Univesity
of Colombo MBA Alumni Association holds 14th AGM
The
14th Annual General Meeting of the MBA Alumni Association of the
University of Colombo was held on 29 July 2011 at the Sapphire Ball
Room of the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo amidst a large and
distinguished gathering including Prof. Kshanika Hiriburegama, the
Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo; Prof. H. D.
Karunarathna, Dean of the Faculty of Management & Finance; Prof.
P. S. M. Guneratne, Professor of Finance & Former Dean of
Faculty; and Dr. J. A. S. K. Jayakody, MBA Coordinator.
Dr.
Priyath B. Wickrama, the Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority was the
chief guest on this occasion. Dr. Wickrama, delivered a very
comprehensive and thought provoking speech, explaining the process of
economic development of Sri Lanka through the focus development plans
and actions of Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Further
he invited all
professional and industry leaders to join hands in this process
towards development of the country’s economy.
Pubudu de Zoysa,
General Manager of San Trading Enterprises Ltd., (a subsidiary of
Sanken Lanka group) was unanimously elected as the President for the
forthcoming year. Outgoing President Jude Fernando, General Manager,
Rihno Roofing; made a very elaborate presentation on the activities
carried out during the last year, especially the successful events
such as the budget seminar, management conference, evening
industry discussions, MBA walk & members day, field visit to
Norochcholai Power plant, and MBA Night.
On taking office
the new president, De Zoysa, appraised the outstanding past year of
the Association and further said it was a dedicated committee that
guided the affairs of the Association to great heights.
Here
are some highlights of her speech: “Our association serves as a
vital catalyst and a trail blazer in the industry not only to our own
land but universally as well. This year we enter our 15th year
of service embellished with a diverse and dedicated membership.
“Our
members continue to sustain leadership in many fields of
specialisation both in the government and private sector to make our
association a prestigious entity in this country.
I have no
doubt what-so-ever, that we will together continue the high standards
for which we are reputed for.
I am honoured, to be
appointed as your president for the coming year. Frankly, I have
reached this prestigious pinnacle through the unstinted help and
guidance of all past presidents, EXCO members and every one of you.
I
am touched by your caring and concerns for me, and I
assure you that I am fully aware of the responsibilities of the
mantle of President. I promise that I will not disappoint you.
Please
permit me to recall the inspiring words of the late John Kennedy, the
President of the USA “Don’t ask what your country can do for you,
but ask what you can do for your country.”
I will do my very
best for our Association, and I appeal to you to do the same! We must
look forward into the future so that our Association will be relevant
to the times.
Our theme for the coming year is “Success is
inspired by Power & Passion”. We must endeavour to make this a
reality through the many management and industrial programmes for our
members and to the public at large. Promotion of fellowship among
membership and a greater involvement with the Management &
Finance faculty and for MBA students, enabling every member to become
an active Manager of Ideas, since ideas are the very foundation of
progress.
This is the right thing to do, and I would like to
recall the words of Mahatma Gandhi —“We must do the right things
always and not only once in a way,” in this connection. The
human body is the world’s best organisation and the human being is
the Tapestry of Human behaviours. Every one of us must and can
become a Self Manager. We must live as leaders in a gregarious
society. Leaders must create leaders and not followers. This can only
be done by the use of the personal power, which is within each one of
us.
We cannot afford to live in isolation by building walls around
us on a mono track. We must open up to free and open dialogue.
Our programme of work for the next year will be built around these
concepts.
I honestly promise you, your new committee and I, will
work hard to achieve these ideals. In this respect, let me end
with the words of the famous Winston Churchill “The empires of the
future must be the empires of the mind; let’s go for – yes we can
– Yes we must!