The Faculty of Management, Social Sciences & Humanities (FMSH) at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) proudly concluded the Networking Session 2025 on the 22nd of April at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, KDU, Ratmalana. Building on the success of the previous year, this session further strengthened the vital bridge between academia and industry, promoting mutual growth and practical learning.
This year’s Networking Session was held with a distinct academic objective: to help Intake 41 students identify and refine action research topics that are grounded in real-world industry challenges. As part of the Research Methodology module, students are encouraged to explore contemporary issues faced by leading organizations and present these ideas during a Pitching Research Competition. Based on the feasibility of the problem and the proposed research methodology, top-performing student groups will be selected and awarded.
First introduced in 2024, the Networking Session has already shown meaningful impact. The research topics pitched last year received high praise from an esteemed judging panel, including Prof. Athula Manawaduge and Prof. Wasantha Perera from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, for their innovation and industry relevance.
A number of prominent organizations that participated in the Career Fair 2025 also took part in this Networking Session. Their representatives engaged directly with students, offering insights into current business trends, challenges, and opportunities. Participating companies included:
- Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
- Yokohama TWS Lanka Pvt Ltd
- Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO)
- Daraz Sri Lanka
Key industry representatives who shared their expertise included:
- Mr. Chathuranga Gunasekara, Head of Demand and Supply Planning – DIMO PLC
- Mr. Rukmal Jayakody – Commercial Bank
- Mr. Udayanga Naimmage, Supply Chain Advisor – Yokohama TWS Lanka
- Mr. Jonathan Sundersingh – Daraz Sri Lanka
The event was compered by Mr. Senan Saranguhewa and Ms. Dahami Perera, undergraduates of the BSc in Logistics Management Degree Program from Intake 41. The Networking Session 2025 was organized by Mr. Lahiru Gunathilake, the Subject Lecturer for the Research Methodology module and the Career Guidance Advisor of FMSH.
This initiative reflects KDU’s dedication to fostering industry-academia collaboration and preparing students to become solution-oriented professionals ready to contribute meaningfully to the corporate world.
