The First Batch of the SLAF ‘Hospitality Management School’ Spreads Their Wings
12:18am on Saturday 21st September 2013
The closing ceremony of the first batch of Catering Assistants’ Advanced Course and Ground Stewards’ Refresher Course of the newly established SLAF Hospitality Management School at SLAF Station Sigiriya was held this evening (20 September 2013).
The Chief Guest on the occasion was the Director Logistics Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathi. The proceedings of the ceremony took wing with the welcome speech delivered by the Chief Instructor of the School Squadron Leader KKJ Vimukthi. Certificates were awarded to eight students for the successful completion of the Ground Stewards’ Refresher Course which commenced on 01July2013 and for twenty four students of the Catering Assistants’ Advanced Course which commenced on 26 February 2013 at SLAF Academy China-Bay and which was subsequently transferred to SLAF Station Sigiriya with the establishment of this school which was declared open at SLAF Station Sigiriya on 14th June 2013 by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama.
After the customary speech delivered by the Chief Guest and the Vote of Thanks given by the Commanding Officer SLAF Station Sigiriya Wing Commander Channa Gunathileke the attendance were shown the innovative projects prepared and Food Display conducted by the trainees of these two courses.
The Hospitality Management School which functions directly under the Directorate of Logistics was established with the purpose of developing proficiency and skills by providing comprehensive training for logistic personnel, future hoteliers, restaurateurs and personnel engaged in tourism. It is intended to equip them with functional knowledge, skills and right attitudes to become professionals in the hospitality field in order to meet the future challenges of the hospitality aspects of the SLAF on par with international Standards.
This school is an independent Formation of the Sri Lanka Air Force and functions under the command of a Chief Instructor who is responsible through the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Station Sigiriya to the Director Logistics and Director Training for efficient function of the school whilst achieving its Mission Objectives ‘To develop, transform and produce globally competent leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry through sound curricular, industry – based facilities and professional instructions’.
Presently, this school facilitates the conduct of following training courses; Ground Stewards Basic and Advanced Courses, Catering Basic and Advanced Courses, Hospitality Management Course for Officer Cadets and Refresher Courses for Officers, Catering and Ground Stewards, by deploying experienced instructors and serving Officers in the SLAF, who are qualified in the Hotel Management field. The SLAF intends to utilize qualified lecturers from the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to provide students with outside exposure at star class hotels and also to provide them with standard lecture notes and study packs.
As the second stage of this initiative SLAF intends to upgrade the course to diploma level by affiliating with the SLITHM which is the only Government approved institute in Sri Lanka to train young men and women in the complex field of Hospitality and Travel Industry which is managed under the Ministry of Economic Development. Further, the SLAF also intends to open the course to outside organizations to train their executives on formal dining etiquette while providing training for future hoteliers, restaurateurs and personnel in the tourism industry.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was the Director Logistics Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathi. The proceedings of the ceremony took wing with the welcome speech delivered by the Chief Instructor of the School Squadron Leader KKJ Vimukthi. Certificates were awarded to eight students for the successful completion of the Ground Stewards’ Refresher Course which commenced on 01July2013 and for twenty four students of the Catering Assistants’ Advanced Course which commenced on 26 February 2013 at SLAF Academy China-Bay and which was subsequently transferred to SLAF Station Sigiriya with the establishment of this school which was declared open at SLAF Station Sigiriya on 14th June 2013 by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama.
After the customary speech delivered by the Chief Guest and the Vote of Thanks given by the Commanding Officer SLAF Station Sigiriya Wing Commander Channa Gunathileke the attendance were shown the innovative projects prepared and Food Display conducted by the trainees of these two courses.
The Hospitality Management School which functions directly under the Directorate of Logistics was established with the purpose of developing proficiency and skills by providing comprehensive training for logistic personnel, future hoteliers, restaurateurs and personnel engaged in tourism. It is intended to equip them with functional knowledge, skills and right attitudes to become professionals in the hospitality field in order to meet the future challenges of the hospitality aspects of the SLAF on par with international Standards.
This school is an independent Formation of the Sri Lanka Air Force and functions under the command of a Chief Instructor who is responsible through the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Station Sigiriya to the Director Logistics and Director Training for efficient function of the school whilst achieving its Mission Objectives ‘To develop, transform and produce globally competent leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry through sound curricular, industry – based facilities and professional instructions’.
Presently, this school facilitates the conduct of following training courses; Ground Stewards Basic and Advanced Courses, Catering Basic and Advanced Courses, Hospitality Management Course for Officer Cadets and Refresher Courses for Officers, Catering and Ground Stewards, by deploying experienced instructors and serving Officers in the SLAF, who are qualified in the Hotel Management field. The SLAF intends to utilize qualified lecturers from the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to provide students with outside exposure at star class hotels and also to provide them with standard lecture notes and study packs.
As the second stage of this initiative SLAF intends to upgrade the course to diploma level by affiliating with the SLITHM which is the only Government approved institute in Sri Lanka to train young men and women in the complex field of Hospitality and Travel Industry which is managed under the Ministry of Economic Development. Further, the SLAF also intends to open the course to outside organizations to train their executives on formal dining etiquette while providing training for future hoteliers, restaurateurs and personnel in the tourism industry.
