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.
(DM-11082011)