Monday, March 20, 2017
LUMS representatives got together with alumnus Chaminda Hettiarachchi, MBA 2001, on Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Dr. Jawad Syed, Dean and Professor, Suleman Dawood School of Business and Marketing and Communications Office representatives had an enjoyable evening with Mr. Hettiarachchi.
As the Chief Guest of the evening, Dr. Syed welcomed the gathering with an address that shed light on LUMS’ recent international academic achievements, and its plans for expansion in the South Asian region.
Over a delicious dinner, the group engaged in discussions about how LUMS can collaborate with the business and higher education sector in Sri Lanka, improving both the quality of education in the country as well as the value of the LUMS brand.
One of the most active alumni in Sri Lanka, Chaminda Hettiarachchi, helped the LUMS team initiate this effort by facilitating a number of institutional partnerships for LUMS in Sri Lanka. These included, setting up a meeting for LUMS with Hon. Mohan Lal Grero, State Minister of Higher Education in Sri Lanka, organising a discussion with Prof. P. S. M. Gunaratne, Vice Chairman of the University Grant Commission (UGC) in Sri Lanka, and arranging several other meetings with the Vice Chancellors, Deans and Directors of various government universities and private institutions.
Mr. Hettiarachchi was heartened by the gathering’s resolve to build a committed partnership between LUMS and Sri Lanka. In order to make a contribution of his own in this effort, he also facilitated a visit to the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo for the LUMS team, so they could have a cordial meeting with His Excellency Maj Gen (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain, Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
The get-together was positive on all fronts, opening pathways for further engagement in the future.
