Sri Lankan professionals who have trained in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme have formally established a national alumni association. The Sri Lanka ITEC Alumni Association was launched at its inaugural meeting on Thursday, October 8, at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo.
The landmark initiative was driven by the Education Wing of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka under the leadership of First Secretary (Education) Sandeep Chaudhary, bringing together Sri Lanka’s ITEC alumni under a unified national platform for the first time.
Established in 1964, the fully funded ITEC programme serves as a flagship element of India’s development partnership with the Global South. Over six decades, it has trained professionals across 160 countries in key sectors such as public administration, IT, healthcare, engineering, and agriculture. Sri Lanka remains one of its most active beneficiaries, with thousands of public and private sector professionals participating over the years.
The newly formed Association unites alumni across government, semi-government, and private sectors to foster professional networking, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and community service while guiding future Sri Lankan participants.
At the inaugural session, an Executive Committee was elected to lead the Association:
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President: Ms. Gayathri Suveendran
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Vice Presidents: P.B. Hasith Sandaruwan, Leo Darshan
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General Secretary: Anupa Weerarathne
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Assistant Secretary: Vimukthi Dushantha
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Treasurer: S. Rubadharshan
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Assistant Treasurer: I. Ravikumar
Four dedicated sectoral committees were also established to drive specific initiatives:
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Establishment, Administration & Finance: Led by Prof. M.I.M. Mujahid Hilal, M. Farwis, Milroy Aluthwatta, W.P. Suraweera, M.S. Thayaraj, and Asinsala Senevirathne.
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ICT, Digital Transformation & Innovation: Led by Sujah Ameer, Danushka Diunugala, T.M.M. Perera, Tharanga, M.K.H.P. De Silva, Pubuditha Madushan, and Arulkumaran Mahalingam.
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Coordination, Organising & Legal Affairs: Led by T. Srirajeevan, Theja Jayathilaka, Eng. A. Lingeswaran, Chaminda K. Uda, Kumuduni, S. Sinthujan, and Ananda Arasu.
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Media, Public Relations & Publications: Led by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi, Dr. Gayani Kaushalya, Anandi Premarathne, Vimukthi Dushantha, R. Suhanthan, and Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta.
The launch transforms individual training experiences into a collective national resource, strengthening professional collaboration and deepening Sri Lanka–India bilateral ties.
