Logistics

JKH continues fifth year of partnership with Moratuwa University

The Transportation Group of John Keells Holdings awarded 26 scholarships to Transport and Logistics undergraduates of the Moratuwa University recently, as part of its five-year partnership with the Transport and Logistics Management Faculty of the Moratuwa University. The event was held to coincide with the certificate distribution ceremony of the English Language Scholarship Programme and the Mentoring Programme, also sponsored by the John Keells Group for undergraduates reading for the Bachelor of Science degree in Transport and Logistics Management (BSc. T&LM Hons.) at the Moratuwa University.

Scholarship presentation ceremony

JKH Transportation President Romesh David addresses Scholars.

A total of 26 scholarships were awarded to the students, seven merit scholarships were to second, third and fourth year students, and five need based awarded scholarships for first year students. The merit based scholarships reward academic excellence and overall performance while the need based scholarships help first year students reach their potential.

"Since the inception of this degree programme JKH has awarded 80 scholarships and provided training in Business English to over 250 undergraduates at a cost of Rs. 5 million. The first batch who passed this degree programme last year were snapped up by the industry within months," stated President, John Keells Holdings Transportation Group Romesh David. The English Language Scholarship Programme and the Mentoring Programme are aimed at enhancing the general capabilities and soft skills of the students. Certificates of completion were awarded to 2nd year students who completed the mentoring programme. This programme involves the mentoring of students by senior professionals in the transportation and logistics field. The mentors were from private and public sector organisations.

The English Language Scholarship Programme was sponsored by the CSR arm of John Keells Holdings, the John Keells Foundation (JKF). This programme was offered to all first year students and was of immense benefit to the students as the degree programme is conducted in English. This year an innovative concept of an 'immersion camp' was introduced where students spent 5 days doing activities in English and speaking in English only.

Commenting further, Romesh David said, "I believe that the rising level of collaboration between the private sector and universities is gradually but surely bringing about a cultural shift in higher education, helps these talented youngsters professionals of the future."

Speaking on behalf of the Transport and Logistics Management Faculty of the University of Moratuwa, Professor Amal Kumarage, who is also the Chairman of the National Transport Commission, stated that knowledge, skills and attitude were all equally important in preparing students to join the workforce. He pointed out that while it excelled in imparting technical knowledge to its students, the University counted on industry to assist in imparting soft skills and instill the right attitude in students. The Head of the Transportation and Logistics Department Professor T. Sivakumar reinforced these sentiments by saying that the students became more self-confident, going through the mentoring programme.