News and Events

The Department of Industrial Management proudly celebrates the success of People Power 360°, a vibrant and experiential event organized by our very own level two students  held under the course Human Resource Management and Leadership Communication. This event was a way of  bridging  theory and practice where leadership, communication, and HRM concepts met creativity, collaboration, and real-world experience.

Throughout the event , students engaged in a series of immersive activities that brought out the essence of people management from thought-provoking leadership dialogues and dynamic press simulations to interactive HR challenges and personality-based team relays. Each experience reflected the enthusiasm, teamwork, and innovation of our undergraduates, underscoring how emotional intelligence, communication, and strategic thinking shape today’s workplaces. 

A special note of gratitude goes to Dr. Prabhashini Wijewantha, the lecturer in charge of the module, whose guidance, encouragement, and vision made this event a meaningful and memorable learning experience for all. 

On October 8, 2025, the Department of Industrial Management hosted a memorable evening titled “Geethathma” (meaning the soul of song), graced by the renowned lyricist Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, whose heartfelt creations have touched generations of Sri Lankans. Though it was his first visit to the department, his legacy continues through his daughter, Ms. Tharuvi Nanayakkarawasam, a valued member of the department. The event, attended by Senior Professor Sudath R. D. Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science, along with senior and junior academic staff, brought together academic and non-academic members and students from across the university. Both staff and students took the stage to perform, adding warmth and vibrance to the evening. Mr. Nanayakkarawasam reminded the audience that every song carries the essence of real-life experiences, weaving this message through his soulful performances. The evening concluded with hearts full and spirits uplifted, marking yet another unforgettable moment in the department’s calendar, a celebration of humanity, creativity, and connection beyond the realm of science.

The Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, proudly launched Celsius Orbit, Sri Lanka’s first AI-driven event ecosystem, developed by Level 4 undergraduates. Held on 30th September 2025, the event marked a milestone in academia-driven innovation and youth entrepreneurship. Celsius Orbit revolutionizes event management by connecting organizers, participants, and vendors through an intelligent digital platform offering tools for event creation, promotion, payments, and analytics. Graced by academics, industry representatives, and the founders of Celsius IT Solutions, Chamil Yahampath, Pathum Lakruwan, and Sonal Paranawithana, the launch highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of DIM students and their contribution to real-world innovation.

The Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya, has launched the AI@IM initiative to bring together students passionate about Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Spearheaded by Dr. Dilani Wickramaarachchi, Dr. Chathura Rajapakse, Dr. Thilini Mahanama, and Mr. Dinesh Asanka, along with a dedicated student team, the initiative kicked off with the PyData Sri Lanka Meetup 2025 and continues through workshops, peer-led sessions, real-world projects, research, and networking activities, aiming to inspire and empower the next generation of AI innovators. Read More 

The Department of Industrial Management is proud to unveil its newly redesigned website, a step towards creating a more connected, accessible, and engaging digital presence. This launch reflects our commitment to showcasing academic excellence, research impact, and industry collaborations while offering a seamless platform for students, alumni, and partners to engage with us. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chamoda Paranawithana, Piyumi Nisansala, Jayamini Kariyapperuma, and Kasuni Jayamaha for leading this initiative.

On 1st September 2025, the University of Kelaniya hosted the PyData Sri Lanka Meetup, bringing together students, academics, and industry professionals to explore the role of Python, AI, statistics, and data engineering in shaping the future of technology and business. The event featured expert insights and a panel discussion on bridging the gap between academia and industry. A special thanks goes to the speakers, panelists, and organizing team, especially Dr. Chathura Rajapakse, for their dedication. We’re also grateful to PyData Sri Lanka and Acuity Knowledge Partners for turning this vision into reality. 

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The Head of the Department of Industrial Management Dr. Dilani Wickramaarachchi , along with Senior lecturers Dr. Chathura Rajapakse, Mr. Dinesh Asanka  and students, visited Acuity Knowledge Partners on the 8th of July and the meeting focused on exploring potential collaborative projects between the department and the company, creating opportunities for academic-industry partnerships. 

The 149th General Convocation of the University of Kelaniya was held on the 23rd of April, 2025, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo. At this memorable event, graduates of the Master of Data Analytics, Master of Information Technology, and B.Sc. Honors in Management and Information Technology program, proud products of the Department of Industrial Management, were awarded their degrees. 

Level 1 and 2 students of the Department of Industrial Management had the privilege of participating in an eye-opening session conducted by one of Sri Lanka’s most respected voices, none other than Mr. Peter D'Almeida. As a  visionary tech entrepreneur, accomplished actor, and dedicated social activist, Mr. D’Almeida brought a wealth of knowledge and perspective to the conversation. The session, titled “Unlocking the Potential for the Modern Workplace,” explored a topic that is not just relevant but essential. As we navigate an era defined by rapid transformation, understanding how to unleash individual and collective potential has never been more important. This theme struck a chord with students, eager to shape their own futures with purpose and adaptability 

The launch of Exposition Issue 20 was a resounding success, marking 20 years of bridging Management and IT at the University of Kelaniya! Held on February 21, 2025, this milestone event brought together industry leaders, academics, and aspiring professionals for an insightful and inspiring experience. 

The CodeTerriers HackFest 2025 was successfully held on the 24th of May 2025 at the Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Special congratulations go to our top performers. The 1st Place - Team Hacktivators. Built SL-LifeLine, a real-time web application using Salesforce Developer Edition to connect blood donors with hospitals during emergencies, helping save lives when every second counts. Congratulations Shuhail Shafeek , Bavikaran Yogeswaran, Seenujan Uthayanan and Maheswaran Mathushan. The 2nd Place - Team GlitchMob. Built a smart system that connects drivers with garages in real time, making it easier than ever to access reliable car repair services. Congratulations Nipun Perera, Yuwandee Rathnayake , Sanjani Imesha, Dewanga Gunawardana and Hasiru Chamodya.

The Department of Industrial Management once again embraced the spirit of togetherness as academic staff, non-academic staff, and undergraduates from all four levels united as one family to celebrate this cherished festival. The celebration began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. It was followed by vibrant cultural performances by our talented students, including traditional dances and songs that beautifully showcased the richness of the festival. The venue, adorned with stunning rangoli patterns, radiant lamps, and festive decorations, exuded warmth and joy, creating an unforgettable festive spirit. 

In today’s fast-paced world, success isn't defined solely by hard skills and technical expertise. It is ultimately shaped by the way we think.

On 2nd of April , as a part of the Professional Progress Development module for Level 2 students, the Department of Industrial Management had the privilege of hosting an enlightening session led by Mr. Binu Jayawardhana on the often-overlooked but crucial topic of Cognitive Distortions. During the session, Mr. Jayawardhana guided the students through the intricate landscape of thinking errors from All-or-Nothing Thinking to Emotional Reasoning and emphasized how these distorted thought patterns can impact our judgment, decision-making, and even our relationships. 

Team Govi-Nena emerged as the winners of the UCSC-IIT Workshop on the Shared Task for Building a Sinhala/Tamil Large Language Model, held in parallel with the ICTer 2024 conference. This event focused on advancing the development of Large Language Models (LLMs) for the low-resource languages Sinhala and Tamil. The workshop focused on two primary tasks: developing a tokenizer and word embedding model and creating a chatbot system with Q&A support using the Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) model for Sinhala/Tamil. The goal was to promote collaboration and innovation within the NLP community, establish robust benchmarks for Sinhala and Tamil NLP, and drive forward the development of LLMs for these languages. 

CODETerriers hosted an enlightening workshop tailored for third-year and fourth-year undergraduates of the Department of Industrial Management on March 16, 2024. This workshop served as a platform for knowledge enrichment, networking opportunities, and career exploration. The agenda encompassed practical sessions, informative sessions, interactive activities, engaging Q&A sessions, and simulated interview experiences. The undergraduates who actively participated in coding challenges and quizzes, and contributed to social media engagement were rewarded with tokens of appreciation. The Department of Industrial Management considers its collaboration with CODETerriers a pronounced privilege, and we are delighted to declare that the AI-Powered Salesforce Symposium proved to be a remarkable success

A one-day workshop was held at the National Engineering Research and Development (NERD) Center on the 24th of October 2024 as a key component of the Industry & Technology course, aiming to provide first-year students with an immersive experience in the practical applications of technological innovations 

The Department of Industrial Management proudly acknowledges the remarkable achievements of its champions, whose dedication and excellence have set new standards of distinction. The prestigious Colors Night 2023/2024 was held on January 16, 2024, at the Faculty of Computing and Technology Auditorium, University of Kelaniya

Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya welcomed the new batch students of BSc (Hons) IT/MIT program for the academic year 2024/2025. The department has set a remarkable record as one of the earliest programs among all Sri Lankan state universities and 2nd program in University of Kelaniya, to commence for the new cohort students 

The Industrial Management Science Students’ Association (IMSSA) aims to provide dynamic platforms for individuals who have the passion to do better in the ever evolving plethora of opportunities lying in front of them. The HackX 9.0 Grand Finals is a major event organized by the IMSSA that provides a dynamic platform for Sri Lanka's brightest young minds to showcase their innovative startup concepts. This renowned inter-university startup challenge, now in its ninth edition, was centered on the theme of "Sustainable Innovation 

Exposition, organized by the Industrial Management Science Students’ Association (IMSSA) at the University of Kelaniya, has been a pivotal event for nearly two decades, bridging the gap between Management and IT fields.  In 2024, the Exposition underwent significant expansion with the introduction of Exposition Industrial Week, featuring participation from leading companies in the industry. Over 300 students engaged in interviews, seminars, and knowledge-sharing sessions conducted by industry giants. Exposition Issue 19 featured a diverse array of content, including research articles, undergraduate achievements, and interviews with prominent industry figures such as Mr. Dian Gomes, the Honorary Consul of Georgia at the Honorary Consulate of Georgia in Colombo, who is also the former Chairman of Hela Clothing and the former Group Director of MAS Holdings. Other notable interviewees included Ms. Kanchana Priyakantha, the founder and CEO of KReader; Dr. Ananda Handunge, CEO of the Solid Tyre Division at Ferentino Tyres; Dr. Upendra Peiris, CEO of OREL IT; and Mr. Santhush Weeraman, Managing Director of BNS Productions and SGM Films. 

The International Conference on Smart Computing and Systems Engineering (SCSE) marks its esteemed delegates from corporate and academic backgrounds, including renowned academics, research scholars, and industry experts, gathered to exchange ideas on recent innovations, emerging trends, and practical challenges in the industrial and service sectors related to smart computing and systems engineering. The conference received technical sponsorship from the IEEE Sri Lanka Section. SCSE receives overwhelming response, with full paper submissions from researchers representing countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, etc. The paper selection process was highly competitive, resulting in an acceptance rate of 29%. All accepted full papers will be indexed in SCOPUS and added to IEEE Xplore. There were ten technical sessions after the inaugural ceremony to present papers fostering profound discussions among the attendees.

ideaX 2024, an event organized by the undergraduates of the Department of Industrial Management on the 17th of August. The event showcased the initial pitch presentations from 30 teams of undergraduates representing both state universities and higher education institutions. These teams were selected from a pool of 176 proposals submitted for the event, following a meticulous screening process.

The Department of Industrial Management hosted the 10th Invention Convention for Engineering Smart Systems for Industry (InCo 2024) on the 21st of August. This remarkable event showcased the creativity, innovation, and talent of the students of the Department of Industrial Management. InCo 2024 was divided into two exciting sessions as Exhibition: This session provided a platform for 16 teams to display their innovative projects and inventions to a diverse audience. and Award Ceremony: As the highlight of InCo 2024, The ceremony celebrated the exceptional achievements of the students. The winners were presented with certificates in recognition of their outstanding achievements and commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. 

Ideasprint 2024, an ideathon organized by the undergraduates of the Department of Industrial Management. The event commenced with an introductory session on hackathons conducted by Dr. Chathura Rajapaksha on 16th of May, which provided undergraduates with valuable insights into hackathons. The finals of Ideasprint 2024 were held on 4th of August, and the selected teams got the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to an esteemed panel of judges comprising Mr. Heshan J. Peiris, Founder & CTO, KReader; Mrs. Kanchana Priyakantha, Co-Founder & CEO, KReader; Mr. Dinesh Asanka, Senior Lecturer, University of Kelaniya; Ms. Dinalie Fernando, Software Engineer, SyscoLABS; and Mr. Buddhika Jayawardena, Lecturer, University of Kelaniya. 

The Mentoring Into Corporate (MIC) Program, launched by the Department of Industrial Management at the University of Kelaniya, is designed to empower level 2 students by offering them a unique opportunity to enhance their soft skills and gain industry exposure. The program prepares students for a seamless transition into the corporate world by pairing them with experienced industry mentors, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world industry experience. The program's primary objectives are to boost student confidence, facilitate their transition into the workforce, and provide invaluable insights into the corporate environment. Through mentorship, students receive professional guidance, improve their language proficiency, and learn essential corporate etiquette. Additionally, the program offers career guidance, helps students overcome personal challenges, and fosters stronger collaboration between industry and academia. 

The IM Nexus Club’s second meeting for Level 2 students of the Department of Industrial Management took place on the 5th of March 2025. Centered around the theme "Unforgettable Childhood Memories," the session was a heartfelt journey filled with nostalgia, meaningful lessons, and insightful reflections. The session began with the Spotlight Speaker introducing the theme, setting the tone for an engaging discussion. Akila captivated the audience with his impressive speaking and coordinating skills, making the session even more dynamic and interactive. Adding to the excitement, the Think Fast Host challenged participants with unscripted speech topics, prompting students to share heartfelt and entertaining childhood memories.