The Department of Social Sciences successfully organized a guest lecture for intake 39 undergraduates in Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities (FMSH) at General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU) on January 23, 2024. The event took place in the 6-2 lecture hall of the new FMSH building and aimed to assist final-year undergraduates in understanding their skill levels and potentialities before entering the corporate world.

The guest lecture was delivered by Mr. Tharaka Appuhamy, Corporate General Manager – Talent Management & Quality Assurance at Aitken Spence Hotel in the Maldives. Recognized as an outstanding Corporate Trainer in Asia and a recipient of the Stelliers South Asia Human Resources Sustainability Award in 2019 and the Corporate Hotelier Award in 2020, Mr. Tharaka is also the recipient of the 2019 – Learning & Development Professional of the Year award – 2019 by “South Asian Business Excellence.”

The session began with a discussion on the importance of self-awareness. Mr. Tharaka introduced the students to the “IKIGAI” Japanese technique, helping them better understand their passion, mission, vocation, and profession in an educational and enjoyable manner. This was followed by a discussion on ‘Effective Communication,’ the most interactive and enjoyable segment where students experienced how to maintain professional space, identify the other party, and understand the importance of body language, grooming, and language in effective communication. Mr. Tharaka emphasized the significance of practicing professional etiquette from an intern to the top position level. The session concluded with insights on how to win and influence people by attending industry events, joining professional associations, utilizing online platforms for networking, and using social media for personal branding.

The guest lecture was attended by Dr. Lakshika Liyanage – Dean, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities, Dr. Tamara Jayasundera – Head of the Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Hmantha Premarathna – Senior Lecturer of the Department of Social Sciences, and Mrs. Kumuduni Weerasinghe – Senior Lecturer and Internship coordinator of the Department of Social Sciences, along with Intake 39 Day Scholars and Intake 40 students of the Department of Social Sciences.

The session concluded with Dr. Lakshika Liyanage, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities, presenting a token of appreciation to Mr. Tharaka for his valuable insights.

The session ended with an open discussion between Mr. Tharaka and the students, wrapping up the event in a memorable manner.

The event was compered by Officer Cadet – Wageesha Bandara from Intake 40, Department of Social Sciences. The welcome speech and the vote of thanks were delivered by Sithumini Senevirathna – Intake 39 and Salmi Tharushika Silva – Intake 40 from the Department of Social Sciences, respectively.