SLITHM geared to reach greater heights under new leadership
06 May 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM), former Ceylon Hotel School & School of Tourism, is the only Government approved premier Institute in Sri Lanka, which was established by the Government in 1964 to train young men and women in the complex field of Hospitality, Hotel, Travel & Tourism Industry, and is managed by Sri Lanka Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism & Sports.
Further, in order to facilitate students island-wide, provincial schools have been set up in Anuradhapura, Bandarawela, Pallekelle, Koggala, Ratnapura and Kurunegala .
The SLITHM is currently under a new leadership headed by Minister Navin Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Wasantha Senanayake, and with inspiring two leaders Kapila Yakandawala, and A.S.S. Deen, Chairman and Director General respectively to adopt a structural new approach to encounter the growing potential needs of the Industry. Under their headship this is the first group to be selected to undergo an overseas training programme.
Sri Lanka is all set to transform its tourism sector and make it the largest foreign exchange earner by attracting 2.5 million tourists in year 2016. On its path for expanding tourism sector a heavy focus has been given to attract tourists and investors alike, from many foreign countries. It has highlighted that Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most sought after new holiday destinations for many international travellers who seek a mix bag of exotic experience and exciting travel.
The government is also planning to improve the productivity of the tourism industry, through building professionalism in the travel and hotel industries. Apart to the SLITHM, The private sector will be encouraged to set up human resource development centers to meet the emerging needs of the tourism industry locally and abroad to meet the growing demand.
The courses offered by the SLITHM provide the skills and knowledge for students to be competent in a broad range of managerial skills in tourism operations. Diploma courses provide knowledge and skills in travel and tourism marketing and product planning and development preparing them to meet the challenges of the ever changing tourism industry. These qualifications allow for multi-skilling related to tourism and the travel industry.
The SLITHM is fully-equipped with all the necessary physical resources such as modern kitchens, restaurants, computer laboratories, libraries, classrooms, laundry. bakery, and all contemporary equipment for the student to understudy every aspect of the Tourism needs. This way our students can be assured of a highly personalised and individual approach to their learning. Our graduates can be found in Senior Management positions all around the Globe. Their success shows that to reach the top it pays to start at the top.
The SLITHM is also consists of professional academic team who are qualified from various highly respected educational institutions around the globe, apart to being a graduate initially from the SLITHM. Their expertise knowledge have contributed to, and being always currently contributed to mould a student to fix a young aspirant carefully who seeks to undergo studies at the SLITHM who wish to pursue a career in Hospitality.
Further this time a selected batch of 30 academic staff from the SLITHM is to undergo another training programme at the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, and this team will embark the shores on early May 2015. This will again contribute to impart their knowledge whilst adding to improve lecturers conducted by them.
