12th International Conference on Business and Information 2021 (Virtual)
International Conference on Business and Information (ICBI) organized by the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya was held on the 11th of November 2021 at the university premises.
The conference ran on a hybrid mode which included virtual presentations given the prevailing global situation.
It was held for the 12th consecutive time under the theme “Reinventing Business Strategies in the Next Normal”. The goal of ICBI 2021 was to bring researchers and practitioners to share cutting-edge developments in all spheres of management to a common platform.
Technical Forums, Academic Paper Presentations, Doctoral Colloquium, and Virtual 3MT Competition were the four main features of the ICBI 2021. Industry experts representing various renowned organizations in Sri Lanka and in overseas were the panel members of the Technical Forums. Around 100 academic papers were selected for virtual presentations at the conference. In addition to the papers received from local universities, (University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Colombo, University of Jaffna, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, University of Peradeniya, University of Wayamba, and University of Ruhuna) papers were received from foreign authors in India, Austria, and Bangladesh. Papers of DBA/PhD candidates from local universities were presented at the Doctoral Colloquium of ICBI 2021.
Virtual 3MT Competition was the newest addition to this year’s conference and the University of Queensland, Australia has given the permission to conduct this competition in the University of Kelaniya. This competition is about oral presentations by PhD/ MPhil/DBA candidates on their scientific research and its significance concisely in just 03 minutes before an educated general audience. The objectives of the 3MT competition are to enhance higher research students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
Cadre Chair & Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya participated as the Chief Guest. Senior Lecturer Dr. P. N. D. Fernando, Dean- Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies was the Guest of Honour. His Excellency David Holly, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia gave the Keynote Speech while Prof. Charl de Villiers – University of Auckland, New Zealand attended as a Guest Speaker.
Prof. P. M. C. Thilakarathna, Conference Chair- ICBI 2021, Senior Lecturer Dr. Amila Munasinghe, Conference Co-Chair- ICBI 2021, and Senior Lecturer Dr. Nisansala Wijekoon, Conference Secretary- ICBI 2021 were also present at the event.