The Government through the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs recently offered two scholarships in tourism and hospitality management to students in SAARC countries as part of its contribution to regional cooperation. The offer was made during the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal.
Following this, the SAARC Secretariat has nominated two students, Ms. Deki Wangmo of Bhutan and Ms. Fatima Mosavi of Afghanistan to follow the hospitality training courses conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM).
Wangmo has already joined SLITHM and is currently following a five-month certificate course in Hotel Front Office Operations. Having taken a liking to the country and SLITHM, she will continue at SLITHM’s main campus in Colombo, and pursue the three-year Management Diploma course commencing in January 2018, as well.
The other student nominated by SAARC, Fatima Mosavi of Afghanistan is expected to enroll for the same three-year Management Diploma course due to commence in January 2018.
Established in 1966 in Colombo, SLITHM operates campuses in Kandy, Bandarawela, Anuradhapura, Koggala, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Passikudah, Negombo, Polonnaruwa.
Chairman, SLITHM, Sunil Dissanayake said, “Regardless of your level of education, within a short period of time, you can succeed if you join the hotel and tourism industry, so I invite the youth not only in Sri Lanka but also the SAARC region to join the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management,” he said.