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SLIIT teamed up with SHU university

Internationally recognised MBA from Sheffield Hallam University right here in Sri Lanka.

SLIIT has teamed up with long-standing UK affiliate Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) to provide students with an opportunity to receive a fully fledged UK MBA in Sri Lanka, thereby making a major contribution to the Nations business and higher education sector.

Today’s challenging business climate requires forward thinking dynamic individuals who possess the relevant skills to address the demand and challenges posed by emerging trends in the industry. SLIIT and SHU have foreseen the needs and potential of this field and are presently calling for applications for the second cohort of the SHU MBA programme. Students can pursue this programme entirely in Sri Lanka and graduate with a globally recognised UK qualification.

Sheffield Hallam University's Business School is ranked among the top 30 in the UK, and first in the world by the International Student Barometer for the university's learning environment.

The MBA programme offered by SHU in conjunction with SLIIT will allow students to pursue the programme entirely in Sri Lanka and graduate with a globally recognised UK qualification. SLIIT has identified a well respected panel of experts to conduct the SHU MBA programme in Sri Lanka to ensure that students will have access to only the very best facilities and academic resources.

SLIIT is a member of the renowned Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK and is the only non-state sector institution in Sri Lanka to have earned such recognition. Offering Undergraduate and Master’s degree for IT, Engineering and Business, SLIIT seeks to take Sri Lanka forward in its quest to be a knowledge hub, nurturing a new generation of professionals and strengthening ties with academic and industry partners.

Entry for this programme requires that students possess a recognized University Degree or equivalent professional qualification and two years’ experience in a Managerial capacity. The classes are conducted during weekends to accommodate the busy schedule of professionals, at the newly refurbished academic environment of SLIIT’s Metro Campus, Colombo 03.

The Programme design and delivery are fully owned and quality assured by the Sheffield Business School - UK, supported by eminent personnel from among senior academics and industry professionals. All modules are assets entirely on course works rather than on formal examinations. The two year programme concludes with a half year long business research project.

“We believe that this is a key pathway for students to gain a globally recognised UK qualification right here in Sri Lanka, and an important step towards supporting and aiding the governments' aim to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub in the region” states Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman of SLIIT.

“The SHU Business School is ranked among the most prestigious universities in the world, and we are proud that our long-standing affiliation with SHU has had a vital impact on students' education and career, and in turn the relevant sectors in the country” elaborates Professor Lalith Gamage, President and CEO of SLIIT.

Dr. Theekshana Suraweera, MBA coordinator and the Dean of the Faculty of Business at SLIIT further notes that “We want to provide a unique experience for our MBA students. I am confident that they will be transformed to meet the challenges of strategic level managers by the end of the programme where they will learn from their peers as well as industry professionals”.

Epic Technologies Group turns 14

Nayana Dehigama, Chairman, Epic Technologies Group	Viraj Mudalige, Director/General Manager, Epic Technologies Group

Epic Technologies Group, the premier software solutions provider renowned for innovative solutions celebrated its 14th anniversary recently. Established in 1998 as Epic Lanka, the group has operations in the region with a MSC status company in Malaysia. As technology leaders in designing and developing ICT solutions in Secure Electronic Payments and Information Systems Security domains Epic Technologies Group has successfully implemented several innovative solutions in leading banks operating in Sri Lanka and the region. These solutions have enabled banks to reach masses with on-line real time banking services in a highly cost effective manner.

Nayana Dehigama, Chairman of Epic said that the company has now proved adequately the capability of Sri Lankans in designing and developing world class ICT solutions.

“Some of our innovative banking solutions in Branchless Banking and Micro Finance have been benchmarked in introducing industry guidelines by state regulatory authorities in the region and we are indeed very proud about our achievements,” he said.

“At a time where local software talents are increasingly outsourced for mere coding activities of solutions designed by foreign companies while the opportunities arising in national projects are given to foreign suppliers overlooking domestic firms, how we are positioning Sri Lankan talents in other countries is absolutely remarkable,” he added.

Addressing the Epic family at the 14th anniversary, Viraj Mudalige, Director/General Manager of Epic said that they are no more a payment solutions provider specialized in EDC POS technologies but a dominant player in the region with an array of solutions covering almost all technology requirements of the banking and financial services industry.

“Our ability to foresee the technology and market trends and to develop unique solutions to meet the specific needs of organizations without demanding huge investments in infrastructure gives us a competitive edge,” he said.

“In the process, we have been able to develop world class solutions that have lead to core branded products with global leaders, changes in the competitive landscape of banking industry and new national guidelines in secure electronic payments in Sri Lanka and other countries,” he added.

Some of the mission critical national level ICT implementations by Epic include the Sri Lanka Interbank Payments System (SLIPS) that connects all commercial banks with the national cheque clearing house. They also introduced Epic Terminal Line Encryption solution to combat increasing frauds in the use of payment cards.

Their 3D secure solution that adheres to latest international standards addresses security issues in the internet payments while the Dispute Resolution Management solution designed and developed in compliance with global standards enables banks to manage the entire life cycle of payment transactions efficiently and effectively.

The Epic Branchless Banker solution which includes biometric identification capabilities implemented at BSN Bank, the biggest savings bank in Malaysia has enabled them to operate over 3000 agency banks scattered all over the country offering on-line real time banking.

Epic Techno-Village in Talangama, Battramulla offers an ultra modern software development and and D center for Sri Lankan software professionals to demonstrate their capabilities to compete in global markets. Their fully owned subsidiary, Epic Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a MSC status company operating in Malaysia. Epic is an ISO 9001: 2008 and CMMi Level 3 certified company that has ambitious plans to make Epic a preferred brand of innovative ICT solutions globally.

Photo Technica appoints Nikon Brand Ambassador

The annual general meeting of the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) was recently held at the Capri Club, Colombo 7. PSSL is the oldest, most prestigious and most active photographic club now in Sri Lanka. Photo Technica, the sole agents in Sri Lanka for Nikon cameras, presented a high end Nikon D 7000 professional camera to Nikon Brand Ambassador, renowned professional photographer and past president of PSSL Mithra Weerakoon.

Mithra holds many accolades and has won many awards for his work in photography. A large number of professional photographers participated in this occasion.

In their effort to expand the market and create interest for photography Photo Technica will be appointing more brand ambassadors in the future. They will be various eminent, leading professionals in their own fields who are also keen photographers.

Samudra Book Store in Matara

Samudra Book Publishers who are the Leaders of excellent quality educational Books has opened its newest branch at Kotuwegoda, in Matara. This is located near SK cinema building. “Good books for the highest reading culture” is the sole vision of Samudra books, in better quality to raise the standards of Sri Lanka. Ahead of the various Asian countries. The contents of the Samudra books are written and compiled by the veteran English masters.

The knowledge needed for the school syllabus can be widened through Samudra book publishers. Books in all three languages namely, Sinhala, Tamil and English are available at the Samudra books outlets. “Good Children of Matara read good books” is the main intention to open a branch in Matara. Samudra books publications managing directoress Mrs. Samudrika De Silva says Samudra publishers intends to participate actively in the development work of educational activities in the region.