Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana's achievements as an entrepreneur are impressive, and he has made a significant contribution to the development of the technology industry in Sri Lanka. The Java Institute, which he founded in 2005, is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities.
First Ever Sun Certified Java Programmer
One of Dr. Siribaddana's early achievements was becoming the first-ever Sun Certified Java Programmer in Sri Lanka in 2001. This certification was significant at the time, as Java programming was not widely popular in Sri Lanka, despite being an emerging technology around the world. By obtaining this certification, Dr. Siribaddana demonstrated his expertise in Java programming and positioned himself as a pioneer in the field in Sri Lanka.
The Java Institute Start Up
Dr. Siribaddana's vision and expertise in Java programming and education led him to found the Java Institute in 2005. The institute was founded to meet the growing demand for high-quality Java education in Sri Lanka, and it has since expanded to offer a range of technology and business programs to students. By founding the Java Institute, Dr. Siribaddana identified a major requirement in the Sri Lankan education sector and developed a successful business model to address it.
Joint Venture with The World Bank Project
The fact that Dr. Siribaddana was able to build the Java Institute after the end of his joint venture with the Distance Learning Center Limited, a World Bank-funded high-tech institute in Sri Lanka, is a testament to his entrepreneurial capabilities. He was able to identify an opportunity in the market and leverage his expertise to build a successful business from the ground up.
Furthermore, Dr. Siribaddana's achievements demonstrate his entrepreneurial capabilities and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities in the technology industry. The Java Institute he founded has played an important role in developing the technology industry in Sri Lanka and producing high-tech entrepreneurs in the country.
Introduction of Software Engineering Graduate Program to Sri Lanka
Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has been a pioneer in introducing new technology and education programs to Sri Lanka. In 2007, he introduced the Software Engineering degree program through the Java Institute. At that time, most private and national universities in Sri Lanka were limited to offering ICT graduate programs, and only a few state universities provided computer science degree programs. However, Dr. Siribaddana recognized that in order to grow the ICT industry in Sri Lanka, it was essential to produce software engineers for the industry.
Dr. Siribaddana's vision and leadership in introducing the Software Engineering degree program to Sri Lanka was a major achievement. He identified a gap in the market and was able to develop a successful program that would address this need. The program was designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the software engineering field and was tailored to meet the specific needs of the Sri Lankan market.
The introduction of the Software Engineering degree program was significant, as it was the first program of its kind in Sri Lanka. It provided students with the opportunity to gain a high-quality education in a field that was in high demand in the local market. The success of the program also paved the way for other institutions to introduce similar programs in Sri Lanka.
Still Software Engineering Programs are not Sufficiently available
After the Java Institute introduced the Software Engineering degree program, the Open University of Sri Lanka also started offering a Software Engineering program a few years later. In 2014, the University of Kelaniya started a Software Engineering program at its Science Faculty, accommodating around 50 students. However, as of 2023, Sri Lanka's state higher education sector has not yet started Software Engineering degree programs.
Overall, Dr. Siribaddana's leadership in introducing the Software Engineering degree program to Sri Lanka was a major achievement and has made a significant contribution to the development of the ICT industry in the country. It is an example of his entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities to make a positive impact in the education and technology sectors.
Internationalization of National Curriculum as the Pioneer
Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has been actively working towards aligning the academic curriculum in Sri Lanka with the international academic system. In 2012, he led an academic team to credit map the Software Engineering curriculum to the SCQF (Scottish Qualification Framework) of the SQA (Scottish Qualification Authority). This was a pioneering effort in Sri Lanka, as most private institutes in the country simply affiliate and deliver graduate course content provided by international universities.
By 2017, this project had come to fruition, with the Java Institute now offering an internationally recognized Software Engineering degree program. The program was later validated by Birmingham City University, which now offers a BSc in Software Engineering in partnership with the Java Institute. It is worth noting that no state or private university in Sri Lanka has developed their own curriculum credit mapped with the international academic system, which makes this achievement all the more significant.
Development Bank for Cooperative Sector is a Brainchild
Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana's entrepreneurial ability is evident through his creation of the first-ever development banking society in the cooperative history of over 115 years. Despite the presence of over 4000 rural banks in the cooperative sector, there had been no development bank established until he introduced the TEMCO Development Banking Society. His innovative approach to creating this banking society included introducing novel concepts not previously considered in the traditional cooperative sector banking societies.
Concept of Regulation through a Consolidated Account
The TEMCO Development Banking Society was named after Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Cooperative Development, and it was established as his own brainchild. Dr. Siribaddana introduced many novel concepts through the bylaws of the banking society, including an island-wide independently executable branching network that is financially regulated through a consolidated account. Additionally, the bank's planning and policy-making remain centralized, while the operations are decentralized, allowing each branch set up under TEMCO to consist of a board of directors.
Joint Venture Facility is Introduced
Another groundbreaking feature introduced by Dr. Siribaddana was a joint venture formation facility with existing companies or entrepreneurs, as well as a low-interest entrepreneur and business loan system for its members. These features went beyond the AWPLR systems of commercial banks, providing members of the TEMCO Development Banking Society with new and more affordable means of accessing funding.
Dr. Siribaddana's approach to setting up this development banking society shows his entrepreneurial spirit and his innovative thinking. By introducing novel concepts to the traditional cooperative sector banking society, he paved the way for future development banking societies to follow.
