We had the privilege of hosting Mr.Viraj Henegedra, an esteemed guest and entrepreneur who shared invaluable insights on what it takes to thrive in the world of business.MR. Viraj Henegerara is a graduate of University of Kelaniya.

We can specially introduce him as a successful entrepreneur. He is currently working as a business advisor and he is the owner of the  Business Advisor YouTube channel. We invited him for a special workshop series on behalf of AHEAD student association, department of Human resource management, University of Kelaniya. This workshop series was successfully conducted and completed on the 26 th of October 2023.
Entrepreneurs are innovators who constantly challenge the status quo and seek new opportunities. Effective HR practices are crucial for managing employees and creating a thriving workplace culture. In the digital landscape, staying updated with the latest technologies is essential for business operations.

Personal branding, particularly on social media platforms like LinkedIn, is crucial for showcasing skills and staying updated with industry trends. Exposing new business ideas is essential in a world driven by innovation, encouraging participants to think outside the box and bring fresh perspectives to the market. Overall, entrepreneurs are all-rounders who must adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Discovering  a path of enlightenment:  The 02nd workshop of the “Empower  X” workshop series, “Navigating Through Your Career” on 28th October 2023, organized by the AHEAD Student Association, revealed invaluable insights from the esteemed speaker, Mr. Sithum De  Silva.  Through   Zoom,   the  session   offered  a  profound  exploration   of  career development,  emphasizing  the powerful  message that 'Your  career is  a journey,  not a destination”.

Mr. De  Silva's  interactive  session  fostered active  engagement with  the audience.  He encouraged students to participate by asking questions, making the experience highly insightful and interactive. The core objective of the presentation was to provide students with the foundational knowledge needed to navigate their careers successfully.

Key  takeaways from the  session  included self-discovery  before the job  applications, understanding the eligibility and suitability for roles, and effective interview preparations. Mr. De Silva also  delved  into  crucial  career milestones,  including  feelings  and strategies associated with promotions and the challenges faced when transitioning to new positions. Career transitions   were discussed comprehensively,   focusing   on making enlightened decisions by seeking advice from professionals, and considering diverse perspectives. The session  culminated  in  the C-suite,  emphasizing  responsibility,  identity, and legacy.  The lecturer also shared valuable advice on post-retirement planning.

The most important lesson we learned from the session was that learning and career advancement are best achieved through a cycle of exploration, experience, action, and reflection.

Mr. Sithum.  De. Silva’s  engaging  and relatable  speech made the event both educational and entertaining. The students departed the session enriched and inspired, empowered with both the knowledge and motivation necessary to confidently navigate their individual career paths.

The 03rd workshop of the “Empower X” workshop series, “Applications of AI for Business” was held  on 2ndNovember  2023,  organized  by the  AHEAD  Student Association, was succeeded with the words of a giant personality in the software engineering field and Social  media  consultant,  Mr. Chanuka Rathnayaka  (CHANUX BRO).  He mentored all our undergraduates to think  and look  at the world  in  a new direction,  where the issues can make an opportunity be success.

The main point that Mr. Chanuka emphasizes is that we all have some hidden soft skills with us, but because of the teaching pattern in the country, most of the students have been catered to and are unable to find their passion. Mr. Chanuka mentioned that if there was any ability with us, no matter in which field we continued to go, we should work to improve that innate ability that will bring us a new road to success.

Mr. Chanuka emphasized the importance of working with a fixed intention to achieve a goal and avoid waste. He highlighted the value of hard work and shared examples of successful examples through videos. He also emphasized the importance of finding problems or opportunities in a field where others have not been given attention, and finding sustainable solutions to address them. This approach has proven successful in leading the field, as seen in PickMe and Helakuru. Overall, Chanuka's message emphasizes the value of hard work and determination in achieving goals. Mr. Chanuka was also asked questions by the audience, and those who answered correctly were given valuable prizes. The session ended with many important lessons for undergraduates to make their future a success and to think in a different way to brighten our academic and career lives.

“Don't let this opportunity pass you by - become the best version of yourself and  live your life to the fullest.”

The last session, held on November 3rd, was a resounding success, with the highly esteemed Ms. Rasini Bandara gracing us with her presence. As a renowned psychologist  and mental  health  care professional  at Mind Heals  (Pvt)  Ltd.,  Ms.  Rasini imparted invaluable knowledge on public speaking and motivation. Her inspiring life story served as a testament  to her expertise, as she shared helpful methods to develop our public speaking skills.

Ms.  Rasini  Bandara  emphasizes  the importance  of confidence  in  public  speaking,  stating  that it  is  a lifelong learning journey that requires relentless practice and opportunities. She believes that the sky is the limit, and we should not limit ourselves from trying new things. With her insights, we can develop the  necessary  confidence   and  skills   to  become better public  speakers and more successful individuals.

She  also  shared  insights  on the  skillsneeded for success  in  the  corporate world, emphasizing   the  importance   of  effective  communication,   people   skills,  emotional intelligence, and proficiency in high technology development. She emphasized the need to balance technology with human connection in today's world. As undergraduates of Human Resource Management, her wisdom proved to be incredibly valuable to us. By embracing the  sky as the  limit  and embracing  new  experiences,  we can become better  public speakers and more successful individuals.

Ms.  Rasini  Bandara  left  a profound impact on us during  our session.  She stressed  the criticality of self-discipline, which can either make or break a person. As a leader, it is imperative  to possess self-discipline  to empower those who follow  you. Her other point was equally powerful: we must be courageous enough to challenge ourselves to surpass our limits and shatter the barriers that hinder our potential. By embracing these values, we can cultivate a winning mindset and achieve our goals.

Last but not least, Ms. Rasini Bandara reminds us of the importance of internalizing our passions and loving what we do. When we pursue our desires with genuine enthusiasm, we unlock the motivation we need to succeed.

The project included the following activities.

Activity 01 - Renovation of the school and providing the facilities the school was in short of, such as a computer, a notice board, whiteboards, a cupboard, sports equipment, library books, and special edition books for the grade five students.

Activity 02 - All the students at the school were gifted with writing books, stationery items, water bottles, lunch boxes, and printed cloth bags. In addition, 10 under privileged students were gifted with special gift parcels.

Activity 03 – Above donations were made during an event that allowed primary school children to showcase their skills.

The project was executed in three phases.

Phase 01 - A leadership development program conducted for the newly appointed batch of prefects of Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela

Phase 02 – Creating a library and donating books for the children of Sirisangabo

Children's Home, Bandarawela

Phase 03 – Donation of essential study material (books and stationery) for the primary section of Kalupahana Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela

The project included the following activities.

Activity 01 – Donation of school stationery, school bags, school shoes, sports uniforms, sports equipment, library books to the school library, and other administrative stationary. In addition, 'Target Question Books' and 'Dalisa Books' were donated for Grade 4 & 5 children preparing for the Grade 05 scholarship exam.

Activity 02 - An English language program to enhance the English language competencies of the students and a valuable motivation program to help them face future challenges were also organized for school children and their parents.

The project team arranged breakfast and other refreshments for the entire school.

The project included the following activities.

Activity 01 –Main Hall of the school, where all the students from Grade 6 to 11 carry out their studies, was painted and renovated

Activity 02 - Books and a cupboard were donated to the school library

Activity 03 - An English workshop was conducted for students from Grades 6 to 11

Activity 04 - Fun activities were organized for the students of the primary section

The project team provided refreshments for the whole school

The project consisted of two phases.

Phase 01 - A Mathematics seminar was conducted for the Grade 11 students of Weera Colonel Niyomal Palipana Vidyalaya, Mukalanaya Thaksala Vidyalaya, and Halawa Kanishta Vidyalaya. Refreshments were provided for the participants.

Phase 02 - A set of exercise books and other school stationery were distributed to all the students of Niyomal Vidyalaya as per their requirements

An old classroom of the school was renovated and developed as a library by painting the room, polishing the floor, drawing artwork on walls, and arranging all other necessities to transform it into a library. Further library books were also donated under the project