New SLIM Ex-Co drives marketing to enhance business and national value.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing’s new President and Executive Committee have actively launched their tenure of office with a new and vibrant theme – ‘We believe, We achieve, We win’, with a view to enhance the image of SLIM further among the business fraternity by adding value to the service being provided by the institute.

 
Accordingly the new SLIM Committee’s vision is to lead the nation’s efforts towards economic prosperity with its mission being to establish marketing as the driving force to enhance business and national value.
 
Headed by President Rohan Somawansa, SLIM’s new joint Vice Presidents are Thushara Perera (Director Marketing, TV Derana) and Tilan Wijeyesekera (General Manager - Marketing, Lanka Milk Foods PLC). The new council of Management will also include Gamika de Silva (Secretary), Siddeeque Akbar (Treasurer), Kalana Ratnayake (Asst. Secretary), Saliya Weerasekera (Immediate Past President) and Nimal Wirasekera (Executive Director).
 
The other committee members are Mrs. Harshini Amarasekara, Dhanesh Jayathilake, Karthik Elangovan, Charitha Jayasinghe, Prasad Hewagama, Ms. Shenali Wickramaarachchi, Ranjith Edirisinghe, Upul Adikari, Ruwan Liyanagamage and Ms. Thilanka Abeywardena.
 
Outlining SLIM’s main objectives for the year ahead, SLIM President Rohan Somawansa said that the plan was two pronged – Education and Projects, both of which will be supported by a keen marketing drive.
 
SLIM will also be re-structuring its education and marketing divisions to align itself with the potential opportunities and challenges in the environment, through the country’s changing landscape as it progresses to become an economic hub of the region. Added to this will be the launch of PCM in Sinhala for the state sector, small, and rural entrepreneurs and expanding the SLIM coaching centre network.
 
“We will focus our efforts on enhancing our portfolio of educational products, including the introduction of diplomas in Brand Management, PR and Sales. We have also made many strides in developing specific tailor-made programs for leading local and multinational corporates and will extend this further. We will be working with the authorities to include marketing at a wider level to the A/L syllabus and are also working on an innovative program to take marketing to schools in an engaging manner”, Tilan  Wijeyesekera, Vice President Education and Marketing added.
 
SLIM will continue to promote the popular ‘Marketing Rocks’ programmes for schools. Its proprietary products such as the SLIM Post Graduate diploma and the SLIM PCM will be aligned with the latest developments in the country with increased emphasis on international marketing, tourism marketing and service marketing. It will also harness the strength of international tie ups (AMF) to enhance the position of SLIM and SLIM products.
 
Operating at a more national level, SLIM also intends to actively tie up with government authorities to promote, maintain and uphold professional and ethical principles. At a regional level, SLIM will network internationally and forge relationships with fellow institutes both locally and globally thus obtaining recognition for Sri Lanka and SLIM at a broader international level.
 
On the marketing front, SLIM which celebrates 40 years of inspiring marketers is working on adding value and strengthening its core brand values. Thushara Perera Vice President Projects stated, “This year we will concentrate our energies on expanding our flagship projects while parallely introducing carefully selected new projects which would enhance our offering”. 
 
Among the flagship projects ‘Brand Excellence’ is the pride of the institute and is recognised locally as well as internationally for its sound evaluation system and judging process. Effies, the truly global brand among SLIM’s projects, takes the advertising awards of Sri Lanka to a new level. NASCO or National Sales Congress was upgraded to a Challenge Based programme last year, with Best Territory Manager, Best Sales Executive and Best Front Liner being selected from six sectors. The Peoples Awards, organized by SLIM in conjunction with Nielson Company Lanka Ltd is a direct feed back of the consumer to the marketers. The well known SLIM Marketer magazine will be re-launched with an international flavor providing market information and sharing of knowledge by marketing experts.
 
A new project will be launched in order to support the government’s initiatives in developing Sri Lanka’s economy which is one of SLIM’s main mandates. In order to achieve this, a seminar themed “Making Sri Lanka a Top Tourist Destination” will be held in July. Key speakers will be Mr. Lalith de Mel (Chairman Hemas Group,) Dr. Uditha Liyanage (Director PIM,) and Mr. Dilip Mudadeniya (Managing Director - Sri Lanka Tourism). Representatives from the Hotel Sectors, Travel Sector, Marcom, etc. are also expected to be part of the discussion panel. Several senior Government Ministers too are expected to be at the seminar. A paper containing the presentations will be presented to the senior decision makers of the country for information and action.     
 
Another new project titled National Research Forum will be launched this year in the area of marketing research to encourage marketers to become more research biased in their decision making. The programme will be based on presentation of research papers by academics and professionals on a specific industry. This will in turn be analysed and discussed by top professionals in the industry.