SLIIT Convocation 2017 heralds graduate conferring ceremony

SLIIT, the premier higher education institute in Sri Lanka, recently held its graduation ceremony conferring Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in Information Technology, Engineering and Business Management. With the seven sessions attended by eminent personalities, the colourful convocation ceremony was held at the SLIIT campus in Malabe on 2 and 3 March.

President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Professor Mohan M. Kumaraswamy – Honorary Professor University of Hong Kong, Dr. Saman Kelegama – Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana – Founder, CEO and Chief Architect, WSO2, Professor Moses Tade – Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, Curtin University, Australia and Professor Roger Eccleston – Pro Vice Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University, UK attended the convocation as chief guests and delivered the Convocation Address at each session. 

Congratulating the new graduates who were conferred with degrees, President Sirisena commented, “Affordable access to knowledge should be universal and should not be confined to the boundaries of a chosen field of study. Hence, I am happy to note that over the last few years SLIIT has taken giant strides in diversifying its academic offerings to build the skills of its students. I commend the academic and non-academic staff of SLIIT for their commitment to the development of this premier higher education institute.”

The students who exceled in academic and extracurricular activities were recognised with special awards. Mohamed Yazdaan Alimudeen received the SLIIT Gold Medal for overall Academic Excellence in the Faculty of Computing in Information Technology, Selvajane Mithushan, received the Professor Lakshman Ratnayake Gold Medal for overall Academic Excellence in the Faculty of Engineering and Wanya Jerleen Gunawardena received the SLIIT Gold Medal for overall Academic Excellence in the Faculty of Business. 

Professor Lalith Gamage Gold Medal, for the Outstanding SLIIT Graduate who has excelled in both Academic and Extra and Co-curricular activities was awarded to Dilini Buddhima Rathnayaka Weerakoon. Pasindu Dulanjaya Panditharathna clinched the title for the Best Overall Performer.  

Commending SLIIT for its service rendered to the higher education sector in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe stated: “In today’s competitive higher education landscape, it is pertinent to note that SLIIT has rendered a yeoman service to the field of education. SLIIT has grown admirably, keeping abreast of new developments that take place constantly in the ever evolving sphere of higher education. SLIIT is committed to upgrading knowledge and ensuring that its students are successfully able to cross the threshold of studies in emerging as empowered individuals who can drive the country forward.”

Professor Lakshman L. Ratnayake, Chairman of SLIIT, said: “So far SLIIT has produced over 20,000 graduates with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in IT, Engineering and Business, a record unmatched by any other non-State higher education institute in Sri Lanka. I take this opportunity to congratulate all our graduates who received their degrees at the 2017 Convocation and I urge all our graduates to serve our nation efficiently and enthusiastically to bring prosperity to our motherland.”

“The annual Convocation is one of the most significant occasions in our calendar and this year it takes on even a greater significance as it marks a very important milestone – the graduation of the very first batch of our own Engineering students. Today as our country makes giant strides on a path towards prosperity the young men and women who leave the portals of our Institute, with their all-round skills, analytical thinking and professional attitudes will no doubt be an asset. I offer my sincere congratulations to each and every member of this year’s graduating batch for the hard work, perseverance and diligence in achieving this milestone,” commented Professor Lalith Gamage, CEO of SLIIT.