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SLITHM chief on a mission to bring back the glories of the Ceylon Hotel School era

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2 years ago

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Shirantha Peiris

By Harischandra Gunaratna

The chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), Shirantha Peiris, in an interview with The Island Financial Review recently said that his dream was to take the school back to its ‘golden days’ when it functioned as Ceylon Hotel School.

‘The Ceylon Hotel School produced world class hoteliers, where some of them held top positions in hotels owned and operated by international chains in different parts of the world, he said.

Peiris assumed duties as the chairman of SLITHM in June 2022 and the institute has seen steady advancement during this short period, according to SLITHM sources.

When queried as to how the standards and the quality of such a prestigious institution had deteriorated, Pieris admitted that there was a drop in the quality of some of the students. He attributed the deterioration of standards to multiple reasons, which he has identified and rectified.

Some of the improvements effected by him relate to the student enrollment process. For example, students are now enrolled purely on merit, with external influence not being taken into consideration. The same practice is followed with regard to employee recruitment.

Pieris added: ‘When I left school in 1982, it was extremely difficult to join Ceylon Hotel School as there was a very clear and a transparent selection process. At present we adopt the same practice.

‘When I assumed duties, one of my first tasks was to look into the existing value chain of the organization and introduce efficiency.

‘The institution follows a strict enrolment process with multiple eliminating stages to ensure that the right candidate is selected.

‘We must ensure that only the right students who have a passion for hospitality are enrolled as this has a positive impact not only in meeting customer expectations, but often exceeding same when our students are in the industry. We have seen this many a time in the industry, where our students have maintained high standards in a consistent manner.

‘Deteriorating standards of English of some of the staff members and students in the school is an issue. It has to be addressed and recommendations are made to the senior management. English is mandatory when engaging in hospitality as well as when being employed.

‘The standards of students who pass out of the institution are high and they could secure employment in any top-class hotel in Sri Lanka with handsome remuneration packages. We need to ensure that every student meets these criteria and this cannot be done overnight. If you look around the leading hotels, most of the General Managers and senior management are former students of SLITHM (Ceylon Hotel School). We need to maintain these standards, be consistent and adopt the best practices at SLITHM. Our main objective is to train people for the local industry.

‘SLITHM had the very first Innovation Fair last week which was an excellent initiative by the Director General – SLITHM, where we were able to witness our students’ innovation and creativity, not restricting to the usual practices but also introducing AI driven technology. During the last two years we have introduced multiple events for students, including sports activities, which will be an annual event from now on.

‘We have nine schools, covering all provinces and at present seven schools run at full capacity and one of the constraints is that we need more space to run the institution. We have already communicated to the authorities requesting additional space to increase the number of students. We are working towards increasing the number of students at the Jaffna and Batticaloa schools as well.

‘It is imperative that we introduce and engage in global best practices and be current with the rapid changes that take place in hospitality and tourism. Restructuring and succession planning have commenced and are on-going.

‘We are also focused on the wellbeing of our employees and have introduced a “Pink Day”, which takes place in October as it is ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’. On this day we have health care experts creating awareness and all our female employees are invited to go through a screening process at no cost. We will be introducing employee engagement initiatives too to ensure that we have a work force that is engaged in being high performers.

‘SLITHM also has the “Samudra Training Hotel” (STH) located in the Colombo School. STH is currently going through a transformation process and will be a fully operational hotel before this winter. The Samudra Restaurant has been fully renovated and is already in operation. The other areas that will be operational soon are the pub, the terrace with a beautiful ocean view and all rooms refurbished with the support of the industry. We have already written to the industry and have received positive responses. The uniqueness of this operation will be that the hotel will be run by students. STH will be a place to talk about very soon.

‘Another area we are working towards is going paperless and introducing automation where applicable. In this day and age, we cannot be comfortable with old practices and need to embrace technology.

‘I must thank my staff for their contribution and continuous support in the transformation process as well as all stakeholders working closely with SLITHM.’


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SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure

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11 hours ago

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2026/09/10

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SLT-MOBITEL marks its triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026

Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development

In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.

Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.

Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.

“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.

Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.

However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.

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Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement

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11 hours ago

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2026/09/10

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The panel discussion at the engagement

Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.

The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.

In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.

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American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026

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11 hours ago

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2026/09/10

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The achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories.

American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.

Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.

For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.

Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.

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