Leadership education course begins

Mantra Education and OTHM-UK (The organization for Tourism & Hospitality Management) together will offer leadership education in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Chairman Mantra Holdings(PVt) Ltd and Mantra Education , the Business School, Leslie Rajkumar, Head of Human Resources, Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka and IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka and President The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Anura Lokuhetty. Pic by Kavindra Perera

The course began on September 1 and those engaged in tourism trade and hospitality management with experience, need apply for higher levels while the new entrants have to start with the introductory certificate levels. There are full time and part time courses and students can select their study courses to suit their convenience.

'Mantra doesn't give an academic education but offer leadership education, said Director Marketing and Customer Alliance Shivani Sivakumar.

"We teach students to convert knowledge into leadership practice and in time to come will offer doctorates in the hospitality industry. At present there are 16 fellows of OTHM globally and it includes two Sri Lankans namely Wasantha Leelananda and Sanath Ukwatta.

She said that Mantra was launched in the North and East last year while the hospitality programs will be launched in the North and the East next year under the second phase of the expansion program".

President, Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Anura Lokuhetti said that during the war the country was categorized as a cheap destination but not any more.

To cater to the increasing demand there is a need for quality educational institutes to start good programs.

He said that one of the biggest drains on foreign exchange is education. Therefore, establishing quality educational institutes is a must, said Lokuhetty. He said that the tourist hotels industry signed an agreement with the Vocational Training Authority to use their facilities around the country. Head of HR, Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka Ravi Widyalankara said "There are quite a lot of training institutes and therefore we have suggested to the government to have a benchmark on quality as it will help students and parents to select the best course in the sector".

The Organisation for Tourism and Hospitality Management (OTHM) founded in 2003 as a professional membership body services the tourism and hospitality industry throughout the world.

SG