News - CGU

The Graduate Entrepreneur Exhibition & Sale (GEES) 2024, organized for the second time by the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) and the Entrepreneurship Club of the University of Kelaniya was held on the 6th of November 2024, at the CGU premises.

The main aim of GEES 2024 was to provide a dynamic platform for student entrepreneurs and those involved in small businesses, by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. The event inspired and motivated participants to transform their creative ideas and skills into sustainable businesses. Additionally, it offered emerging entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their innovations, connect with potential customers, and gain valuable marketplace exposure. The event featured 42 talented student entrepreneurs who proudly showcased their unique products.

The event was graced by the participation of Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guest.

Present at the occasion were Senior Professor Dilkushi Wettewe, Director of the Career Guidance Unit; Senior Professor S. R. D. Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies; Prof. Bandara Wanninayake, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Senior Lecturer Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Ms. A. A. D. C. N. Amarasinghe, Divisional Secretary, Kelaniya; Ms.W. T. R. Chandima, Chairman/Director General of the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA); Mr. Dhanuka Liyanagamage, Director of NEDA; Ms. Bhagya Nakandala, Enterprise Promotion Officer of NEDA; Ms. W.A.D.S.P.Withanaarachchi, Enterprise Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat, Kelaniya; Mr. K. A. M. Viraj Abeysinghe, Career Counsellor of the University of Kelaniya; Mrs. R. P. A. Minoon Perera, Career Counsellor of the University of Kelaniya; members of the organizing Committee of the Entrepreneurship Club; and academic and non-academic staff and students of the university.

Senior Professor C. D. S. Wettewe was reappointed as the Director of the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of the University of Kelaniya for a period of 3 years with effect from 15th February 2024. As the Director of the CGU, she was instrumental in introducing innovative programmes to engage students in CGU activities during challenging times and for inspiring students to be life-long learners.

Senior Professor C. D. S. Wettewe is attached to the Department of English Language Teaching at the University of Kelaniya. She earned her PhD from the Radboud University, Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. She has previously held the positions of Head of Department (2010-2014) and Director of Staff Development Centre (2014 - 2017) of the University of Kelaniya and has also served as the Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and Humanities (NCAS).

She has contributed to many national level language projects introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education as a consultant and has served as a consultant of the pre-university Online English Language Programme initiated by the University Grants Commission. Currently, she also serves as a member of the Board of Management of the Postgraduate Institute of English, Open University of Sri Lanka.