Sampath Bank entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura recently, enabling both organisations to work towards the betterment of financial education in the country.
The MoU was signed by Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Sampath Amaratunge and Assistant General Manager, Human Resources, Sampath Bank, Lalith Weragoda.
The five-year arrangement will enable both parties to tap into the expertise and wealth of knowledge of the other which will reap untold rewards that will ultimately benefit the nation.
“To make advances in specialised fields that will ultimately make significant changes in this world it is important to forge strong, symbiotic partnerships. Hence I am really happy to welcome Sampath Bank as a partner and to be able to work with them in improving the quality of knowledge available to the professionals of tomorrow. I am certain that this partnership will be the basis of many great things to come,” said Prof. Amaratunge.
AGM, Sampath Bank, Lalith Weragoda said, “As one of the nation’s leading banks we see it as our duty to continue enriching the knowledge of the nation so that the professionals of tomorrow are better equipped to handle the adversities of industry.
“As we know there is a huge gap between academia and industry which can leave recent graduates perplexed as they enter the workforce. By bridging this gap we make a better, stronger workforce that will make Sri Lanka the envy of the world.
“Therefore, we are very excited about this partnership with this prestigious institution and look forward to the many insights and developments that will result from it,” he said.
Public-private partnerships such as this, create efficiencies, reduce costs and spark innovation. It has widely been acknowledged that public private partnerships are the way forward for Sri Lanka’s development and will help the country attract more investment that will yield greater benefits, a Bank spokesman said.
This multifaceted agreement will allow Sampath Bank to conduct extensive research on financial theory, markets and other areas of interest. In return the students at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura will have access to extensive industry knowledge and insight. They will also periodically be given placements at the Bank to help them get a better understanding of the local financial landscape.
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is committed to the pursuit and transmission of knowledge through teaching, scholarship, research and active service to the community. It is an environment which values creativity, freedom of intellectual thought and expression, equal opportunity, fairness, and professional growth.