Sri Lanka Foundation Institute

Professor Seetha Bandara officially assumed duties as the new Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF) on 5th May 2025. With this appointment, she becomes the 18th Chairperson of the Foundation and notably, the second woman to lead the SLF in its distinguished history. Professor Bandara brings with her a wealth of academic, professional, and policy experience. She is a senior academic at the Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, and a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s economic policy landscape. Her career has been defined by a strong commitment to research, public service, and advancing inclusive development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics with First Class from the University of Kelaniya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Statistics from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a Master of Social Sciences (MSSc) in Economics from the University of Kelaniya. She also holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from Waseda University, Japan, and earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Waikato, New Zealand in 2015. Professor Bandara’s research focuses on critical areas such as poverty, trade liberalisation, labour migration, and economic policy reform. Her scholarly work has been published in leading academic journals, and she has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences. She is a recipient of multiple Senate Awards for academic excellence and was awarded Best Paper at the 2017 International Conference on Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education in the United Kingdom. In addition to her academic contributions, she has held several leadership roles, including serving as the Coordinator of the MA/MSSc Economics Programme and as Deputy Director of Training at the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education at the University of Kelaniya. She has also served as an Assistant General Manager – Marketing Development at the National Lotteries Board and gained valuable policy exposure through her work at the National Planning Department. Currently, she serves as a member of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS), the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), and the National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS). Professor Bandara's appointment marks a new chapter for the Sri Lanka Foundation, which has long been recognised as a premier institution committed to education, leadership training, and civic engagement. Under her guidance, the SLF is expected to further strengthen its mission of fostering critical thought, empowering citizens, and contributing to national development. The Institute looks forward to a transformative period of innovation and growth under Professor Seetha Bandara’s visionary leadership.

It is with great sorrow that the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute announces the untimely demise of Professor R M Vijeratne, Academic Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The Chairman, Board of Management, and the staff of SLF extend their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones and wish him the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Diploma Awarding Ceremony of SLFI - 2024 The Diploma Awarding Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute - 2024 was held on 29th January 2025 at the SLFI Auditorium in the presence of a large gathering of students, officials, academics and parents. Nearly 500 students representing 18 educational disciplines received their respective certificates for successfully completing Higher Diploma and Diploma Courses during the year 2024, from the chief guest of the ceremony; Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation, Mr. S.M. Saman Samarakoon, members of the board of management, SLFI officials, SLFI education team, resource persons, awardees, and parents were present on the occasion.

The Diploma Awarding Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute - 2024 will take place on 29th January 2025 at the SLFI Auditorium, under the aegis of the Minster of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa. A total of 516 students representing 18 educational disciplines will be recognised for their successful completion of Higher Diploma and Diploma Courses during the year 2024, at the ceremony. The ceremony will be attended by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation, Mr. S.M. Saman Samarakoon, along with SLFI officials, invited guests, the SLFI education team, awardees, and their parents.

The Chairman of SLF, Mr S. M. Saman Samarakoon along with the Director General, Directors, Heads of Departments and staff of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute duly took oaths on 1st January 2025 at the SLFI. They pledged to leverage institute’s resources to implement significant improvements in its processes and procedures, aiming to enhance the quality and efficiency of the services provided.

The Minister of Mass Media and Health, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, conducted an observation tour of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Mass Media, on 27th December 2024. The Chairman of Sri Lanka Foundation Mr S. M. Saman Samarakoon along with the members of the Board of Management and officials of SLF, warmly welcomed the Minister. The Minister stressed the importance of upholding and propagating the SLF’s mandate, during a brief meeting with the Chairman, Board of Management and the staff.

The Sri Lanka Foundation Institute awarded certificates to the students who successfully completed their respective certificate courses in 2023 and 2024. The ceremony was held on 11th October 2024 at the SLFI Auditorium in the presence of a large gathering, including students, parents, resource persons, and SLFI staff 277 students representing eight specialties received their certificates from the Director General of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Mrs. Ridma Bulathsinghala. Six silver medals and two bronze medals were awarded to the eight students who excelled in their respective studies programmes, at the ceremony. The officials and academic staff of the SLFI were also present on the occasion.

Sri Lanka Foundation Institute organised a two day outbound training for the students of the Certificate in Spa and Leisure Tourism Operations Assistants (Mind and Body Wellness for Leisure Tourism Operation Assistants) - NVQ 4, on 23rd and 24th November 2024 in Anuradhapura and Habarana. The wellness camp was attended by 45 students, who were able to acquire ample hands on experience on the location. The programme was arranged as a partial fulfillment of the requirements of the certificate course.

A creative dance performance marking the final project of the Students of National Diploma in Choreography ( 4th batch), was held on November 23, 2024 at the auditorium of Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in the presence of a distinguished audience, including veteran dancers, media professionals, artistes, resource persons, students and parents. The course spanned one-year, instilling sensitivity, art, rhythm and skills needed to become a professional choreographer, under the guidance and supervision of the veteran dancer and performer Ravibandu Vidyapathi and the resource person Mr. Mahesh Umagaliya

Commander S M Saman Samarakoon (retd). assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Foundation along with the Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Mass Media, on 18th of October 2024. He is the 17th chairman of the organisation. Commander Samarakoon, a prominent professional with extensive management and leadership experience in military service and education, holds a Bachelor of Arts special Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Sri Jayawardanapura. He has started his career as a teacher and has joined the Sri Lanka Navy where he served for 22 years and became the Executive Officer (2nd in command) of Sri Lanka Navy ‘Lanka‘ Base. He has gained tremendous experience and versatility during the period also holding several important positions at Sri Lanka Volunteer Forces, Kotelawela Defence University, Naval Headquarters and Naval Bases.

The Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Foundation 2024 will be held on 11th October 2024 at 10.00am at the SLFI Auditorium. Students who have completed their respective certificate courses during the years 2023 and 2024 will receive certificates and merit awards at the ceremony.

Invitation for bids for Design, Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning, Operation & Maintenance of Grid-Tiled Roof Mounted Solar PV Generation System for Sri Lanka Foundation. 

The Diploma and Certificate Award Ceremony 2023 of the Sri Lanka Foundation was held on 8th February 2024 at the Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation with the participation of a large gathering of students, academics and parents. Six hundred and eight (608) students representing thirty 30 courses (seven Higher National Diplomas, sixteen National Diploma Courses and seven certificate courses) were awarded at the ceremony. The Chief Guest of the Ceremony Professor Sagara Chandrasekara, Director of the Institute of Human Resource Advancement, University of Colombo awarded ten gold medals, eighteen silver medals and one bronze medal to the students who excelled in their respective courses. Academics and the Visiting Faculty of the Sri Lanka Foundation attended the ceremony.

The Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka in association with the Sri Lanka Foundation held a traditional Amami Folk Music programme at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on 11th December 2022, to mark the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka – Japan diplomatic relations. The Musical Evening was lightened by performance of the two professional Japanese Amami artistes: Nami Makioka and Momoko Ibusuki, and paved the way for a scholarly discourse of Folk Music with professional local artistes and scholars.

The Diploma Award Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute was held on 26th of October 2022, at the institute’s auditorium in the presence of a large gathering. The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Professor (Mrs) G A S Ginigaddara, the Vice Chancellor of the Rajarata University. 500 students representing 07 Higher Diploma Courses and 23 National Diploma courses received their respective Diploma Certificates from the chief Guest. 20 Gold Medals, and 09 Bronze Medals were awarded to the students who excelled in their study programs.