Business

Launching of Curtin University Colombo, a landmark in Australia-SL educational ties

Published

2 years ago

2024/12/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dignitaries launch Curtin University Colombo.

By Ifham Nizam

In a significant move for Sri Lanka’s educational landscape, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, officially launched Curtin University Colombo, marking a milestone in the growing partnership between Australia and Sri Lanka in higher education.

The event was held on Monday at the Curtin University in Colombo, with dignitaries, educators, and students in attendance.

Curtin University Colombo, an extension of Curtin University’s global network, now becomes the fifth world-campus for the Australian institution, further strengthening the ties between the two nations, the Australian High Commissioner said.

The launch represents the culmination of years of collaboration and shared vision between Curtin University and the Sri Lankan Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). This partnership, which began in 2001, has produced over 3,000 graduates and is seen as a crucial step in the further development of Sri Lanka’s educational infrastructure.

The Australian High Commissioner stressed the importance of the Curtin University Colombo campus as a testament to Australia’s ongoing commitment to Sri Lanka’s education sector.

He said that more than 30 Australian educational institutions currently operate in Sri Lanka, with Australia being the leading destination for Sri Lankan students. Some 18,000 Sri Lankan students are currently studying in Australia, a number expected to rise in the coming years.

Stephens added: “Curtin University Colombo’s establishment represents our belief in Sri Lanka’s future.

“Despite the challenges Sri Lanka has faced in recent years, the optimism surrounding this project reflects a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and united future.

“There is strong support from the Sri Lankan government for the country’s education sector, particularly in enhancing employability and access to quality education. This initiative aligns with Sri Lanka’s goals for long-term sustainable growth, especially in sectors like engineering, business, and IT—areas in which Curtin University has established a global reputation for producing industry-ready graduates.

“The partnership between Curtin University and SLIIT was further solidified in 2020 with the establishment of a Curtin Colombo campus, offering fully-franchised undergraduate programs in engineering and business. With the new Curtin University Colombo campus, students will now have access to a world-class education right in their home country, with the added benefit of an internationally recognized Australian qualification.”

Stephens praised the collaborative efforts that led to this achievement, acknowledging the hard work and commitment of all involved in the creation of Curtin University Colombo.

He also encouraged students and prospective students to seize the opportunity to study at the new campus, which is poised to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s educational and economic development.

“By equipping the next generation with the necessary skills, we can help Sri Lanka achieve its goal of becoming a more agile, export-oriented economy,” said Stephens. “The graduates of Curtin University Colombo will possess the skills necessary to navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing global market.”

Curtin University, ranked among the top universities globally, has been recognized for its research, strong industry partnerships, and focus on producing graduates who are well-prepared for the workforce. With more than 50,000 students and partnerships with over 80 institutions worldwide, Curtin’s global network continues to grow.

In an engaging speech that chronicled the remarkable evolution of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Professor Lalith Gamage, chairman of Curtin Colombo and Vice Chancellor and CEO of SLIIT, reflected on the institution’s growth from its humble beginnings in 1999 to becoming one of the top-ranking universities in Sri Lanka today.

The story began in the late 1990s when Sri Lanka’s burgeoning IT industry faced a significant shortage of skilled professionals. In response to this challenge, Professor Gamage, alongside a group of visionary educators, founded SLIIT with the aim of bridging this gap. At the time, the University of Moratuwa’s Computer Science Department could only accommodate a small number of students, enrolling just 16, later increasing to 25. However, he said the demand from the IT industry was far greater – calling for thousands of trained professionals to drive the sector’s growth.

He said that recognizing the need to create an educational institution that could cater to this demand, SLIIT was established as an independent entity, separate from the University of Moratuwa, without degree-awarding status. The response from prospective students was overwhelming, with over 3,150 applications flooding in for a diploma in Information Technology. Despite initially planning to enroll only 150 students, the institution expanded its capacity to accommodate 400.

By 2000, the institution’s ambitions grew. Professor Gamage sought international partnerships to offer degree programs, reaching out to his friend, a professor at Curtin University in Australia. What started as a hopeful collaboration eventually led to a franchising agreement between Curtin University and SLIIT, allowing the latter to offer degrees and expand its offerings in IT. This partnership not only bolstered SLIIT’s academic credentials but also contributed significantly to the rapid growth of Sri Lanka’s IT industry, which saw annual growth of 25% and became the fifth-largest export sector in the country.

The partnership with Curtin University became a cornerstone of SLIIT’s development, bringing world-class curricula and faculty to Sri Lanka. Curtin University staff helped improve SLIIT’s academic programs, and SLIIT faculty were given the opportunity to study at Curtin, bringing back invaluable knowledge and experience to enhance the institution’s teaching standards. Over time, more than 15 staff members completed their PhDs through this collaboration, further strengthening SLIIT’s position in the higher education landscape.

Professor Gamage is confident in generating an economic contribution of USD 1 billion to Sri Lanka’s economy within the next three years, positioning the country as a leader in higher education in the region. The long-term goal is to build upon the momentum of the IT industry’s growth, which began in the early 2000s, and expand the impact of higher education on Sri Lanka’s economy.

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Business

Cricket to speak for every life that can be saved on Sunday July 19

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/12

Thilina Walpola

Pink match Dambulla Sixers vs. Jaffna Kings

Dambulla Sixers Pink Match calls Sri Lanka to wear pink, fill the SSC, and take the TLC (Touch, Look, Check) message home

There are days when cricket is about the result. There are days when it is about pride, rivalry, form and the final over. And then there are rare days when cricket is asked to carry something far greater than the game itself. Sunday, July 19, will be one of those days.

At 3.00 p.m. at the SSC Grounds, the Dambulla Sixers will meet the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League. But before the first ball is bowled, the country will be invited to stand together for a message that can save lives. This is the LPL Pink Match 2026.

It is not simply a match played in pink. It is a national reminder that breast cancer awareness matters, early detection saves lives, and every family has a role to play. The call to the public is direct:

Buy a ticket. Come to SSC. Wear pink. Bring your family and friends. Share the flyer. Post it on your WhatsApp Status and social media. Wear the official Pink Fan T-shirt. Most importantly, take home the message of TLC — Touch, Look, Check.

A match with a message

The Dambulla Sixers will take the field in specially designed pink playing apparel and pink helmets. The stadium will carry breast cancer awareness messages, the TLC logo will be displayed on giant screens, and the live broadcast will carry the message to homes across Sri Lanka. The Jaffna Kings will also take part in the Pink Match ceremony, reminding the country that while there may be opposing sides in cricket, there are no opposing sides in the fight against cancer.

Children from Suwa Arana – A Place for Healing, together with children from SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka, will join both teams on the field during the official ceremony. Their presence will give the day its deepest meaning. It will remind spectators that illness does not stop with the patient. It enters homes, affects siblings, changes routines, tests parents, and demands courage from entire families.

Three words that matter

The message of the Pink Match is simple enough for every home to remember.

Touch. Look. Check.

Touch — become familiar with your breasts and notice any lump, thickening or unusual change.

Look — check for changes in shape, size, skin or nipple.

Check — seek medical advice without delay if something feels or looks unusual.

In Sri Lanka, breast cancer remains the most common cancer affecting women. According to the campaign material, approximately 15 women are diagnosed every day, while three women lose their lives to the disease. Yet the central message is one of hope: when detected early, breast cancer is highly treatable.

That is why this match matters. Not because a cricket match can replace medical care. It cannot. But a cricket match can start a conversation. It can remind a daughter to speak to her mother. It can encourage a husband to support his wife. It can make a workplace talk about women’s health. It can help remove fear and delay.

Sometimes, the first step towards saving a life is not taken in a hospital. It is taken in a home, when someone says, “Please check.”

More than a one-day gesture

What gives this initiative particular strength is that it is not a cause attached to cricket for a day. It is rooted in a deeper relationship. Before the Pink Match, the Dambulla Sixers team will visit Suwa Arana – A Place for Healing, where children receiving cancer treatment and their families are supported with accommodation, meals, care and dignity while they travel for treatment at Apeksha Hospital. The team visit will include time with children and families, a guided experience through Suwa Arana, and the official launch of the LPL Pink Match 2026 and the TLC National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

This matters because compassion cannot be staged only under stadium lights.

It must begin in quieter places — in patient rooms, dining areas, kitchens, play spaces, healing gardens and waiting moments. By beginning at Suwa Arana and continuing at SSC, the Dambulla Sixers are connecting the human reality of cancer care with the national reach of cricket.

That is the bridge this campaign is trying to build.

Business

The Ceylon Chamber’s Commercial Document Registration Division expands export support

Published

1 day ago

2026/07/11

Thilina Walpola

The Commercial Documents Registration Division (CDRD) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has expanded its export support services with the introduction of the Free Sale Letter for Pharmaceuticals, providing Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturers and exporters with an additional document certification service to support their export processes and compliance requirements in international markets.

The new service expands CDRD’s portfolio of trade documentation solutions, which includes Certificates of Origin and the certification of key commercial documents required by overseas buyers, customs authorities, and regulatory bodies. These services assist exporters across sectors by helping ensure their documentation meets applicable requirements for international trade.

Established in 1925 as one of the authorised institutions to issue Certificates of Origin in Sri Lanka, CDRD has supported the country’s international trade for nearly a century. Today, the Division provides certification and verification services to exporters, manufacturers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, and other trade stakeholders, supporting businesses in meeting documentation requirements for global markets.

In addition to pharmaceutical certification, CDRD facilitates the certification of Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Price Lists, Health Certificates, Phytosanitary Certificates, Certificates of Analysis, Bills of Lading, Survey Reports, Beneficiary Certificates, and other export-related documents. The Division also issues Free Sale Letters and Surveyor Appointment Letters, while supporting exporters through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Electronic Document Attestation System (e-DAS), enabling secure and efficient document authentication.

Through established processes, digital solutions, and its e-service platform, CDRD continues to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of trade documentation services. Available 24/7 and 365 days of the year, the platform enables exporters to submit and manage documentation requirements conveniently while ensuring that certified documents meet internationally accepted requirements. By providing reliable documentation support and adapting its services to changing trade needs, the Division assists Sri Lankan businesses in managing export requirements and accessing international markets.

For more information on obtaining commercial document registration services, contact Achala via achala@chamber.lk / 0115588886

Business

Siyapatha Finance unveils newest branch in Bandarawela

Published

1 day ago

2026/07/11

Thilina Walpola

Siyapatha Finance PLC recently expanded its island-wide footprint with the successful inauguration of its 64th branch in Bandarawela. Strategically located in scenic hill town in the Badulla District, the latest branch offers convenient and wider access to tailored, customer-centric financial solutions.

The branch was ceremoniously declared open by Siyapatha Finance PLC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mathisha Hewavitharana, joined by Chief Operating Officer (COO)Rajeev De Silva, Ms.D.M. Dewmi Tharindi, a student of Bandarawela Dharmapala Vidyalaya who won the Under-18 Girls’ 3,000m event at the Junior National Athletics Championship, the Senior Management and staff members as well as Traffic OIC Kandasami, Trade Association Secretary Sunanda Rathnayaka, representatives of the government and private banks and insurance companies and well-wishers.

Sharing his thoughts, Siyapatha Finance PLC CEO Mathisha Hewavitharana remarked: “We are deeply honoured to be of service to the people of Bandarawela. Opening this branch is a pivotal step in our 2026 expansion strategy and a reflection of our commitment to strengthen our presence in Sri Lanka. It is a region that showcases potential for greater economic development primarily through the country’s traditional agricultural practices. We look forward to reaching as many different communities as possible in the coming years.”

The Bandarawela branch offers a comprehensive product portfolio including leasing, fixed deposits, gold financing, business loans, personal loans, fast draft, and factoring to Smart Pay, the Company’s bill payment facility. With a thorough understanding about the current socio-economic dynamics of the region, the well-trained team at the newest branch is dedicated to providing flexible financial solutions to aspiring individuals as well as small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).