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Celebrating Our Alumni with the First Alumni Night The inaugural Alumni Night of SLTC was held at the Barnes Room of Jetwing Colombo Seven on the 18th of February.  Members from the classes of 2020 and 2021 took part in the event. The highlight of the evening was the appointment of committee members for the SLTC Alumni Association for the incoming year. Ms. Vishalya Panchalinee was appointed as the new president of the association. The welcome speech followed by a toast was delivered by the current president of the Alumni Association, Mr. Navod Kiriwatthuduwa. The SLTC Music school added color to the event with several wonderful performances. Did You Know? SLTC is one of the first non-state universities to provide on-campus accommodation to its students. While this was certainly convenient to the university’s residents, it has also helped in promoting fellowship, building a close-knit community, and transforming the university’s culture into what it is today.

The SLTC Research University conducted a three-day resident capacity- development programme for 124 instructors representing the National Youth Corps and the National Youth Services Council, who will be engaged in the teaching process of the recently launched Degree in Applied IT (DAIT), offered by the university at 76 study centres across the country. Conducted from 1st March – 3rd March at the SLTC main campus in Padukka, the programme was organized to help the participants understand the broader objectives of DAIT, the potential of the ICT industry both in Sri Lanka and globally and how DAIT will help prepare its students to progress into a range of careers in the field of IT. It was also an opportunity to appreciate and recognize the support rendered by the many individuals on the team whose continuous efforts had made a national initiative such as the DAIT, successful.   The Degree in Applied IT – DAIT, is a bachelor’s degree in Applied Information Technology awarded by the SLTC Research University. Conducted in partnership with the National Youth Services Council and the National Youth Corps under the guidance of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, DAIT is part of a national initiative to equip the country’s youth to pursue a range of careers in the global IT industry. Designed with the intention of training students in the practical applications of IT, the first intake of the degree programme admitted 910 applicants who had successfully completed their A/Ls in diverse categories of subjects. This enables students from any secondary education background to receive a recognised higher education qualification in IT and train as qualified professionals.  DAIT is being conducted at 76 centres across the country, by the instructors of the National Youth Corps and the National Youth Services Council with the support of the academic faculty of SLTC. Considering the uniqueness of the programme and the novelty of its learning mechanism to the Sri Lankan higher education sector, measures such as the instructor capacity-development programme were identified to be integral towards ensuring the success of the programme. The three-day training programme included several panel discussions highlighting the importance of DAIT in the current national context, its relevance to the global IT industry and the role of the instructors and their responsibility towards the undergraduates. Mr. Hasitha Liyanage , CEO of Different delivered the keynote address, speaking about the diverse opportunities available for Sri Lankan IT graduates in the global and local industries .  Presentations were made by Mr Pubudu Liyanage, Human Resources Consultant at Acumatica Inc. who stressed upon the importance of developing soft skills to succeed as a professional and Mr Sampath Jayasundara, CEO, hSenid who also stressed upon the lucrativeness of the IT industry for qualified graduates. The programme concluded with an award ceremony where several individuals who had contributed towards the planning, initiating, curriculum development and content design, operations and logistics, quality assurance, administration and enrolment processes of the DAIT programme were recognized for their efforts and commitment towards this national initiative.

The SLTC Research University ceremoniously launched the Centre for Governance and Public Policy; the university’s dedicated centre for research, education and policy making on Wednesday the 15th of February at the SLTC University premises in the TRACE Expert City, Colombo 10.  The Centre was inaugurated by Hon Ranil Wickramasinghe, The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, in the presence of state officials, local and international delegates, academics, university representatives, policy makers and industry personnel. The newly inaugurated centre will work on the fronts of knowledge sharing, policy development, research and knowledge incubation and public engagement in Sri Lanka as well as work in collaboration with international bodies, agencies and universities on joint academic and social initiatives. Educating the next generation about governance and public policy as well as contributing towards policy development and administration on a global scale have been identified as the key objectives of the centre. Welcoming the audience to this memorable occasion, the Vice Chancellor and the President of the SLTC Research University, Eng. Ranjith G. Rubasinghe stressed upon the importance of universities transcending their conventionally assumed roles of mere knowledge disseminators but acceding to the functional roles of holistic educators that rise to the demands of the times. The launch of the SLTC Center for Governance and Public Policy (C-GaPP) marks a significant step towards this endeavour for SLTC. Addressing the gathering, Hon. President Ranil Wickresinghe said that he was overjoyed by the launch of the new centre. One that would cater to a pressing need  in Sri Lankan Education. The President also went on to say that the country has arrived at an age of transformation, where one has to consider both the good and the bad and higher education demands much change which requires wide ranging discussions among parties across the country. In addition to academic and research activities, listed among the key activities scheduled to be carried out by the SLTC Center for Governance and Public Policy (C-GaPP), is a series of seminars under the theme of Freedom & Prosperity; Sri Lanka towards 2048 which will open with an inaugural conference this year. The Centre is headed by Dr. Samitha Hettige – Head of Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the SLTC Research University who introduced the aims and objectives of the centre to the gathering. This was followed by Prof. Howard Nicholas, Associate Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague  who spoke under the theme of  ‘Crisis; a catalyst for growth’ and referred to the many opportunities a crisis can generate not only for a country’s economy but for advancements in  higher education, research and technology. SLTC is Sri Lanka’s first corporate backed , non state research university and is known for technology enabled teaching and learning , research and innovation conducted in collaboration with international agencies and transcending the traditional conventions of education. Fostering the next generation of thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs through research is at the core of the SLTC Research University.  Research, self-learning, experimenting, challenging convention, innovative thinking, and driving one’s passion, are all integral components of the SLTC culture. SLTC is known for the wide array of disciplines it offers and cross-discipline collaboration across schools. The Centre for Governance and Public Policy is the latest addition to SLTC’s portfolio of schools and centres and will be a forerunner to the establishment of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences which will be launched later this year.

Innovation and development catalyst Good Life X (GLX) has entered into a partnership with the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster the next generation of innovative thinkers in the country. The partnership comes at a time when the Sri Lankan economy needs a fresh impetus for innovation-led growth, with a focus on regenerative and sustainable business practices. Entrepreneurship, whilst taught in many courses worldwide, demands real-world experiences through successes and failures to understand the realities on the ground and to have a real impact. While students go through entrepreneurship and innovation classes, hands-on action often remains limited. The partnership between GLX and SLTC aims to tackle that, build practical skills among the campus students and prepare them to take on challenges in the real world. The partnership recognises that innovation requires out-of-the-box thinking, trialing different approaches to problem-solving and most of all, collaboration with fellow peers to unlock ideas within each other. Through the partnership, GLX will bring to SLTC’s City Campus located at TRACE Expert City, unique and innovative approaches to creating scalable impact, and accelerated good growth business models, whilst inspiring new ways of tackling old problems. This partnership will enable both parties to combine their strengths to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges at the local, regional and global levels, especially around sustainability and climate change. GLX will co-create the incubation efforts of SLTC and contribute to developing SLTC’s interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship expertise in order to be efficient and current. GLX will further contribute towards SLTC’s think tank on industry-academia, innovation and research while providing access to SLTC’s academic fraternity for students to engage with programs and activities hosted by GLX. Good Life X will be based as an onsite innovation sustainability partner within the SLTC City Campus at Trace Expert City in Colombo. The space will be used to facilitate hands-on experiences connecting the GLX’s methods of innovative community building within SLTC and Trace Expert City. Good Life X (GLX), is an innovation and development catalyst, geared to build a new wave of life-enhancing companies in South Asia. GLX provides critical knowledge and expertise to rapidly advance the prospects of startups, SMEs, and investors focusing on regeneration and innovation through their solutions. As the first sector-specific innovation platform in Sri Lanka GLX has developed flexible, renewable and diverse approaches to bridge the gap between the old and the new, creating actual progress in food and agriculture, circular design, wellness and tourism spaces since 2019.

The unfolding economic crisis in the country continues to negatively impact the hopes of many Sri Lankan youth who were aspiring for quality higher education overseas. Consequently, the number of students leaving for overseas education has significantly increased in recent times and the demand for local non-state higher education has come to experience new challenges. “The adverse effects of the economic situation are manifest across all levels of society, affecting the future of thousands of youths’’ says Ranjith Rubasinghe, Founder President /CEO of SLTC Research University (SLTC).  ‘This is a critical hour that tests the role of non-state educators in Sri Lanka as this situation requires them to step up in support of the youth. In this context, we are humbly proud to announce that SLTC is not only fully equipped to meet the current challenge but also prepared to go beyond and make a real difference in their lives’ said Mr Rubasinghe.  Elaborating how SLTC offers students equivalent routes to achieve their dreams Mr. Rubasinghe said ‘‘SLTC is in academic partnerships with leading universities in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Austria and Singapore.  These universities consider the first 2 years at the SLTC Research University as equivalent to the first 2 years taught at their respective universities. This enables SLTC undergraduates to receive an education of international standards from day one and transfer to their desired university once the first two years are complete’’. This reduces the tuition cost of the student by a great margin. Thus the students benefit from having to spend less than half the original cost for following a foreign degree thanks to the first 2-year advantage at SLTC and they get to realise their dream of studying abroad as well. It’s a sure pathway for migration that combines the highest educational qualifications and financial benefits. On the other hand, considering the volume of foreign currency drain prevented, this is a win-win for both students and the country, ‘’ Mr Rubasinghe further added.  Transfer options are available across almost all 20 study pathways offered by SLTC in the disciplines of Engineering, Computing & IT, Business, Technology and Music. In addition to the undergraduate programmes, SLTC has introduced a unique foundation programme tailored for post-O/L students who wish to fast-track their higher education. Referred to as the SLTC -Deakin foundation, this programme allows post-O/L students to qualify for an undergraduate transfer study programme at Deakin University, Australia. A truly unique programme, the foundation requires its participants to attend real-time undergraduate lectures conducted at SLTC during which they will acquire the foundation knowledge required to qualify to be admitted to an undergraduate degree of their choosing.  A dedicated faculty will guide these prospective undergraduates throughout the programme and will help them succeed in qualifying for undergraduate education. For students directly enrolling for undergraduate studies after successfully completing their A/Ls, SLTC offers the ‘ENTECH Merit-based Youth Scholarship Scheme’. ENTECH is a one-of-a-kind revolutionary scholarship programme that recognizes the academic excellence of prospective undergraduates. According to the programme (GCE or London A/L), students with ‘A’ passes are eligible for a maximum fee reduction of 60% of their tuition fee, with a 20% reduction offered for each ‘A’ pass. The ENTECH programme was launched at the inception of the SLTC and has benefited a great number of students over the years.  SLTC Research University’s list of elite academic partners includes renowned universities of Deakin, James Cook and RMIT in Australia, Auckland and Lincoln Universities in New Zealand, University of Lancaster in the UK, IITM in India, and Modul University in Austria. Their acknowledgement of SLTC’s standards as on par with theirs is a grand testament to SLTC’s excellence.  SLTC Research University currently offers 25 UGC-approved, degree awarding programmes through 6 schools – the largest portfolio amongst all non-state universities in the island. The university has been recognised as the fastest-growing university in Sri Lanka and the most innovative university in South Asia.  What really sets SLTC apart from the competition is its collaborative, innovative and dynamic research culture which focuses on producing high-quality, high-impact work. The University’s research partnerships enable students and faculty to engage in cutting-edge research with leading foreign universities leading to greater discoverability.  In line with this vision, SLTC Research University has established a strong academic infrastructure through twin physical locations – a tech city hub at TRACE Expert City and a fully residential campus set on a lush 35-acre suburban property in Padukka with state-of-the-art facilities including accommodation and recreational avenues.  Set in the midst of a number of leading IT & Tech companies at TRACE Expert City, SLTC’s City Campus serves the goal of exposing students to high-level working environments whilst still being undergraduates. A concept that embodies SLTC’s vision to produce top-of-class, work-ready graduates.  Prospective students can inquire for further information about SLTC degree programmes and discover the many opportunities available at the university, via 011 2100500,  www.sltc.ac.lk or info@sltc.ac.lk.

Educating, grooming, and nurturing holistic graduates who can actively contribute towards a chosen discipline in the context of academia or profession has always been a top priority for SLTC, Sri Lanka’s first Research Based Nonstate University. SLTC is also one of the first universities to adopt a student-centric, problem-based learning process since its inception and research and innovation are the defining factors of the institution’s ethos. Today the fruits of its labour are visible in the many achievements, innovations, and global research projects that the SLTC community has contributed to.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay jointly witnessed the establishment of partnership linkage between the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) Research University and the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras (IITM) for an inclusive partnership for academic, research and resource exchange. During their visit to the SLTC in Padukka on Wednesday, they joined a zoom meeting between the SLTC Campus and IIT, Madras in which the Founder President/CEO of SLTC Dr. Ranjit Rubasinghe welcomed them from Australia, where he is currently on an official visit. The SLTC Research University partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further their contribution towards education and research along with widening provision for staff and student exchange programmes. As the Indian IITs have made a high reputation as a premier university that produces top IT specialists to the world, the SLTC will immensely benefit from its collaboration as an institute that has proven its high potential. The partnership is expected to strengthen each institution’s contribution towards higher education and research on a global scale. The agreement unfolds several opportunities for student and staff exchange programmes. The lecturers and students of SLTC demonstrated to the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner how they could use the state of the art technological tools such as cloud application systems for the students to link to four stations simultaneously and interact with lecturers and students and work on their own initiatives. Two students explained their latest project to convert discarded cooking oil to diesel to run motor vehicles. They explained this innovative method could be used commercially and save at least a small portion of the foreign exchange spent on fuel imports. The academics of SLTC expressed confidence that the partnership with IIT Madras would provide provision for intellectual opportunities for the participants of both countries, enriching research and academic fields. The partnership paves way for the two institutes to collaborate on research and academic programmes on many fronts. It will open doors for the students to wide opportunities through a spectrum of collaborative axes that will present multiple opportunities in education, research and intellectual exchange programmes. The academic programmes that will be on offer are structured in a manner that will expose students to a seamless flow of knowledge, industry know-how, practical experiences and skills development, in all aspects within multiple academic streams including Information Technology and Software Engineering, amongst a host of other domains. Dr. Nanda Gunawardane -Director/International Affairs at SLTC, said that the Campus is currently working on a broad programme to train youths with high IT skills for potential employment in Japan. It is expected to enter into an agreement with Japanese industrial groups to ensure employment for Sri Lankan youths skilled in IT and Japanese Language. “There are over 10,000 employment opportunities available,” he said. The SLTC conducts Engineering programmes in Electronics, Telecommunications, Power Systems and Computing. Its degree programmes are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways and recognized by the University Grants Commission. Prime Minister Gunawardena and Indian Envoy first visited Seethawaka Botanical Garden first where they planted two saplings to mark the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence. Seethawaka Botanical Garden is a Wet Zone Botanical garden covering 79 acres which mainly serves as a research area and a conservation area for threatened and vulnerable endemic plant species in the Sinharaja Rain Forest region. Seethawaka Botanical Garden is a Wet Zone Botanical garden covering 79 acres which mainly serves as a research area and a conservation area for threatened and vulnerable endemic plant species in the Sinharaja Rain Forest region. Prime Minister Gunawardena and the Indian Envoy during their visit to the Seethawaka Botanical Garden. Speaking on the occasion, Indian High Commissioner said, it is a privilege to recall the great relationship between the two countries, to recall our great history and to recall with gratitude the people like the honourable father (Philip Gunawardena) of the Prime Minister who have strengthen that great relationships. “As I do that I am also mindful of the future that we have to work for and the present in which we are combined with our joint efforts to not only promote our economic partnerships but also to create environment-friendly policies which fight against the Climate Change. The promotion of green policies, green energy, and the promotion of renewable energy are some of those areas in which India is very happy to partner very closely with our friends and colleagues in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Sri Lankan leadership,” he said. The Prime Minister stated, “The Indo-Sri Lankan friendship is not limited to a few years. It spans over many centuries. Bilateral relations between the two countries have become stronger every time. By this year, India has become one of the most powerful countries in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the current Chairman of the G20 group granted numerous benefits to the neighbouring countries as well.” “Environment is not limited to one generation. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect such botanical gardens full of biodiversity. The kingdom of Seethawaka played a special role in the country’s freedom struggle. The nature of this unique environment also had triggered it, he said. The Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay revealed that India’s support for Sri Lanka’s green development process is deserved. The relations between the two countries are not limited to economic cooperation. India’s full support is given to Sri Lanka in the programme of promoting renewable energy. The High Commissioner highlighted the need to promote economic partnership between the two countries and work with the joint efforts of both countries to create environment-friendly policies that combat Climate Change.”

Programmes to be offered in Sri Lanka by the SLTC Research University The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) met with potential candidates for their postgraduate programmes on the 6th of December from 3.00 pm at the Kingsbury Hotel Colombo. The programmes will be delivered in Sri Lanka by the SLTC Research University, which recently entered into an exclusive partnership with IITM to conduct their programmes in Sri Lanka. The IITM prepares students for highly coveted careers in the field of tech and the admission process is known for its competitiveness. The event is an opportunity for potential postgraduate students to learn more about the programmes, discover opportunities an IITM qualification presents and be guided on the admission process. Following the student-fair were a fellowship event and a rare opportunity for prospective IIT graduates to network with IIT alumni, faculty, and representatives of the industry. Present at the event were, The Hon. Minister of Education; Dr Susil Premajayantha, Hon. State Minister for Higher Education; Dr Suren Raghavan, The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka; H. E Mr. Gopal Baglay, Dean of Global Engagement IITM; Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, President of SLTC Research University; Eng. Ranjith G.Rubasinghe, Members of the IITM delegation, representatives from the SLTC Research University, Industry Personnel and members of the IITM Alumni in Sri Lanka. The postgraduate programmes are due to commence in January 2023 and applications are currently being accepted from eligible candidates for one of IITM’s flagship programmes, The International Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Cyber-Physical Systems. The provides its students with an advanced education in the interdisciplinary fields of technology and engineering enabling the students to transcend the traditional framework of engineering and science-related careers. The specially curated two-year programme in Cyber-Physical Systems is specially crafted for highly motivated l students from any engineering background interested in an interdisciplinary master’s degree. In the recent past, interdisciplinary degree students have been remarkably successful in bridging gaps and exploring the potential opportunities these synergies present. The second year of the program will be dedicated to a research-based master’s project. The I2MP provides a platform for international students with exceptional performance in their undergraduate programs to participate in these activities. The IITM is one of the Top Universities in Asia and has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Overall’ Category for the third consecutive year in India Ranking 2021 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, ranked No.1 in the ‘Engineering Institutions’ category in the same Rankings for six consecutive years – from 2016 to 2021. The institute was also adjudged ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in 2019, 2020 and 2021, launched by the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education, India.

Head of Marketing Natasha Fernando (left) and SLTC Research University Founder President/CEO Ranjith Rubasinghe receiving the award at South Asian Partnership Summit and Business Excellence Awards 2022 in Dhaka, Bangladesh The SLTC Research University has been conferred the Educational Institute with Best Academic & Industry Interface Award under Education, Learning & Development Category at the South Asian Partnership Summit & Business Excellence Awards 2022 held in Dhaka, Bangladesh this week.  The South Asian Business Excellence Awards were introduced to acknowledge and reward the exceptional work and results gained by the trailblazers of the corporate domain, including political, social, economic, and financial initiatives in the face of an ever-increasing competitive market.  Vying against other educational institutes from across the South Asian region, the SLTC Research University scored high for its collaborative efforts with the industry to produce career-ready global graduates. This is crucial as Sri Lanka is poised to become a regional player in various industry verticals and will depend on a highly educated and versatile workforce that is capable of intelligent, assertive, and forward-thinking ideas to keep up with the region.  The SLTC Research University has received praise and been in the spotlight since its inception for the close relationship that was continued with the industry stakeholders, where their expertise was utilised in the designing, updating and execution of curricula, delivery of subject matter, internships, and industry placements and many collaborative academic, research and professional activities that are carried out throughout the academic year.  The university prides itself on producing 100% employable graduates, largely thanks to the updated industry-relevant curriculum, active internship placements and continued exposure to real-world industry workings. The jury of the South Asian Partnership Summit & Business Excellence Awards 2022, headed by Awards Jury Chairman Dr. Khyati Shetty Datta was comprised of a select group of professionals and experts of the discipline, who used their in-depth understanding of the current global standards to evaluate and arrive at their final decisions.  The purpose of these awards is to recognise and honour the most respected companies within a variety of industries, whilst rewarding remarkable success in all its forms throughout the South Asian business community. Nominations were called by corporates and companies from across South Asia. This marks the second time that the university has been recognised at the summit. In 2019 SLTC has conferred the ‘Most Emerging Education Institute of the Year’ award in Colombo.  In just seven years since its inception, the SLTC Research University has been recognised by many international and national awarding bodies and the university believes that this is largely owed to the commitment shown by the management, faculty, and staff to make this higher education institute worthy of the national need to produce an industry ready, well-rounded graduates, with the power to rebuild the country’s economy.  Since 2014, the SLTC has been offering a unique combination of Engineering, Technological, Management, Science, IT and Computing and Music degree programmes and pathways. It has since strengthened its research and industry partnerships with international and local bodies to further strengthen the university’s standing in the region. The SLTC Research University is the only corporate-powered research-based residential campus, operating from twin locations; a residential campus surrounded by acres of lush green based in the former satellite Earth Station in Padukka and a city campus located at TRACE Expert City Colombo. The university maintains academic and research affiliations with world-class institutions such as Auckland University New Zealand, Lancaster University UK, Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai, Modul University Austria, RMIT Vietnam and Australia, James Cook University Singapore, and Deakin University Australia.

ECONOMYNEXT – Associated Electrical Corporation Limited and Tempest PE Partners who acquired Sri Lanka Technological Campus from Sri Lanka Telecom has injected 290 million rupees in equity grow it, a statement said. SLTC runs a fully residential campus on a 35-acre property in Padukka with modern buildings. The university offers 25 undergraduate programs in Engineering, Technology, IT, Business and Music with an academic staff of over 200.T The new team plans to set up a city campus. It is run an independent Academic Council. “SLTC has developed a strong and progressive academic and management team,” Ajita De Zoysa, Chairman of Associated Electrical Corporation Limited said. “The investor consortium believes that through their collective experience and leadership across multiple industry sectors, they could add significant value to produce innovative, focused, and employable students who will contribute greatly to Sri Lanka. “Collectively, all stakeholders believe that SLTC can become one of the leading engineering universities in the region, in addition to developing much needed competencies in fields related to applied sciences, ICT, technology and business.” The consortium that bought the university includes tJetwing Group, Finco Holdings, Perera & Sons (P&S), ManSek Investments & Insite Holdings. Tempest PE is a joint venture between Sri Lanka’s Capital Alliance and Insite Holdings. Chehan Perera, Managing Director of Tempest PE Partners said education is a key area that the firm wanted to develop. “One of the main attractions of SLTC is the academic structure of the campus, which is overseen by an independent Academic Council, with strong academic teams in place across five disciplines,” Perera said. “Working closely with the management, we will look to expand the reach of SLTC and leverage its strong academic infrastructure to set up a City Campus, where we can develop exciting foreign partnership programs, leveraging our relationships with leading education groups overseas.” “I have long believed the entire landscape of higher education in Sri Lanka needs a complete overhaul, including the programs, the curricula, the entire pedagogy, and especially the attitudes of all stakeholders,” Founder President and Chief Executive of SLTC Ranjith Rubasinghe said. “SLTC intends to be an exemplary leader in the higher education sector and will embrace and effect such change. “This cannot be done without sufficient freedom for academic governance and management, and with this transaction, I believe we are witnessing a first of a kind in the nation, where SLTC will transform into an education institute that is run by its Academic Council.” NDB Investment Bank were side financial advisors to the deal generating investor interest. Nithya Partners were legal advisors to the buyer and D L & F De Saram advised the seller. (Colombo/Jan29/2021)