Steps to increase ICT graduates in SL

The Information Technology Industry is a fast growing, rapidly advancing field with a seemingly unending scope of expansion. Recent studies have shown that this industry severely lacks qualified personnel to fill in more than 6000 positions annually.

In Sri Lanka, one of the main reasons for this dearth of employees is that most graduates are not employable due to their qualification not being well rounded and industry oriented. Instead, most available qualifications focus simply on book work and theoretical knowledge, leaving students grope in the dark when it comes to practical application. Furthermore, students are woefully unaware of soft skills such as presentation ability, team work, time management etc which are an important and vital part of their employability.

These findings were recently revealed at a breakfast meeting conducted by Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) and hosted by the Chairman of Informatics Group of companies Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, which was held at Cinnamon Grand on the May 31. With top Industry magnates in attendance amongst who were, MD/CEO of Lanka Orix Information Technology, Conrad Dias, GM /Vice President of Virtusa, Madu Ratnayake, CEO of Etisalat, Dumindra Rathnayake, Director/ General Manager of hSenid Business Solutions, Sampath Jayasundara and Country Manager of Microsoft, Sriyan De Silva Wijeyeratne.

Other prominent industry personnel that were present included , Director Software Development and Technical Services South Asia of IFS, Asanga Marasinghe and Director Software Development, Pubudu Liyanage, CTO/Head of Operations at Aeturnum, Hussain Shabbir, Head of People Management at Milleniuim IT-Ms. Barni Chandrasena ,HR Director of Navantis IT- Ms. Pramila Rajapakse, CTO of Mazarin, Suren Nanayakkara, Director/CEO of Sabre Technologies- Chandima Cooray, Senior Manager Software Engineering of Cambio Healthcare, Dharshana Jayawardena, Head of Global Delivery and Country Head of CAM Management Solutions, Lavi De Silva, CEO of 99x Technology Euro Centre, Mano Sekaram and GM/Vice President of Zone 24x7, Dr. Sankalpa Gamwarige.