EDEX 2011 offers competitive choices in education to employment and beyond.

EDEX 8th Expo 2011, Sri Lanka's largest Education and Careers Exhibition will be ceremonially opened on Saturday, January 22 at B.M.I.C.H. and conclude on Monday the 24th, which has been declared a special school day for senior students (Exhibition Hours 10 a.m. - 7.p.m.) Its' twin exhibition will be unveiled at the Kandy City Centre on January 26th & conclude on the 27 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Embracing the vision "To empower Sri Lankan youth to be globally competitive" EDEX is Sri Lanka's largest platform for local and foreign post-secondary educational service providers, skills development and training institutions and prospective employers to showcase their services and career pathways to thousands of visitors.

With the GCE A/L results being released and the GCE O/L examination being concluded a few weeks ago, it's an opportune time for the aspiring youth and parents to get an in-depth insight in to the education and career options available.

EDEX Chairman, Kamal Abeysinghe said, "Education unlocks so many doors and can be one of the most invaluable, amazing experiences of a person's life, regardless of any divides. In terms of academic and skills orientation our youth are second to none from any part of the world. However, unleashing of their full potential is hindered due to limited opportunities and/or lack of awareness in existing opportunities especially in post secondary education arena. Many students lack credible guidance to take informed decisions once they complete O/L or A/L examinations. As a result a great deal of time, effort and money is wasted in choosing the next step"

"In such a context, EDEX Expo will be an oasis for the aspiring youth, who thirst for diverse opportunities from education to gainful employment. Be it, senior students, school leavers, first time job-seekers or underemployed, any aspiring youth will have numerous choices, options and opportunities to choose from.

In addition to local participants, world-class educational service providers from over 20 countries in the West, Middle, South and Far East will be present to make spot admissions and facilitate pathways for eligible students to realize their dreams.

"Most parents and students fraught with indecision can find solace with the wide range of choices on offer, which includes even scholarships to the deserving in both local and foreign institutes' quipped Abeysinghe.

A platform for sharing knowledge and information too has been created with many presentations to be held by a number of local and foreign stall-holders. Career guidance and professional counselling are also on the cards enabling most relevant selections to take place.

A number of leading corporate Institutions, IT/BPO Companies, Banks and Financial Institutions will be conducting walk-in interviews for existing and future job vacancies. Those seeking employment are advised to bring their CVs or upload them to www.edex.lk web portal online.

With 'Green' becoming a rapid buzzword globally, the excitement initiated at the 2009 EDEX expo, in terms of green careers/jobs has grown exponentially. EDEX Think Green campaign and the Green Zone aim to educate, activate and engage youth towards sustainable living imparting ways to live, work and inculcate green thoughts and habits mostly among the young populace.

On the whole, it will be a much awaited point of convergence and a social hub for youth where food, drinks and edutainment programmes too are being lined up.

EDEX 8th Expo in 2011 has been endorsed by the Presidential Secretariat, The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Higher Education, The Ministry of Youth Affairs and The Ministry of Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion. The strategic partners for EDEX 2011 will be the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce(CCC), AMCHAM, ICTA and SLASSCOM, signifying its relevance to multiple industry chambers and employers.

Singer Sri Lanka PLC, ESOFT, ANC Education Holdings and Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Sri Lanka are Platinum Sponsors, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) Gold Sponsor and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and the Western College For Management & Technology are Silver Sponsors of the exhibition.

Warmly inviting the youth and general public to visit the exhibition Abeysinghe elaborated "For the aspiring youth who want to be competitive, this is a 'never to be missed chance'. This is why we have even allowed entrance free. Step into EDEX 2011, explore the choices, expand your horizon, make informed decisions and lay the foundation for a successful future ahead"

For Further details - Log on to website: www.edex.lk E-mail: info@edex.lk