University of Kelaniya Archives

October 10, 2023

The University of Kelaniya proudly announces its inclusion in the esteemed CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to shaping the future of finance professionals. This recognition by the CFA Institute, a globally recognized symbol of excellence in finance, is the third in a series, following the acknowledgment of two other degree programs at the University of Kelaniya.

The Master of Professional Finance program offered by the Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya has garnered acclaim for its alignment with more than 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and its unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. This recognition places our students in an advantageous position to embark on the journey toward obtaining the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter, a universally respected credential in the global financial landscape.

Dr. Ruwani Fernando, Head of the Department of Finance, University of Kelaniya expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We are immensely proud to be recognized by the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This affiliation reaffirms our commitment to providing students with a comprehensive and rigorous education that equips them with the knowledge and ethical foundation necessary for success in the finance industry.”

Mr. Aruna Perera, CFA, President of CFA Society Sri Lanka added, “This partnership strengthens our dedication to producing well-rounded professionals capable of navigating the complexities of the financial world while upholding the highest ethical standards.”

Mr. Nuwan Jayawardena, CFA, Chairman of the University Outreach Committee at CFA Society Sri Lanka, in his presentation, highlighted the significant value of the CFA Institute University Affiliation program, emphasizing the importance of holding the CFA charter.”

Additionally, the University of Kelaniya is now uniquely positioned to offer CFA Program Student Scholarships to its students through its participation in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This support will empower aspiring finance professionals, providing them with a valuable opportunity to pursue the coveted CFA charter.

This achievement signifies the University of Kelaniya’s ongoing commitment to excellence in finance education, ensuring that its graduates are not only equipped with the necessary knowledge but also instilled with ethical principles that are the hallmark of the finance profession.

May 17, 2023

Department of Physics and Electronics of the University of Kelaniya, has created a revolutionary product, the “Smart Remotely Controllable Ceiling Fan Regulator.” This innovative device replaces conventional manual regulators, without requiring any alterations to the electrical wiring system.

The “Smart Remotely Controllable Ceiling Fan Regulator” is a game-changing product, providing unparalleled convenience to users. This product was first developed by undergraduate student Kelum Perera during his Honours degree final year research project under the supervision of Professor Sudath Kalingamudali. Thereafter, Ms. Nuwangi Cooray modified the product using Bluetooth technology with a mobile application. This was followed by Dr. Kasun Piyumal, Mr. Supun Gunarathne, and Mr. Geethanjana Wanigasekara who further developed it for commercialization.

OREL Corporation (Private) Limited, recently entered into a patent license agreement to introduce this cutting-edge product into the market, that has the potential to transform the ceiling fan regulator market and bring about a significant improvement in the quality of life for customers. OREL, with its advanced research and development facilities and robust business development capabilities, aims to spearhead the promotion of this groundbreaking product in both local and international markets. Orel has introduced this unique product to their product portfolio under Orange Electric Odessa range, which caters to the premium customer segment.

The notable feature of this innovation is that it has a “smart control” feature which enables to operate the regulator using the smart phone or tablet PC, connecting to ORELHOME App, via Bluetooth or WiFi. This wireless control feature offers unparalleled convenience, allowing to regulate the ceiling fan from the comfort of a couch or bed.

“At the Business Development Division of OREL, we believe that synergy and collaboration are the winning formulas to grow businesses in multiple folds. We are happy to nurture such innovations of the country and pave its path to commercialization, which will benefit not only our organization and the university, but the entire country as whole” stated Gamini Ranasinghe, Director – Business Development of OREL Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd.

“We are extremely happy to collaborate with a giant in the Sri Lankan electrical industry to commercialize this innovation and with its wider global presence and the greater brand equity of Orange Electric, we strongly believe our innovation will have a global reach. We have taken a generous step of formulating a department fund to support and nurture such innovations to commercialization. When many innovations in the country have failed due to lack of a support system for commercialization, our collaboration creates a greater inspiration for all budding inventors to innovate many in the future” said Prof. Sudath Kalindamudali, Dean of the Science Faculty, University of Kelaniya.

This venture represents the university’s dedication to innovation and excellence and Orel Corporation’s mission of supporting local universities on creating inventions and solutions that address public needs. Kushan Kodituwakku Managing Director at Orel Corporation added “Innovation is in the lifeblood of OREL and our teams constantly search for solutions for the future requirements of the mankind may it be in the spheres of artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, IoT etc. The license agreement signed with the university for the “Smart Remotely Controllable Ceiling Fan Regulator” is a testament to our commitment to this mission, and we are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking innovation that will revolutionize the ceiling fans market in Sri Lanka.”

Orel Corporation gives an open invitation for budding inventors of Sri Lanka to reach out them for any assistance in realizing their innovation.

March 13, 2023

CFA Society Sri Lanka is delighted to announce that four student teams comprising promising future financial professionals have qualified as finalists in the local leg of the 16^th annual CFA Institute Research Challenge held recently.

“CFA Institute Research Challenge focuses on equipping the university students with technical, writing, and presentation skills which are critical to becoming a successful finance and investment professional,” says Aruna Perera, CFA, President of CFA Society Sri Lanka. This challenge also promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.

Students were mentored by industry professionals who are also CFA charterholders. They underwent intensive training by Acuity Knowledge Partners this year as well on carrying out equity research, reporting, and arriving at a buy, hold, or sell recommendation on a publicly traded company. This year, the subject company was BPPL Holdings PLC.

Eneeshya Perera, CFA, Co-Chair of the Research Challenge Committee, CFA Society Sri Lanka articulated how the response this year was overwhelming with applications received from universities across Sri Lanka. Whilst congratulating the winning team from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, she explained how the winners will now advance to the sub-regionals. At the Sub-regional competition, Sri Lanka will compete alongside teams from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The winning teams will thereafter move on to the regionals i.e., the Asia-Pacific region. She also added that similar regional competitions are held in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Following this, winning teams from each region will advance to compete at the global final competition to be crowned the ultimate winner of the CFA Institute Research Challenge 2023.

Four teams were shortlisted for the local finals which were held virtually on 27^th February this year. They presented their final analysis to an eminent panel of judges; Nadika Ranasinghe, CFA, Director-Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd, Udeeshan Jonas, CFA, Chief Strategist, CAL and Dr. Andrew Stotz, CFA, CEO, A. Stotz Investment Research, Thailand. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura Team A emerged as winners while the University of Kelaniya Team B was the runners-up. The winning team was led by Oshan Brahmanage and was accompanied by Yashan Samarakoon, Malithi Jayaratne, Hashini Siriwardena, and Mahee Silva. ‘’CFA Institute Research Challenge was a 6-month, challenging, yet, rewarding journey that we were fortunate enough to be a part of. It gave us a completely different perspective on everything we have learned thus far while further enhancing our interest in pursuing careers in the capital market. Being the Sri Lankan champions was indeed a moment of joy and satisfaction of months of hard work paying off.’’, said Oshan Brahmanage, reflecting upon his team’s experience in the competition. The team was guided and mentored by Ruwangi Mahanamahewa, the Faculty Advisor, and Tharinda Jayawardana, CFA, Industry Mentor.

This year, the initial round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge was hosted by CFA Society Sri Lanka and the presentation of trophies to the winning team and runners-up was hosted by the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of the Colombo Stock Exchange said that he is pleased to witness the talent of the students who are analytical, interpretation, and presentation skills as well as the report of this year’s subject company, BPPL Holdings PLC was outstanding and thanked CFA Institute and CFA Society Sri Lanka for organizing the research competition. Further, he noted that the young talent produced through the university system supported by CFA is an asset to developing the country’s capital markets.

The event was sponsored by the Society’s Platinum sponsor, the Colombo Stock Exchange, Silver sponsors; Acuity Partners, CAL, First Capital, NDB Capital Holdings, Senfin and Uzabase, Knowledge Partner; Acuity Knowledge Partners and event sponsor; Kaplan Schweser.

November 21, 2022

20th November 2022, Colombo: Norlanka, one of Sri Lanka’s largest sustainable exporters of baby and kids wear, together with the Environmental Conservation and Management Society of University of Kelaniya recently concluded Phase 1 of a mangrove restoration project in the coastal area of Chilaw. Over 100 participants from Norlanka and the university joined this restoration project.

Mangrove ecosystems of Sri Lanka are rapidly degrading due to the pollution caused by various human activities. This project aims to restore mangrove ecosystems in selected areas of the Sri Lankan coast while raising awareness on their importance. During the initial stages, a series of webinars were conducted by the University to create awareness about the project.

Under Phase 1 of the project, 650 mangrove plants were restored with the help of the volunteers. Phase 2 of the project involves regular monitoring of the changes in the restored mangrove cover. During the first two years, regular monitoring of growing seedlings and maintenance work needs to be carried out to ensure the plants grow properly.

Mangroves protect the seashores from erosion and are the first line of defense for coastal communities from storms and provide homes for various animal species. They store 3 to 5 times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests. Through their dense network of roots and surrounding vegetation, mangroves filter and help to maintain water quality. They also provide livelihood for communities through fishing and eco-tourism. Restoring 650 mangrove plants will have a total carbon sequestration of 7,995kg per year. Throughout the lifespan of the 650 mangrove plants, 199,875kg of CO2 can be removed.

Norlanka Chief Innovation Officer Buddhi Paranamana commented, “The global apparel industry has a significant effect on the environment and therefore we need to always strive to create an industry that is held accountable. Norlanka is a company that firmly believes in this and that is why, along with our many other ESG efforts, we have invested in reforestation programs. We have a set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2025, and this mangrove restoration project with the collaboration of University of Kelaniya is just one of many initiatives that we’ve commenced to ensure achieving sustainable excellence.”

Norlanka is a confluent apparel solutions provider, from design to delivery, for over 20 international fashion brands and retailers and works closely with over 40 partner factories across Sri Lanka. These factories help ship 20 million garments a year, making the company one of Sri Lanka’s largest sustainable exporters of baby and kidswear while the company’s diverse product portfolio also consists of active wear, casual wear, and athleisure. Its global clients include Primark, Matalan, Walmart, Superdry, George and many others. Norlanka is ‘a global company built on local roots’ with manufacturing operations in India and Bangladesh and expanding to several other countries. It is part of PDS Limited, a global manufacturing and sourcing platform with a footprint in over 22 countries.

October 12, 2022

University of Kelaniya (UoK) and Dhammika & Priscilla Perera Foundation (DP Education) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the 4th of October 2022 to facilitate open online course development and delivery in certificate-level Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

The objective of this initiative is to provide opportunities to learn free of charge the required knowledge in certificate-level Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The ERP course will be created with a special focus on SAP applications and will generate jobs in seven roles, starting from the intern to associate consultants in ERP.

Dhammika & Priscilla Perera Foundation, through its DP Education arm, will assist the University of Kelaniya with this new initiative by providing the required funding and human resources for the creation of content.

This is the third initiative of DP Education in delivering free online university programs. The first two initiatives were with the University of Moratuwa (UoM). The first was the launch of the “Trainee-Full Stack Developer” online program where more than 135 000 students are enrolled as of today. To access the Trainee-Full Stack Developer course visit https://open.uom.lk/. The second initiative was to facilitate open online course development and delivery in the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) level of the Project Management Institute, USA.

Dhammika & Priscilla Perera Foundation which is a philanthropic initiative of the dynamic entrepreneur Dhammika Perera and his wife Priscilla Perera, developed Sri Lanka’s largest online free learning platform, DP Education, to develop a knowledge-based economy in Sri Lanka.

For more details on DP Education visit https://www.dpeducation.lk/

February 25, 2022

The Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM), the leading institute for Digital Marketing Education & Skill Training in Sri Lanka, signed an MoU agreement with the Department of Marketing Management (DMM) of the University of Kelaniya on the 9^th of February 2022, to publish the Digital Outlook 2022 Sri Lanka Annual Market Insights report. The purpose of the report is to make up-to-date research data and information in Sri Lanka’s Digital Sector free available to marketing and business professionals, so they can make data-driven marketing initiatives. The report blends academic expertise with corporate research to meet the demands of the Sri Lankan corporate context.

Present at the signing representing APIDM were Amitha Amarasinghe – Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder of APIDM and Shareena Lantra – General Manager of Operations for APIDM, Randika Fernando – Manager Marketing & Growth of APIDM and Sajani Kariyawasam – Manager, Academic Affairs & Student Success at APIDM. Representatives present from the University of Kelaniya included Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva – Vice Chancellor, University of Kelaniya, Dr. P.N.D. Fernando – Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Professor Ravi Dissanayake – Head, Department of Marketing Management, University of Kelaniya, Mr. K.K.K Dharmathilaka – Registrar, University of Kelaniya,

Commenting on the partnership, Amitha Amarasinghe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of APIDM said “Having the most up-to-date data about consumer trends and media landscape is crucial for effective marketing decisions. Knowing this well, APIDM initiated the Digital Outlook Market Insights Survey project three years ago to help Sri Lankan marketers to access data and insights about digital consumer behaviour. We are proud to partner with the University of Kelaniya for this project starting this year. I am confident that this will further strengthen a data-driven decision-making culture among Sri Lankan marketers.”

This project was initiated first after a huge gap in terms of the up-to-date, Sri Lankan-specific research data for marketers to refer and plan their marketing strategies was identified. Research and marketing always complement each other, and the research in this report provides businesses with insight into the profiles and spending habits of consumers and provides companies with the data necessary for making good business decisions.

Professor Ravi Dissanayake Head – Department of Marketing Management of the University of Kelaniya also commented about the collaboration with APIDM “The DMM is always trying to keep in touch with the industry and thereby tries to produce collaborative results together. The MoU between DMM and APIDM is also such a timely valued collaboration that will lead to publishing the Digital Outlook Sri Lanka which is an annual research-based report. As the Head of DMM together with my teaching faculty admire this collaborative work that will undoubtedly be beneficial for corporate managers, businesses investors, entrepreneurs, academics, and a wider range of learning partners to search the digital behavior of Sri Lanka”.

The Digital Outlook annual report avails a wealth of all the latest data, trends and richer insights that are vital for marketeers and business professionals to gain an understanding of Sri Lanka’s Digital landscape. Furthermore, APIDM is committed to fostering the growth of the digital marketing industry in Sri Lanka.

The MoU between APIDM and the DMM of the University of Kelaniya will revolutionise the digital media research sector in Sri Lanka. This collaboration will pave the way for further researched-based projects in the future, and will raise the bar in terms of data-driven marketing campaigns, as the Sri Lanka business fraternity will continuously have access to the latest data, trends, and insights going forward.

December 8, 2021

The University of Kelaniya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ogilvy Digital, the leading digital technology agency in the country to impart its industry expertise and knowledge for the University’s specialised Digital Marketing Degree Programme.

The Digital Marketing Degree is the first such programme to be introduced by a state University.

With this MOU, Ogilvy Digital will partner with the Department of Marketing Management of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies of the University, to offer in-depth digital education to the students of this programme.

The MoU for the new degree programme was signed between Professor Nilanthi de Silva, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya and Irvin Weerackody, the Chairman of Phoenix Ogilvy Group.

Highlighting the importance of this collaboration, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilanthi de Silva said, “We cannot just wait on our own in isolation in the ivory towers of academia. We need to reach out to the areas that our graduates are going to be working in and make sure they have the knowledge and skills to contribute significantly, and be productive in the sectors they are working in. I admire the drive and enthusiasm in the Department of Marketing Management to do things better and I hope this partnership will bear good fruit in the future. I am sure that as an internationally renowned firm, Ogilvy is conscious of what messages are being given out in its communications and the ethical element to it and our students too, therefore, will receive the necessary exposure to such practices”.

Speaking on this occasion, Chairman of the Group, Irvin Weerackody said, “We are happy and privileged to contribute our own knowledge and experience to make the Digital Marketing Degree Programme at the University of Kelaniya a success. As a pioneering digital technology company, this is the second occasion we are partnering with a seat of learning to impart digital education. Today, Digital Technology is the driving force in our lives. A whole new world is emerging before our lives, which will alter the way we live and the way we do things. The digital revolution is a quantum leap in technology. This technology can help Sri Lanka to be a knowledge economy with the participation of the private sector. Today, we see Sri Lanka is moving towards a digital economy with the banking sector playing a significant role. It is said that one could withstand the invasion of an army, but not an invasion of ideas. It is in this context that this Degree assumes a great significance in Sri Lanka, and I am sure it could play a critical role in the development trajectory of this country,”

The occasion was also attended and addressed by the University’s Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Dr. Narada Fernando and Head of the Department of Marketing Management Prof. Ravi Dissanayake.

As one of the oldest universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Kelaniya has a vision to become a centre of excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge for sustainable development. The University’s mission is to nurture intellectual citizens through creativity and innovation, who contribute to national development.

As the strategic knowledge partner for the new degree programme, Ogilvy Digital shares the same vision and operates with a larger ambition of supporting and strengthening the digital economy of the country.

Under the MOU, it will develop the curriculum for the degree together with the university and be an advisor to the content and assessment methods of the programme and function as a member of the Certified Professional Marketing Graduate Program’s (CPMG) Accreditation Committee.

The company will further offer guest lectures for the degree, internship opportunities to undergraduates of the programme and conduct knowledge sharing sessions with the University.

December 8, 2021

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (UOK) jointly announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their collaborative efforts. The MoU calls for cooperation on promoting capital market education among undergraduates by working together on a number of mutually beneficial strategic initiatives.

The initiatives, along with a special focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of CSE, include introducing the “Colombo Stock Exchange Gold Medal Award” for the graduate having the highest marks for the capital market related subjects in the B.B. Mgt. Honours in Finance programme and the Most Outstanding Dissertation for the Bachelor of Business Management Honours in Accountancy degree program at the annual general convocation of UOK.

The MoU also aims to develop a partnership with the annual “Investment Week” organized by the Finance Students Association of the Department of Finance at UOK, provide internship opportunities for undergraduates, and encourage capital market education at UOK with the Diploma in Capital Markets (DCM) conducted by the CSE. The parties will further collaborate in capital market research with a focus on expertise knowledge in capital markets, capital market data, and strengthening investors at the CSE.

Commenting on the partnership, the CEO of CSE, Rajeeva Bandaranaike, stated, ” It is crucial to promote financial literacy among Sri Lankans, especially among undergraduates, who are a key segment of the population equipped to contribute to an economically stable future. Fronted on this objective, we are glad to be partnering with UOK in a productive line of initiatives to promote a financially literate undergraduate population. ”

Dr. Narada Fernando, Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies said: “We are pleased to sign these MoUs with Colombo Stock Exchange as we believe this collaboration with CSE will create a platform for our undergraduates to enhance their research skills and knowledge to develop their career in Sri Lankan capital market”.

July 26, 2021

CFA Society Sri Lanka, University Outreach committee recently organized a series of guest lectures at the Department of Finance, University of Kelaniya in association with Acuity Knowledge Partners on Financial Modelling and Investment note writing with the objective of enhancing skills and sharing best practices in the global capital market space with Sri Lanka’s undergraduate students.

Dinesh Warusavitharana, President of Society Sri Lanka said that this is organized as part of CFA Institute, University Affiliation Program with universities around the world, we seek to promote ethics-based investment education in university degree programs aimed at developing future finance and investment professionals.

Nuwan Jayawardana, Chair, University Outreach Committee, CFA Society Sri Lanka explains that entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that University of Kelaniya curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, University of Kelaniya is eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Program each year and other wide range of support.

Nethmi Herath, Lecturer, University of Kelaniya whilst thanking CFA Society Sri Lanka and Acuity Knowledge Partners said that “CFA designation is globally recognized as the gold standard in the finance industry. Our affiliation with CFA Institute ensures that our students graduate with a solid foundation in the theory and practice of finance, a deep understanding of the importance of ethics and professional standards, and a significant competitive edge in the global job market.”

April 9, 2021

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kelaniya which will pave way for both institutions to increase collaboration and strengthen the Accounting profession in the country.

The MoU signed by President of CA Sri Lanka, Mr. Manil Jayesinghe and Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva aims to reinforce the long-standing relationship between both institutions while also facilitating students and lecturers of both institutions to participate in various forms to develop their knowledge on accountancy.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Jayesinghe said that a key feature of this MoU is that it will allow CA Sri Lanka to offer scholarships and awards for best performing students at the University, while both institutions will share resources to improve the knowledge of the students of both the University and CA Sri Lanka. The MoU will also create a path for both institutions to jointly undertake research work.

He said that it was important for institutions to foster an environment of collaboration without restricting to the borders of their own organisations, or institutes, “The ability to work together, will be critical for the future success of our country,” he said.

Mr. Jayesinghe said that both the University of Kelaniya and CA Sri Lanka, have contributed immensely towards supporting Sri Lanka’s vision of a skilled nation. “Therefore, there is an underlying need to strengthen the partnership between professional and academia if we are to overcome challenges we face and will face,” he said.

Mr. Jayesinghe highlighted that members of CA Sri Lanka, who are Chartered Accountants influence and give leadership to a wide spectrum of businesses across all industries. He added that he was certain the MOU with the University of Kelaniya will provide new opportunities for the undergraduates who are interested to take up a successful career in accountancy or wish to enhance their knowledge on the subject as an additional qualification.

Older Posts

University of Kelaniya’s Master of Professional Finance Program Earns Coveted CFA Institute Recognition

Orel Corporation partners with the University of Kelaniya to launch Sri Lanka’ s first ever Smart Ceiling Fan Controller

CFA Institute Research Challenge Sri Lanka 2023: the University of Sri Jayewardenepura shines

Norlanka and University of Kelaniya takes the lead in Mangrove Conservation efforts & Carbon Neutralization

The University of Kelaniya and DP Education join together to build a knowledge economy in Sri Lanka through a free online program in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

APIDM Partners with the Department of Marketing Management of the University of Kelaniya for Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2022

University of Kelaniya signs MOU with Ogilvy Digital for new Digital Marketing Degree

CSE partners with the University of Kelaniya

CFA Society Sri Lanka hosts Guest Lectures at University of Kelaniya with Acuity Knowledge Partners on Financial Modelling and Investment Report Writing

CA Sri Lanka, University of Kelaniya to increase collaboration and strengthen Accounting profession with new MoU