The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM), the island’s premier government institution for hospitality education, celebrated its 45th Graduation Ceremony at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo. The high-profile event was graced by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the Chief Guest, alongside Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe as the Guest of Honour. Prominent industry leaders, general managers from top hotel chains, and key officials including SLITHM Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi and Director General Wasantha Manthripala gathered to celebrate 71 new graduates entering the national and global hospitality workforce.
Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya underscored human capital development as a fundamental pillar of the government’s National Tourism Policy. She commended SLITHM’s six-decade legacy in nurturing skilled, industry-ready professionals and emphasized the institute’s crucial role in achieving Sri Lanka’s Tourism Vision 2030 benchmarks. These ambitious targets aim to attract 5 million international tourist arrivals, generate USD 10 billion in tourism revenue, and expand the nation’s hospitality workforce to 800,000 professionals.
Founded in 1964 as the Ceylon Hotel School, SLITHM has grown into a UGC-recognized degree-awarding body that trains over 6,000 professionals annually through its countrywide network of regional colleges. By offering accessible education across all provinces, the institute plays a pivotal role in youth empowerment, regional employment, and maintaining high service standards across hotels, airlines, and cruise lines.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe praised SLITHM for continually strengthening Sri Lanka’s global reputation for hospitality excellence. Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting tourism education and skills development, he emphasized that empowered youth and world-class training will remain the driving force behind Sri Lanka’s sustainable economic recovery and international competitiveness.
