AIT President, Prof. Jean-Louis Armand leads mission to Sri Lanka
President Armand visited Sri Lanka from 5-7 May 2002 to hold high-level talks with the Ministry of Education, HRD and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and signed an MOU with the Post Graduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The mission also included Prof. H. Paul, Dean of SOM (9-10 May 2002) and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, President's Office, who coordinated/arranged the various meetings.
AIT has established a very strong presence in Sri Lanka over the last three years which has resulted in over 30 scholarships (Masters, 'split' Ph.D.), a number of short-term training, one-month certificate program, carried out by AIT through Bi-lateral funds coming to the Government of Sri Lanka, of which a portion has been earmarked to various Government ministries, National universities and research institutions for their respective HRD capacity building needs of the staff. This strong foundation is a result of the previous visits of President Armand and the several follow-up visits undertaken by Prof. Armand's management team and faculty.
The outcomes of President Armand's visit together with his colleagues is very positive and will only further strengthen the already well established presence of AIT in Sri Lanka. The MOU which President Armand signed with the premier Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) was well publicized in both the press/TV/media and is seen as a critical link especially for AIT SOM and AIT Extension.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand (second from left) with Hon. Suranimal Rajapaksha, Minister of School Education (right), Mr. H.M. Sirisena (fourth from left), Secretary, Ministry of School Education and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe (second from right), AIT President's Office.
Discussions centered on preparation of an AIT Proposal on the use of IT and Educational Management Training Program (two-weeks duration) for around 400 school principals. Training to take place in batches of 20 participants. President Armand offered the special package that he had approved for the Ministry of Education and AIT will soon submit a Proposal to the Hon. Minister.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand and Mrs. Candice Armand were hosted to a lunch by H.E. Hewa Palihakkara, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand. Also at the luncheon meeting was Mr. N. Pathmanathan, Deputy secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and Planning. Mr. Pathmanathan who was also acting Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning stated that the Ministry in the near future is keen to collaborate with AIT Extension on a two-week study tour/training on 'Public Enterprise Management' and AIT to conduct this program and also arrange a visit for the High-Ranking Officials to Vietnam. Furthermore, future discussions will take place for short-term training program for the Ministry officials on Financial reform, Administration reform, Public reform, and Poverty alleviation.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand exchanging the MOU with Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, Director, Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jeyewardenepura. On Prof. Armand's left is Prof. J.W. Wickramasinghe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sri Jeyewardenepura.
PIM is the leading Postgraduate Management institute in Sri Lanka. The MOU calls for: PIM MBA students to take courses in SOM International Business program, costs of taking courses at SOM will be borne by the students respective work places, Faculty Exchange program, Ph.D. research supervision, Management Development program to be conducted in Sri Lanka, Curriculum Development and Faculty joint research activities.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand shaking hands with Mr. T. Hewage, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Looking on is Mrs. Rupa Ekanayake, Director HRD.
Discussions centered on the successful conclusion of the training program on 'Environmental Management' for over 60 High-ranking Officials of the Ministry and its line agencies that was carried out by ERMG (SERD) during the latter part of 2001 and first quarter of 2002 at AIT. Based on the successful outcome of this program, the Secretary informed President Armand that he would like AIT to prepare a tailor made study tour/training program (2-3 weeks duration) for the politicians, Deputy Minister, Additional Secretaries level on Environment Management, Air Pollution Monitoring, Upper Watershed Management, Domestic Waste Management, etc. The program should also include a study tour to Vietnam. This is to take place during the last quarter of 2002.
Prof. H. Paul, Dean SOM and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe on 9 May 2002 had extensive discussion with Mr. Jayantha Jayaratna, Deputy General Manager (HRM) and with Mr. Mohamed Harees, Senior Manager, HRD of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, The Commercial Bank is the leading private sector bank in Sri Lanka and has won several prestigious awards for its excellent services, as well as their top rated Staff Development Center that provides customized training program to both Commercial Bank employees as well as other Financial institutions in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank was rated for the third consecutive time as the 'Best Bank in Sri Lanka', as well as been selected as the 'Bank of the year 2001' by 'The Banker' Magazine, U.K. In August 2002, SOM will conduct a three-day workshop on 'Performance Management' for top Executives in the Banking sector, this high level workshop will be co-organized by AIT and Commercial Bank. A Proposal will be worked out soon and submitted to the Bank. Prof. Paul and Mr. Sanjeev also met with Mr. Amitha Gooneratne, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Commercial Bank.
In pursuance of the MOU signed by President Armand with PIM on 7 May 2002, Prof. Paul and Mr. Sanjeev, on 10 May 2002, spent the day at Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), with Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, Director PIM, senior Faculty and Board members of PIM to discuss at length and come out with a time frame with regard to the 'modus operandi' of the MOU.
Details of Prof. Jean-Louis Armand's meetings and Prof. H. Paul's meetings can be obtained from Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Office of the President.