SLIIT Convocation 2020 marks celebration of New Beginnings for Graduates
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Hoisting the flags by Prof. Lakshman Rathnayake, ChancellorChairman of SLIIT, Prof. Lalith Gamage , Vice Chancellor CEO of SLIIT and Dr. Sunil
Sri Lanka’s premier higher education institute, SLIIT, held its Convocation 2020 at the SLIIT Campus Malabe.
The ceremony organised over four days from 25th-28th February, marked the celebration of new beginnings for over 1200 students who received their Bachelor’s, Master’s degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas.
Each session was graced by an eminent personality. Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne, Senior Advisor at Ministry of Social Empowerment & Welfare; Mr. Jayantha De Silva, Chairman ICTA; Mr. Rajendra Theagarajah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cargills Bank; Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Chairman of the University Grants Commission; Prof. Kapila Perera, Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa; Mr. Anthony Nihal Fonseka, Chairman of the Group Audit Committee of John Keells Holdings; Engineer Mangala P.B. Yapa, Marine Engineer and Naval Architect ; Prof. Seth Kunin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International, Curtin University, Australia and Prof. John Cordery, Provost, Curtin University, Australia.
The day’s proceedings commenced with the presentation of the SLIIT degrees. The following degrees were presented by SLIIT: BBA(Hons) Degree, BSc Degree in Information Technology, BSc Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering, BSc Engineering(Hons) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, BSc Engineering(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, BSc Engineering(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics), MSc in Enterprise and Application Development, MSc in Information Management, MSc in Information System, MSc in Information Technology, MSc in Information Technology (Cyber Security), Master in Philosophy and Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Kapila Perera, Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, said, “Graduation is an important milestone in the acquisition of knowledge and skills, an occasion to celebrate.
Be conscious of the contribution and sacrifices of society at all times in your lives. You would have realized that everything you have encountered provide an opportunity learn. After acquiring skills, knowledge and attitudes are crucial when starting the next chapter or phase of your education.
Benthota Pathiranage Wathsala Shiranthi was awarded Best Performer Award for Bachelor of Science Honours in Civil Engineering degree by Mr. Raj
As Graduates you will be engaging in further education, research or professional activities in a multitude of vocations. SLIIT has over the years has been galvanised to the success of higher education. Challenges need to be converted into opportunities. How you deal with people, problems, mannerism, your approaches – everyone is watching you. Education is the most powerful ammunition that you could possess in your armoury.”
Curtin University, Australia awarded the Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Computing (Software Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Computer Systems and Networking), Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil and Construction Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical Power Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.
From the Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Architecture, BBA (Hons) Business Administration – Top Up, BEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering, BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying, BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying – Top Up and MSc in Project management were awarded.
Welcoming all new graduates, Anthony Nihal Fonseka, a doyen in the banking sector said, “We are here today to celebrate the achievements of the new graduates. Getting a degree does not mean that you know everything. What it does mean is that it trains your mind to assimilate acknowledge and acquire skills that you need to deal with the world and what is throws at you. Use you education as a platform to acquire further knowledge on your chosen field of work and other areas that have a bearing.
All you have ambitions to progress in life, to become manager, entrepreneurs, disruptors and achieve great heights. Also nobody can function in life with only themselves. You will have to deal with others in life. Be fair, and treat everyone alike. In our working life we will all make mistakes. The important thing is to take ownership of them and learn from them, learn to be accountable. My advice to you is to learn to deal with people, continue to learn and acquire knowledge in own field and also develop an interest in other things. If you have a dream back that dream and try to realize it.”
Degrees were also awarded by the University of Bedfordshire. The degrees awarded were; BA (Hons) Business Administration, BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Software Engineering and BSc (Hons) Computer Networking.
Engineer Mangala P.B. Yapa, respected Marine Engineer/Naval Architect and a Professional Manager noted, “As you leap into the working world my congratulations to all of you as you have done your best, a dream come true which you toiled hard. Going to a higher learning institution is about acquiring skills, both technical and social towards a meaningful and satisfying career, it is about developing as a person holistically so that you can really contribute to your community; Embarking on a rewarding and interesting life and creating a meaningful impact on the world around you. Life presents you many choices, choose what is good for you and pursue it. My real learning came through working, applying what I learnt and making mistakes.
I have no doubt that with your degree you will walk out head held high with immense enthusiasm and expectations. Remember one thing – you are unique and special and able to make a positive impact to society and the world. Have confidence in you, no challenge is easy or simple. Am sure you all want to be successful. For me success is not the destination but the journey towards it. Enjoy the journey – every step, every moment, every endeavour matters. You will meet many challenges and obstacles but never hesitate to look back and appreciate the path you traversed.”
In an inspiring convocation address by Prof. Seth Kunin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International, Curtin University Australia said, “Congratulations. This is a testament to your hard work. In many countries, this is called a commencement and in many ways this is a beginning, it recognizes that all students here have made a journey of learning. Now this is a rite of passage that moves you into a different stage of how the world addresses you. It is an important beginning. Think of a convocation address that you would write about your selves.
Ask yourselves what kind of life am I going to live, will I be able to do different things, face challenges. Life is not a straight line, we have to be open to take on different roles and challenges. We need to ask ourselves what it means to be a human being. Each one of us is not expected to transform the world in a big way but little acts have huge transformation. The message I like you all to think about is your future, how you’ll impact history and the education received at SLIIT prepares you well. Be the way you are, take risks as a well-lived life live your own life, and laugh at yourselves and live the life we choose to live.
These graduates have specialized in a wide range of fields of Computing, Business, Engineering, Architecture and Quantity Surveying. Notably, some of the Best Performance awards at Convocation 2020 were sponsored by industry giants.
With many thought provoking and inspiring speeches, the SLIIT Convocation concluded on a high note. The staff of SLIIT wish to take this opportunity to congratulate each and every student.