Graduate Entrepreneur 2025

The Graduate Entrepreneur Exhibition & Sale (GEES) 2025, organized by the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of the University of Kelaniya in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Club, was successfully held on the 26th of November 2025 at the CGU premises. Marking its third consecutive year, the exhibition has become a signature platform that supports and celebrates the entrepreneurial aspirations of undergraduates. It continues to encourage practical innovation, creativity, and market readiness among students.

This year’s exhibition featured 44 talented student entrepreneurs who presented a wide range of unique and innovative products. The participants represented several sectors, including sustainable crafts, food innovations, handmade lifestyle products, digital creations, wellness items, and eco-friendly solutions. Their stalls created an interactive and vibrant atmosphere, showcasing the enthusiasm and commitment of young entrepreneurs. Adding further value to the event, a group of school students also joined GEES 2025 and presented their own creations to the university community, providing an encouraging platform for early entrepreneurial development.

GEES 2025 aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the university. The event provided students with hands-on exposure to real business settings and allowed them to engage directly with customers. Participants received valuable market feedback, explored networking opportunities, and gained confidence in presenting their products. The exhibition also encouraged idea-sharing, peer learning, and practical discussions on business development. These experiences helped students refine their entrepreneurial skills and business strategies.

The event was graced by the presence of Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, who attended as the chief guest. Also present were Senior Professor S. R. D. Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Professor Bandara Wanninayake, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Senior Professor Dilkushi Senaratne, Director of the Career Guidance Unit; and Ms. J. A. D. G. S Ranasinghe, Divisional Secretary of Kelaniya.

Representing the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) were Mr. Dhanuka Liyanagamage, Director of NEDA; Dr. Saminda Ranathunga, Deputy Director, Industrial Development Board (IDB); Ms. Pavithra Weerathunga, Industrial Development Board; and Ms. Oshani Bodhiwansa, Assistant Director (IT) NEDA. Also in attendance were Ms. W. A. D. S. P. Withanaarachchi, Enterprise Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat, Kelaniya; Mr. K. A. M. Viraj Abeysinghe and Mrs. R. P. A. Minoon Perera, Career Counsellors of the University of Kelaniya; members of the Entrepreneurship Club Organizing Committee; and a large number of academic and non-academic staff and students.

GEES 2025 concluded as a successful initiative that showcased the creativity and innovation of undergraduate entrepreneurs. It also strengthened the university’s mission to promote entrepreneurship as a meaningful and achievable career path. The event reaffirmed the University of Kelaniya’s commitment to empowering students with the skills and opportunities needed for future business and leadership roles as entrepreneurs.

The Inauguration Session of the "Brain into Business" - Graduate Entrepreneur Program 2025 was held on the 1st of July 2025 at the Auditorium of the Career Guidance Unit (CGU), University of Kelaniya. The CGU of the University of Kelaniya annually conducts the Graduate Entrepreneur Program in collaboration with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) with the aim of fostering entrepreneurship among undergraduates.

Accordingly, the program is scheduled to be held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July 2025 at the CGU Auditorium of the University of Kelaniya. The program includes several sessions, such as training sessions, proposal writing sessions, proposal evaluation sessions, and a grant awarding session.

The main intention of conducting this program is to empower undergraduates to be self-employed and also to train them in essential skills required to be successful entrepreneurs. More than thirty registered undergraduates participated in the training session. This program continues to be a significant step in promoting youth entrepreneurship and enhancing graduate employability through practical, skill-based learning opportunities.

Meanwhile, Ms. U. K. Sujani Manel, Mr. W. P. R. Sampath (Healthy Rich Soya Products), and Mr. D. G. R. D. Karunasinghe (Online Thoga Kade), the NEDA Grant Winners of 2024, shared their personal journeys to success and they provided valuable insights from their real-life experiences on becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Present at the occasion were Mr. Dhanuka Liyanagamage, the Director of the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA); Ms. Bhagya Nakandala, Enterprise Promotion Officer of NEDA; Ms. W. A. D. S. Princy Withanaarachchi, Enterprise Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat, Kelaniya; Ms. W. K. Senasinghe, Enterprise Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat, Attanagalla; Ms. R. M. A. J. Kumari, District Enterprise Development Officer, District Secretariat Office, Gampaha; Ms. W. H. T. R. Priyanthi, Enterprise Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat, Mahara; Mr. K. A. M. Viraj Abeysinghe, Career Counsellor of the University of Kelaniya; and Mrs. R. P. A. Minoon Perera, Career Counsellor of the University of Kelaniya.

The New Year Sales Exhibition, organized by the Entrepreneurship Club of the Career Guidance Unit (CGU), University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on March 26, 2025 at the “Mee Amba Sewana” premises of the University of Kelaniya.

A total of thirty university students participated in the exhibition, showcasing a wide variety of creative and handmade merchandise for sale, and it was particularly noteworthy that they received high appreciation and demand from attendees.

This New Year Sales Exhibition was organized by the CGU within the university, with the objectives of encouraging student entrepreneurs and undergraduates engaged in small-scale businesses to transition their creative entrepreneurial ideas and skills into the real business world by fostering an entrepreneurial culture among university students, and creating a crucial platform for those students already involved in entrepreneurship to showcase and promote their innovative ideas and talents.

A wide variety of merchandise, including fresh food, decorative items, spices, clothing, gift items, bags/purses, stationery, jewelry, paintings, batik clothing and designs, and ornamental plants, all of which were the original creations and productions of the undergraduates, were presented for sale.

Senior Professor Dilkushi Wettewe, Director of the CGU graced the event as the chief guest, while the academic and non-academic staff members and students of the university were among the attendees.