinghe, NSBM Head of Marketing Operations Chiranjeewa P. Atapattu, Royal College Principal B.A. Abeyrathna, NIBM Director General D.M.A. Kulasooriya, EDEX Chairman Mahinda Galagedara, CIRP Academic Affairs Director Darshan Perera, ANC Education Post Graduate Program Assistant Genral Manager Erandi Dodanwala, Royal Institute Colombo President Sarath Amunugama and AIC IMC Executive Director Gishan Sumanasiri were all members of the head table at the press conference.