ii

Management Internship Diaries

2020

Management Internship & Research Symposium

18th June 2021
Faculty of Management
University of Peradeniya
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iv
 Content

Message from the Vice Chancellor ..................................................................1

Message from the Dean ...................................................................................1

Message from the Internship Committee of the Faculty ..................................3

Committee Members of the Faculty Internship Committee ............................4

Internship Diaries 2020

Abeykoon P. D. D. S. - Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC……………………. ...6

Dilshan N.V.S. - Bitzean (Pvt) Ltd………………………………………… .8

Dissanayake D.M.Y.N. - Variosystems (pvt) ltd………………….……. ....10

Edirisinghe V. P. - HNB General Insurance Limited………………….... …12

Fernando M. C. P. - R & J Apparels (Pvt) Ltd………………………..........14

Fonseka W.A.P.P. - DIMO Agri Businesses………………………….........16

Gunasekera K.L.U W.M. - Mendis & Company Ltd…………...………….18

Gunathilaka M. A. A. N. - Ceylon National Industries…………….………20

Harivarman M. - Potenza (Pvt) Ltd……………………………...…………22

Liyanaarachchi L.A.V.K. - Bartleet Produce Marketing (Pvt) Ltd………...24

Marasinghe M.P.P.D. - Nestlé Lanka PLC………………………………...26

Navoda W.A.P. - Wijeyeratne & Company………………………………...28

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Niroshan W.S. - D P Logistics (Pvt) Ltd…………………………………...30

Nisansala M.R. - Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd…………………… …...32

Panduwawala P.K.I.S. - Silueta (Pvt) Ltd………………………………… .34

Panduwawala P.K.U.S. - Silueta (Pvt) ltd………………………………….36

Perera H. S. S. - People's Leasing and Finance PLC……………………….38

Rishada M.R.F. - Haputale Divisional Secretariate……………………… ..40

Samarasekera S.A.N.H. - Avery Dennison Lanka (Pvt) Ltd……………………....42

Sandaruwan M.H. - JayKay Marketing Services (Pvt) ltd……………… ...44

Sanjaya Lanka L.H.S. - People’s Bank…………………………………. …46

Shanmugarajah T. - Omega Line Ltd-Vavuniya Apparels…………… …...48

Silva D.D. - Central Finance Company PLC…………………………… ....50

Wickramaarachchi W.M.M.N. - Alpha Apparel Ltd……………………………....52

Wijesingha D.R.D. - People’s Bank……………………………………. …54

Jayarathna K.R.G.R.L. - Horana Plantations PLC ……………………... …56

Thathsarani H.A.K. - Hirdaramani Industries (Pvt) Ltd…………………....58

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 Message from the Vice Chancellor

It is with great pleasure that I forward this message of felicitation on the

Message from the Vice Chancellor
occasion of the annual Internship and Research Symposium-2020 of the
Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
This virtual symposium organized by the Faculty Internship Committee of the
Faculty of Management provides the opportunity for our undergraduates to
showcase their competencies gained from from
Message the internship
the programme
Vice that they
Chancellor
have followed during their final year. I am sure that this conference will give
them an opportunity to gather important insights and guidelines from scholars
and practitioners from the world of work.
As a result of this event, undergraduates and other participants get an
Message
opportunity to engage with critical from
concerns the
relating to anVice Chancellor
array of discourses
in different fields such as Accounting, Finance, Human Resource
Management, Operations Management, and Organizational Management.
Moreover, this will allow the students to understand new changes within the
fields of management and business which will help them to adapt and update
in line with the dynamic environment.
Message from the DeanMessage from the
I am indeed pleased about the Faculty as it has a serious orientation towards
Vice
conducting applied research. In addition, I am Chancellor
confident that having a constant
dialog with the industry, would create a robust platform for further
strengthening the faculty’s relationships and understanding with a multitude
of stakeholders in the industry.
I extend my best regards to the organizing committee of the Undergraduate
Message
Internship and Research symposium from
- 2020 the
and all Vice
other Chancellor
contributors who
have rendered their support to make this event a success.

Prof. Upul. B. Dissanayake

Vice Chancellor
University of Peradeniya Message from the Vice Chancellor

Message from the Vice Chancellor

1
 Message from the Dean

It is with great pleasure that I write this message for the magazine that will be
launched in parallel with the “Internship
Message the eventthe
Diaries”, from that Dean
the Faculty
of Management organizes annually to showcase the internship experiences of
the final year undergraduates of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Honours. This year, the Faculty conducts this event for the sixth consecutive
year for the students who pursued the internship programme during the
2019/2020 academic year.
Message from the Dean
The internship programme of the Faculty of Management provides a platform
for the students to get exposure to industry/wide practices. More specifically,
Message
it provides thefrom the with
students Internship Committee
an opportunity of the
to experience thepractical
Faculty
applications of what they have learnt in the classroom. In addition, such
experience not only enhances the competencies of the undergraduates but also
provides further avenues for career Message
advancementsfrom in theirthe Dean
chosen field of
study. It is also plausible that through the internship programme, students will
be in a better position to develop essential skills such as teamwork, problemme
solving, decision making, and communication skills which without a doubt
enhance their employability after graduation.
Message from the Dean
The Faculty selects the best performing interns from the five Departments
using a rigorous evaluation process during and at the end of the internship
period, viz. interim evaluation, internship memorandums and reports,
confidential report of the internship supervisor and the final presentation and
invites them to showcase their talents at the “Internship Diaries” event where
Messagepanel
the best intern will be selected by an independent from therepresenting
of judges Dean
the industry.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay my sincere gratitude to the
Chairman and the members of the Internship Committee for their significant
contribution towards the success of the internship programme – 2019/2020
academic year and all the staff members Message from
for their greatthe Dean in
contribution
supervising and evaluating the internship students. Finally, I would like to
wish all the very best for the students who will be competing for the Best Intern
Award at “Internship Diaries” today.

Prof. E.M.A.S.B. Ekanayake Message from the Dean

Dean, Faculty of Management

Message from
Message from theCommittee Members of thethe DeanInternship
Faculty 2
Message from the Internship Committee of the Faculty

We, as the Internship Committee of the Faculty, are happy to make this note
Message from
at the time when the Internship
our final year studentsCommittee of thefrom
are ready to graduate Faculty
the
University.
The Internship Committee of the Faculty believes that undergraduates must
acquire hands-on experience not only on theoretical aspects of the subjects but
also develop related soft skills such as maintaining personal relations,
Message from
presentation skills,the Internship
leadership, Committee
and communication skills. Inoforder
thetoFaculty
make
sure the students attain these skills, the competition titled, “Management
Internship Diaries - 2020” is organized to select ‘The Best Intern - 2020’ from
those who have participated in the Internship Program this year. Accordingly,
throughout the internship period, students as interns have undergone several
Message from the
rigorous evaluation Internship
rounds Committee
on diverse aspects of the
of their internship Faculty
experience.
Mostly, student assessment in diverse rounds was done by a panel of lecturers
and industry experts. A selected group of 27 students who specialized in BBA
or who followed the [Link] Degree offered by the Faculty has been selected
according to their successful performance of their internship programs. These
students were invited to submit their narratives to compile the “Internship
Message from the Internship Committee of the Faculty
Diaries 2020”. A selected group of 12 out of 27 students will compete in the
Symposium, presenting their internship experience and industrial exposure in
order to become the best intern in the year 2020, Faculty of Management.
According to the academic calendar of the Faculty Internship Committee, the
Undergraduate
Message fromResearch Symposium of Committee
the Internship 2018 is the last activity
of thethatFaculty
took
place, and hence, it will complete a cycle of activities of students’ internships.
Subsequently, a magazine is launched by the Faculty which holds the
compiled reports of the internship experiences.
We, as the Internship Committee of the Faculty, are much delighted to witness
Message fromamong
the competition the interns
Internship Committee
in the virtual of the
platform this time Faculty
and wish all
the best for their future endeavors too.

Internship Committee,
Faculty of Management
Message from the Internship Committee of the Faculty

Message from the Internship Committee of the Faculty 3

Committee Members of the Faculty Internship Committee

Prof. R.H. Kuruppuge

Chairman

Ms. H.M.N.K. Mudalige

Department of Business Finance
Committee Members of the Faculty Internship Committee
Ms. W.A. Edirisooriya
Department of Human Resource Management

Mr. T.S.S. Fernando

Department of Management Studies

Ms. B.S. Hettiarachchy

Department of Marketing Management

Ms. S.P. Aryarathne

Department of Operations Management

Ms. A.S. Shiromy

[Link] Internship Coordinator

Committee Members of the Faculty Internship Committee

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5
 Abeykoon P. D. D. S.
Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC

Project Abstract

The aim of the project was to investigate

the key challenges in adopting
sustainability reporting. Initially, a
disclosure score was developed based on
the sustainability reporting guidelines
which were issued by the Colombo Stock
Exchange to assess the level of the
sustainability reporting and undertook an
industry comparison with reference to
Healthcare Institutions. The
Name: Abeykoon P. D. D. S. sustainability reporting level of the
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) selected company was measured using a
in Accounting & Finance one-sample test and it is lower. It also
revealed that the sustainability reporting
Department: Business Finance
level of the selected company is lower
Internship Provider: Asiri than the Healthcare Industry. Further,
Hospital Holdings PLC semi-structured interviews were
Project Title: Sustainability conducted to identify the key challenges
Reporting related to the lower level of corporate
voluntarism, transparency, traceability,
and a consistent approach for
sustainability reporting.

Internship Experience

To complete my internship training, I decided to join the Department of

Finance of Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC. It is a subsidiary of Softlogic
Holdings PLC. Softlogic Group is rated as one of the most dynamic and
aggressive conglomerates in Sri Lanka. It has expanded its name while holding
leading positions in several domestic growth-oriented sectors such as ICT,
healthcare, retail, financial services, automobiles, and leisure. Asiri Hospital
Holdings operates under the healthcare sector of the group.

The internship offered by the Department of Finance was provided for a period
of 6 months. I was appointed as an employee of the Account Receivable

6
section and the Fixed Assets section in the Department of Finance. Even
though I joined as an intern, fortunately, I could obtain a permanent position
at the company. It was a bit challenging as well as an interesting experience
that I gained during the internship period. Further, I got an opportunity to work
with several other departments such as the Departments of Procurement,
Human Resource, Internal Audit, and Marketing. Thus, I obtained an
understanding of the functions and interdependency of these departments. For
instance, I interacted with the managers, executives, and co-workers of the
other departments such as the Department of Human Resource to get things
done regarding the staff welfare and staff allowances and the Department of
Procurement to know about the purchasing of fixed assets.

Since Asiri is an institution that utilises new technologies and new trends to
increase their efficiency and effectiveness, I was able to educate myself with
many new findings like new accounting packages and online IOU systems
while working as an intern. When I started my internship, I only had
theoretical knowledge and after I started my internship program, I could learn
how to use theoretical knowledge practically in the business environment.
Actually, with the experience I got and with the activities I engaged in at the
company, I was able to develop a lot of skills such as interpersonal skills, time
management skills, and problem-solving skills. At the end of the internship
programme, I was recruited as a permanent employee of Asiri Hospital
Holdings as an Account Assistant. That is basically because I was able to
improve and widen my knowledge from the work I performed and even the
mistakes I made. Furthermore, in order to survive in the industry, I should
improve communication skills, language skills, information technology skills
as well as analytical skills. I hope this information will be helpful to develop
not only myself but also the others who are seeking internship/job
opportunities in the industry.

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 Dilshan N. V. S.
Bitzean (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to investigate

the impact of online relationship
marketing on customer loyalty with the
mediating effect of online trust. The
researcher has selected Bitzean (Pvt) Ltd
and collected data from 150 customers
who visited the Bitzean website. A
convenience sampling method was used
and questionnaires were distributed to
Name: Dilshan N.V.S. collect data. Descriptive statistics,
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) regression analysis, and PROCESS
in Organizational Management macro tool were used to analyse the data
Department: Management Studies with the support of the SPSS 25 version.
Internship Provider: Bitzean (Pvt) Findings reveal that there is a significant
impact of online relationship marketing
Ltd dimensions on loyalty. Engagement and
Project Title: Online Relationship interactivity indicated an impact on
Marketing customer loyalty with the mediating
effect of online trust.

Internship Experience
Bitzean (Pvt) Ltd is a company that provides advertising of services and
products, freelancing, online stores, and IT solutions to people and business
organizations. Bitzean (Pvt) Ltd has introduced a social network where
businesses and people can productively interact with one another. This social
media platform works similarly to other social media platforms. But compared
to other social media platforms, the uniqueness of Bitzean is that their
customers can earn a portion of the platform's revenues based on their
activities in Bitzean's social media platform. Even though the organization is
as yet in its developing stage, it has effectively gotten a critical spot in the Sri
Lankan setting.

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When it comes to the corporate world, we cannot implement the exact theories
that we learned in the BBA degree program as they are. In the practical
scenarios, we have to integrate, moderate, and blend those theories according
to the real work context. As an intern of the Bitzean Company, I was appointed
to the post of intern operation assistance. It has been an extraordinary chance
for me to enhance my skills in various areas such as employee recruitment,
digital marketing, direct marketing, customer relations, entrepreneurial
consultation, mass advertising, and administrative activities. In addition to
that, I was able to develop soft skills such as computer proficiency,
communication & presentation, negotiation abilities, relationship building,
and maintaining, etc.
As university undergraduates, we gain a greater part of the theoretical
knowledge about the corporate world. However, after I step into the corporate
world, I realize there is a gap between theoretical knowledge and reality when
it comes to execution. Any undergrad will confront certain difficulties in his/
her work environment without related knowledge in the real work context.
When considering myself, I faced numerous difficulties during my entry-level
position period due to my unfamiliarity with the technological industry.
Especially due to this reason, handling clients was a big challenge for me as it
was my first industry experience.

I consider this internship as a great opportunity that helped me to enhance my

hard skills and soft skills. In addition to that, within the internship period, I
was able to apply my theoretical knowledge in every aspect to useful
circumstances. Even as an intern, I was able to make a compelling
commitment to the effective achievement of the organization's targets. This
internship program has been an incredible establishment for my career
development profession through an internship program at BitZean (Pvt) Ltd.

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 Dissanayake D.M.Y.N.
Variosystems (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to explore the

relationship between slow-moving
inventory and the profit of the company.
The study used both qualitative and
quantitative methods to investigate the
research questions. The sample period
for the study was six months. The
researcher identified that there are six
Name: Dissanayake D.M.Y.N. cost factors, which impact profitability.
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) Hypotheses were developed based on
in Operations Management those cost factors and tested by using
Department: Operations correlation analysis. According to the
analysis, one of the cost factors affects
Management
profitability. It is recommended to
Internship Provider: implement a Just-In-Time (JIT)
Variosystems (Pvt) Ltd inventory management system.
Project Title: Slow-moving
Inventory and Profitability

Internship Experience

Through the BSM 498 Management Internship course, the Faculty expects an
undergraduate to complete a total of 600 hours in the course period of one
semester to gain experience regarding the industry. The organization that I
chose to complete my management internship is Variosystems (Pvt) Ltd.
Badalagama, which is one of the largest electric and electronic service
providing organizations in the world. There are 5 plants all around the world.
The main products of VS can be categorized as printed circuit board
assembling and wire harness manufacturing.

I started my internship as an in-plant trainee of the Sales and Project

Management Department, under the supervision of Manager-Business

10
Excellence and Executive Trainer. My main responsibility was assisting my
supervisor to lead the projects that she carried out. During my internship
period, we worked on an inventory turnover improvement project and an
operational cost optimization project. Since most of the operations are carried
out through the ERP system, it was a good opportunity for me to experience
the operations of the ERP system. I learnt to develop process mapping using
Viflow software and also learnt a lot of new things about the import and export
operations, documents and terms used by the international business, and the
technologies and infrastructures available in the international business.
Through this internship programme I was able to experience several concepts
and theories in the real-world scenarios that we learnt throughout our academic
period. Also, I was able to develop communication skills and workload
balancing skills. VS always encourages us to learn new things and update
trends in the business world.

It was a major challenge to find an internship because of this pandemic

situation. Since most of the organizations are not accepting new employees,
undergraduates may face a lot of difficulties.

I enjoyed my internship and experienced much better. There is no better way

to get started in our career than by participating in an internship programme.
When entering into a job market the employers not only consider academic
and professional qualifications but work experience and skills related to the
work as well. Therefore, I got a great opportunity to get this experience, as my
Faculty linked the gap between academic knowledge and the practical
scenario. Thanks to this, apart from the theories and concepts that I have learnt,
I was able to develop my skills and attitudes too.

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 Edirisinghe V. P.
HNB General Insurance Ltd

Project Abstract
The aim of this project was to investigate
the contributory factors of the Cash
Conversion Cycle including external
environmental consequences (Easter
Sunday Attack and COVID-19) while
identifying the relationship between the
variables. The project adopted a
quantitative deductive research
approach. Quarterly data for a sample
Name: Edirisinghe V. P. period of 2015-2020 was considered.
The study found out that there is a strong
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.)
positive and significant relationship
in Accounting and Finance between the external environmental
Department: Business Finance consequences and Accounts Receivables
Internship Provider: HNB of the insurance company indicating
General Insurance Ltd that there has been an increase in
accounts receivables. Finally, it was
Project Title: Working Capital
recommended that the company should
Management implement efficient and effective
working capital policies mainly focusing
on accounts receivables.

Internship Experience

I underwent a six-month internship at HNB General Insurance Limited as a

Finance Intern. I was initially assigned the duties and responsibilities of the
Daily Banking Register Unit which mainly acts as a controlling unit that is
responsible for the receipt management of all branches and the Head Office. I
also had the opportunity to explore the functioning of reinsurance payment
processing, taxation, bank reconciliation, and supplier payments as well.
Further, the endless support from co-workers and guidance from supervisors
facilitated me in getting used to the process that is taking place, the operation
of insurance activities, and studying other functions as well. Having been

12
entrusted with all the duties and responsibilities of the Daily Banking Register
Unit, I was able to boost my self-confidence and carry out the process
smoothly. Having to communicate with different parties related to receipt
issues and other activities enabled me to develop and refine my
communication skills while avoiding my nervousness. The continuous support
from colleagues enabled me to improve team working skills. Additionally, I
was also able to get familiarized with using MS Excel and e-mails and improve
my interpersonal skills.

I also had to deal with some challenges when completing my internship. The
biggest challenge I had to face initially was the working from home concept
with the prevailing situation where I had to stay at home from time to time in
the beginning. This made it a little difficult to understand the process at the
very beginning. With the lack of knowledge I had regarding the operational
activities of the insurance company it was difficult to handle branch issues and
communicate with them. The main operational processes and the technical
terms related to insurance made it difficult for me to understand the process as
it was an entirely new thing for me at the beginning. However, with time I was
able to overcome these challenges and handle all the duties and responsibilities
that were assigned to me.

At the commencement of the internship, I was rich in the theoretical

background but with a lack of practical exposure. However, the internship
programme undertaken as partial completion of the degree program helped me
in enhancing my awareness in the application of theoretical knowledge where
I had the opportunity and capacity to expose myself in handling practical
issues and challenges. Further, this program enabled me to develop my
competencies, inculcate skills and adjust to the corporate world.

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 Fernando M. C. P.
R&J Apparels (Pvt) Ltd
.
Project Abstract
The aim of this project was to determine
the impact of job stress on job
satisfaction of machine operators in
R&J Apparels (Pvt) Ltd. This research
was based on the quantitative approach.
Simple random sampling was used to
select the sample for the study and the
sample included 100 machine operators.
According to the findings, there is a
Name: Fernando M. C. P. positive relationship between work
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) overload and job stress and home-work
in Human resource Management interface and job stress. Further, results
Department: Human Resource show that there is a negative
relationship between job stress and job
Management
satisfaction. As a recommendation, the
Internship Provider: R&J company requires to conduct different
Apparels (Pvt) Ltd programmes to reduce employee job
Project Title: Employee Job Stress stress to enhance job satisfaction.

Internship Experience

I did my internship programme at R&J Apparels (Pvt) Ltd, Badulla. This

garment factory is specialized in producing ladies' garments with over 30 years
of experience as it was established in 1992. R&J Apparels is a supplier and
manufacturer for some of the largest leading brands in Sri Lanka and the
company also manufactures private labels for leading brands. They have also
expanded their business activities to the retail market with their own brand
"JEZZA" which caters to a diverse female customer base. And 350 employees
are working in this company.

I worked in the Human Resource Department in this organization and I had to

assist in conducting recruitments, administration, managing the payroll,

14
engaging in employee relations, and helping in training and development,
apart from my job description. I participated in the department induction
programme and also in an in-house training programme. During my
internship, I was assigned a special assignment and it helped me to identify
how to apply theoretical knowledge into practical contexts. Some of the
assignments I had to complete were analysing the best-performing employees,
making a training need analysis, and completing a mini project to display the
company's vision and mission.

As an HR intern, I faced several challenges during my internship. Experienced

employees have better knowledge than us. Therefore, I had to get constant
briefings from senior employees because theoretical knowledge is not enough
to complete a satisfactory job. Even though I am a university undergraduate,
some younger employees are highly qualified and possess more experience
and knowledge than me. Hence, I was constantly challenged to perform well
because the working environment was competitive. The workstation was also
very diverse and I had to work with different types of people.

I believe the most important thing which I gained during my internship period
is self-development. As undergraduates, we lack practical experience.
Therefore, this industrial training helped me to enhance some skills such as
team working, people handling, time management, social networking, and
communication skills among others. Apart from those, I also gained hands-on
experience on how to apply theoretical knowledge into practical situations and
I managed to improve all these through the special assessment which I carried
out during my internship. As I think, learning to work under pressure is a very
important skill to learn to become successful in a work environment.

15
 Fonseka W.A.P.P.
DIMO Agri Businesses

Project Abstract
The aim of this project was to identify the
impact of store environment on consumer
buying behaviour with special reference
to the proposed perfect stores of DIMO
Agri Businesses. The researcher
identified the main elements of the store
environment as design elements, ambient
elements, social elements, and
Name: Fonseka W.A.P.P. operational elements. The quantitative
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) method was used and the selected sample
in Marketing Management size was 85. This research elicited that
design factors and operational factors
Department: Marketing
have a significant impact on consumer
Management buying behaviour while ambient factors
Internship Provider: DIMO Agri and social factors do not have a positive
Businesses impact. The Researcher recommends
Project Title: Store Environment maintaining the right assortment of
products with better operating days and
and Consumer Buying Behaviour
hours while adding card payment
facilities, parking areas, and advisable
point of sales materials, in-store sales
promotions with visibility.

Internship Experience

DIMO Agribusinesses, the agricultural arm of the Diesel and Motor

Engineering (DIMO) PLC, was established in 2018 with the motto of “Next
Generation Agriculture”. DIMO Agribusinesses provides wider crop care
solutions, plant nutrient specialty products, seeds, fertilizers, and implement
Agri specialty projects.

As an undergraduate trainee, I was inducted into the Department of Marketing

and Business Development under the supervision of Deputy General Manager
Mr. Pradeepa Jayasinghe. As this organization is related to Agri specialty
projects, it has given me the opportunity to work in a cross-functional team

16
from field sales to brand marketing to Agri proceedings which have enabled
me to have a holistic view of the business. With that, I was able to join the
research and development procedures, seed productions, practicing the latest
technologies in crop management, and farmer education and training
activities.

It was a great opportunity to experience how they combine their customer

relations strategies with individual farmers in the B2C market and local firms
in the B2B market. In addition to that, they provided opportunities for me to
work together with professionals and experts in the field in business meetings,
workshops, and sessions. Assigning me to prepare marketing plans and
business proposals based on company needs, provided me the opportunity to
show what I am capable of. It was a great platform where I could receive a
vast array of experiences.

I believe that the most common and biggest challenge we all faced during our
internship period was to ensure the safety of the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Since I had had no previous experience, I also felt the nervousness that anyone
feels when stepping into the corporate world for the first time. In addition, my
limited agricultural knowledge challenged me in certain ways. As I had to
manage some situations on my own, the perceptions of the top management
towards marketing gave me the strength to face the challenges.

As a Sri Lankan company, DIMO Agribusinesses has duly stepped forward to

address the national need of revitalizing the local agriculture sector. I was
fortunate to have an internship in this growing organization as it was
immensely helpful to make positive changes in my life by inspiring self-
confidence. Even though they are a new start-up business, they nurtured,
mentored, and supported me immensely. I believe it will be a leading business
in Sri Lanka that will pave the way for the future marketing generation.

17
 Gunasekera K.L.U.
W.M. Mendis & Company Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

how product features of liquor products
are affecting customers’ purchase
intention. Primary data were collected
from questionnaires and secondary data
were obtained from the company’s
annual report and statistics published by
Name: Gunasekera K.L.U. Excise Office. 50 respondents were
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) selected as a sample. Findings showed
that there is a significant relationship
in Marketing Management
between product quality and purchase
Department: Marketing intention. Therefore, key
Management recommendations include, being unique
Internship Provider: W.M. while identifying the target market
Mendis & Company Ltd clearly and selling samples for
reasonable prices thereby providing
Project Title: Customer Purchase experience about the product to
Intention customers.

Internship Experience

As a final year Marketing Management undergraduate of University of

Peradeniya, I started my internship program on the 01st of December 2020 as
a marketing intern in the Department of Marketing at W. M. Mendis &
Company Ltd. It is one of the renowned liquor manufacturing companies
established in 1947 by Mr. T.A. Mendis. The Head Office is located in
Welisara and the distillery operations underway at the Moragalla branch. The
product portfolio includes three major categories including pure coconut
arrack, blended coconut arrack, and country-made foreign liquor. Thus, they
have introduced more than 30 brands to the liquor market.

During my internship, I gained practical knowledge related to the liquor

industry. For instance, normally liquor manufacturing companies are

18
promoting their products adhering to many restrictions. So, their main
promotional way is personal selling. During that internship period, I learnt
how to attract customers through personal selling activities. In addition to that,
I learned about the label-changing process related to the liquor industry. And
also, I gained knowledge about digital marketing platforms and their practical
uses. Apart from that, it was a great opportunity to enhance my creative
thinking abilities, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and networking
skills.

There are two sides to a coin. Similarly, when engaging in something we have
to face challenges. But what matters is how we face it and the experiences we
gain from that. So, I also had to face some common challenges during my
internship period. For instance, adapting to the working environment and
organizational culture, dealing with different people who think in different
ways, working under pressure, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In fact, during this period I learnt how to apply what I learnt in my lectures,
and the encouragement I received from my Senior supervisor (Mr. Chinthaka)
and immediate supervisor (Miss Bhagya Wijesinghe) was incredible. I
completed my internship primarily by engaging in marketing activities. But
also sometimes I engaged in operations and supply chain activities. I think of
it as an opportunity where I was not limited to marketing activities but also to
gain experience in other fields. I think those experiences will be very useful to
me in my future career. Finally, I wish to sincerely express my heartfelt
gratitude to the supervisor Dr. Nuresh Eranda and our Internship Coordinator
Mrs. Sandamalie Hettiarachchy for their immense support, guidance, and
encouragement during my internship.

19
 Gunathilaka M. A. A. N.
Ceylon National Industries

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to find out

why employees are reluctant to report
grievances in Ceylon National
Industries. A qualitative research
method was used and 10 employees
were interviewed using the purposive
sampling technique. The researcher
found 16 reasons under 7 categories and
3 themes as a managerial, personal and
Name: Gunathilaka M. A. A. N. organizational influence. The study
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) recommends that creating a proper
in Human Resource Management working environment, conducting
Department: Human Resource training programs & counseling
services, educating employees, and
Management changing employee attitudes are
Internship Provider: Ceylon essential in order to enhance the voice
National Industries of the employees to report their
Project Title: Grievance Handling grievances.

Internship Experience

Ceylon National Industries which is located in Keerthi Bandara Pura,

Walapane was established on 20th July 2015 as one of the production units
under Lucky Industries. It manufactures garments such as skirts, blouses,
shorts, pants, jackets, etc. for kids and adults with a capacity to produce
100,000 pieces monthly in optimal condition.

As an HR intern, I was responsible to prepare and update employees’ personal

files and arrange the employee files according to the employee numbers.
Further, it was my duty to check the facilities available in the work
environment and help the nurse to supervise the health and safety behaviours
of employees especially with regards to COVID 19. I prepared and updated

20
the CV register, scheduled interviews for applicants, called applicants and
confirmed the date and time for the interview, and participated in preliminary
interviews with the HR manager or HR executive. It was my duty to collect,
categorize grievances and help the grievance handling manager to find the
solutions for the grievances and participate in inquiries with the grievance
handling manager and issue verbal and written warning sheets for particular
employees with the consent of the grievance handling manager. Further, I
handled documents such as employee details, attendance, transfer of
employees, performance grades related to incentives which are related to the
HRIS system, entered performance evaluation grades and comments into excel
sheet and maintained those hard copies in a particular employees personal file,
prepared and distributed night approval sheets among female employees, and
pay sheets for employees and conducted exit interviews for the resigning
employees.

During this internship period, I was able to get an overall experience in an

industrial organization. I learned how to apply my theoretical knowledge to
the corporate setting. Through engaging in multiple tasks, I had to work with
different parties from different backgrounds, ages, positions, and educational
levels. When I was working in a team I learned how to communicate
effectively, respect others' ideas, and the importance of listening for better
engagement with other parties. And also every day I had to manage various
tasks adhering to strict deadlines. Sometimes there are several tasks to
complete at the same date and time. Thus I had to manage my time effectively
to complete the tasks on time and to avoid last-minute work. Thus I could
improve my technical skills. Also, I believe that I should develop my
interpersonal and networking skills further.

21
 Harivarman M.
Potenza (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

how working capital management
affects the financial performance of the
selected company. A qualitative
approach is chosen as the research
method for this study. The non-
probability sampling technique was
used to draw the sample. The study
Name: Harivarman M.
found that accounts receivables and
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) accounts payables are the main
in Organizational Management components which affect the
Department: Management Studies profitability of an organization. As a
Internship Provider: Potenza recommendation, companies should
implement appropriate working capital
(Pvt) Ltd
policies and strategies mainly focusing
Project Title: Working Capital on accounts receivables and accounts
Management payables.

Internship Experience

Potenza is a technology consultancy group with the purpose; to deliver

powerful results for businesses; driven by simplicity and leveraging the power
of data. It is a start-up company registered in December 2016 and started
operations in May 2017. The vision of the company is to “Transform Every
Business with Digital at Scale and Speed.” And the mission is to unravel the
potential of customers through a people process and technology-oriented
approach to sustain and grow. Potenza’s business practice is driven by three
core areas. They are; Consulting, Digital, and Analytics with the main focus
on Robotic Process Automation, and Integration and Workflow Automation.
These three core areas are further explained as follows. Consulting – SAP
Consulting is a mature business that is led by a team of experienced industry
professionals with experts in Banking, Manufacturing, and Oil & Gas. Digital

22
– Robotic Process Automation is a form of business process automation
technology based on software robots or RPA robots that utilize the user
interface to capture data and manipulate applications as we do. Analytics – In
technology, data has become the most powerful source. Analysis is a business
practice which brings domain experts, data scientists, and platform integrators
together to help businesses understand the story behind the numbers. Analytics
help businesses to understand why it happened rather than just getting to know
what happened.

I served in the capacity of a Finance and Admin Intern at Potenza (Pvt) Ltd. I
worked at the Delivery Centre in Sri Lanka attached to the Finance and
Administrative department that carries out day to day functions of Admin and
Finance. Although I was selected as a Finance and Admin Intern, I was
encouraged to assist in the Human Resource and Legal functions as well. I
reported directly to the Finance and Human Resource Manager.

I have encountered two main weaknesses which need to be corrected. Those

are multitasking and stress handling skills. As an Intern, doing the research
and work simultaneously made it difficult for me to focus and accomplish
every task on time without delay. Nevertheless, I struggled and managed my
tasks within the time by working late night hours and on the weekend as well.

This internship, I believe, was a great learning curve in my career. I was

particularly involved in day-to-day transactions and high confidential works
such as preparing bank and salary reconciliations. While working in Potenza
(Pvt) Ltd, I gained an enormous knowledge of Information Technology. Also,
I improved business communication skills and professional lifestyle. Further,
I learnt proper time management, how to work in a team, and be a responsible
worker.

23
 Liyanaarachchi L.A.V.K.
Bartleet Produce Marketing (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

how personal relationships affect the
sales performance of the organization.
Personal relationship marketing focuses
on customer loyalty and long-term
customer engagement. A qualitative
approach was chosen as the research
method for this study. The sample was
chosen based on the non-probability
Name: Liyanaarachchi L.A.V.K.
sampling technique. The findings of this
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) project indicated that personal
in Marketing Management relationship marketing has a significant
Department: Marketing impact on sales performance. The study
Management recommended carrying out relationship
marketing strategies, customer
Internship Provider: Bartleet
valuation, and segmentation in an
Produce Marketing (Pvt) Ltd effective way.
Project Title: Personal Relationship
Marketing

Internship Experience

The latest diversification initiative of Bartleet Produce Marketing (BPM) is a

subsidiary of Bartleet Group of Company. It has had a humble path since 1904.
It functions as a tea broking firm under the Bartleet group. The established
Bartleet Produce Marketing is driven by the vision of, “Always been to
connect effectively and build efficiently”. They played a major and specific
part in the Bartleet Group throughout hundreds of years as a tea broker. BPM
employs a team of consultants who provide professional services with a view
of enhancing the quality of the end product.

24
As a fresher, I have never had any experience in the tea industry. But during
this internship programme I have experienced so many things such as the
culture of the organization, how to adapt to the organizational culture, the
weekly process of tea valuation, how to give a valuation for tea, evaluate how
they maintain positive relationships with their clients and buyers, how the
promotions are done through the personal relationship marketing, the way of
handling online tea auction (e-auctions) and how to sell tea via the online
platform and visiting buyer firms and getting feedback from them.

Dealing with other stakeholders, identifying the resources to be used,

developing social and professional networks, time management are some of
the challenges I faced during this internship.

When I was starting my internship in Bartleet Produce Marketing, I only had

theoretical knowledge about Marketing Management. During my internship
period, I was assigned to perform multiple tasks. When performing these tasks
I had to work with different parties and it was a great experience for me. I have
learnt to develop myself by learning from every new thing and improved
confidence about the work I am doing. Understanding the value in
communication, learning to avoid problems from effective communication,
accountability for what I am working on, effective usage of the MS packages,
and improving the professional lifestyle are newly improved skills during this
training.

25
 Marasinghe M.P.P.D.
Nestlé Lanka PLC

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

the impact of package design on
purchase intention with reference to
Maggi Noodles. This was quantitative
research. The population of the research
was customers who visit Keells Super in
Embilipitiya, 50 customers were
selected based on a simple random
Name: Marasinghe M.P.P.D.
sampling technique. The findings
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) identified that there is a positive
in Marketing Management relationship between product package
Department: Marketing and consumer buying intention. It is
Management recommended that the marketer should
identify the package as the first thing to
Internship Provider: Nestlé attract the consumer. Further, the study
Lanka PLC suggests having a proper focus on the
Project Title: Package Design and packaging.
Purchase Intention

Internship Experience

Nestlé is a Swiss Corporation in the food, beverage, nutrition, and wellness

business. Nestlé established its presence in Sri Lanka more than a century ago,
commencing as a trading company in 1906 with condensed milk and infant
food products. Today the local portfolio comprises the country’s best-loved
brands, where the state-of-the-art production facility in Kurunegala
manufactures over 90 percent of products sold in Sri Lanka, including
Nestomalt, Milo, Milkmaid, Nespray, and Maggi. Nestlé is proud to be one of
the leading Food and Beverage companies in Sri Lanka today, providing direct
employment to almost 1,200 people and positively impacting the livelihoods
of over 23,000.

26
For the BBA Degree Program, we had learned theories. But it is important to
know how these theories work in practice and apply them in the real work
context. Simply, I was able to gather knowledge and experience with regard
to identifying customer needs, achieve monthly sales targets, update sales-
related documents, a guide for merchandising, attend for DOR (Daily
Operation Review) meetings, etc. In addition to that, I was able to develop soft
skills such as stress handling, communication, and presentation, relationship
building and maintaining, etc.

However, during the internship period, the biggest challenge I had to face was
the Covid-19 pandemic situation. As a salesperson, there was a big risk in
visiting outlets and also achieving monthly sales targets. In addition to that,
the company provided not only with an internship but also a position similar
to a permanent position after a one-month training programme. So, it was a
big challenge as the first industry experience.

Skills such as multitasking, communicating, learning to deal with

diversity, and dealing with deadlines are different when you are working for
someone within the industry. So, I consider that a great opportunity related to
skill development and personality development opportunity. Also, it was a
great opportunity for me to share my theoretical knowledge in a practical
working environment. Also, it helped me to improve my knowledge through
practical working experience, improved ability in leadership, teamwork,
building relationships with others, etc. I gathered much knowledge in the
classroom, but a hands-on approach has been invaluable. I am truly grateful
for this opportunity.

27
 Navoda W.A.P.
Wijeyeratne & Company

Project Abstract
The aim of this project was to
investigate the factors that affect on
usage of generalized audit software by
external auditors. This study was
conducted via an online survey based
on a sample size of 125 responses from
public audit practices. This study used
a quantitative approach. Data analysis
Name: Navoda W.A.P. was done using descriptive statistics
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) and SPSS. In conclusion, client
in Accounting and Finance factors, personal factors, and
Department: Business Finance organizational factors have significant
relationships with the usage of
Internship Provider: Wijeyeratne
generalized audit software by external
& Company auditors. The study recommends
Project Title: Usage of getting support from authorised bodies
Generalized Audit Software to use generalized audit software.

Internship Experience
Wijeyeratne & Company is one of the oldest firms of Chartered Accountants
in Sri Lanka which was registered in 1949. The primary functions of the firm
can be identified in two sectors such as providing audit and taxation services
to clients. When focusing on the existing clientele of Wijeyeratne & Company
Group, it includes a publicly quoted company and over 500 other companies,
non-profit organizations, and partnerships.

While working as an audit trainee I have to adhere to some duties and

responsibilities. My main duty was to perform interim and statutory audit
engagements of Small and Medium-Sized Entities. As an audit trainee who is
working under the auditing department, I gained experience in the following
ways. The client’s financial statements were investigated whether the client

28
has adopted Sri Lanka Auditing Standards, Sri Lanka Accounting Standards
on the client’s financial statements. Then, I had a chance to be a part of the
audit team for planning and controlling statutory, drafting financial
statements, substantive testing, and stock verifications.

Continuous communication with management helps in understanding the

matters relating to audit and financial matters. At the same time, an audit
trainee has to communicate with senior auditors, assistant managers, managers
as well as partners. Meanwhile, as an audit trainee, I need to work with all
group members to finish the audit work on time. Hence, besides working as
an individual, I should professionally work in a team to complete the given
tasks. Furthermore, when working as a team, team members supported me to
handle audit engagement with confidence. In addition to that, I should listen
to client’s requests and negotiate with them. When performing audits, I dealt
with clients to resolve their audit issues by effectively negotiating with them.
Being an audit trainee means that I had to work with deadlines as well as work
under pressure in many situations. High workload, testing, sampling,
gathering audit evidence, recalculations, re-performing as well as the pressure
from senior auditors, assistant managers, managers, and clients make audit
trainees work under pressure.

During this Covid -19 situation, it was difficult to maintain a manually written
internship diary due to work-from-home policies. If there was an online
system to maintain the internship diary by recording daily activities, it would
have been a great advantage for interns.

29
 Niroshan W.S.
D P Logistics (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to explore

how social media (SM) can be used in
B2B marketing activities in D P Logistics
(Pvt) Ltd. This qualitative study
explored the benefits of using SM in B2B
marketing activities. Also, this study
identified the SM strategies and SM
platforms that can be used in B2B
Name: Niroshan W.S. marketing activities. Six respondents
were chosen based on the judgemental
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) sampling method and collected data
in Marketing Management were analysed by coding, categorization,
Department: Marketing and theme building process. The study
Management concluded that the benefits of SM in B2B
marketing as low cost, high reachability,
Internship Provider: D P
and less time consumption. It further
Logistics (Pvt) Ltd recommends the strategies such as SM
Project Title: Social Media in B2B integration and training & development
Marketing to increase the efficiency of overall
business processes.

Internship Experience

DP Logistics (Pvt) Ltd is a fully owned subsidiary of David Pieris Holdings

(Pvt) Ltd. DP Logistics (Pvt) Ltd Provides a full range of logistics and supply
chain management solutions in Sri Lanka and overseas including
Transportation, Inland Distribution, Warehouse Management, Freight
Forwarding, Vehicle Hiring, and Custom Clearing. The Company upholds the
legacy of the Group and continues to imbue the Group’s fundamental tenets
of quality, innovation, reliability, flexibility, and responsibility. I started my
Internship on 15th December 2020 at DP Logistics (Pvt) Ltd as a Management
Trainee in the Business Development division under the supervision of Mr.
Damith Jayewardene (Manager –Business Development).

30
Since I am a beginner in the first week, I had my orientation program which
covered the basic introduction to the company, product verticals, business
policies, standing orders, and rules & regulations. After that, I participated in
the training sessions and client visits with respective managers. The areas
covered during my training period included., Awareness of key account
management processes and sales administration, Sales pitch training,
Operational awareness, ERP training, and awareness of finance and costing
policies. After three weeks of training, I moved to the central region in order
to work on our new regional expansion. There, my major duties and
responsibilities included developing and strengthening the customer portfolio
and maintaining positive relationships, carrying out market studies to identify
potential business opportunities, conduct client visits, drive sales and
marketing promotional campaigns, prepare and analyse sales reports, achieve
assigned sales targets and collections and debtor management.

Throughout this period, it was a challenge for me to understand the business

model of the logistics industry. For instance, when it comes to the business
deal as a Business Development trainee, before giving a solution I must have
a thorough operational knowledge of the client's logistic requirement and their
supply chain process. Therefore, within the first couple of months, I faced
difficulties in identifying customer pain points. But when time passed with the
support of colleagues I managed to fill knowledge gaps and develop myself.
Since the day I began as an amateur, I have learned and gathered knowledge
on different aspects of Business Development, for instance, leadership skills,
communication skills, problem-solving skills, networking, and presentation
skills. Moreover, knowledge of supply chain management, project
management, and customer relationship management.

31
 Nisansala M.R.
Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to investigate

the impact of recruitment practices of
Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd on the
retention of the newly recruited
employees and suggest strategies on
how to minimize new employee turnover
within the context. Quantitative
methodology was used while choosing
Name: Nisansala M.R. simple random sampling to draw the
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) sample. The study found that there is a
significant impact of recruitment
in Organizational Management
practices, strategies, and policies on
Department: Management Studies retention. Further, it recommends
Internship Provider: Edinborough improving the suitability of the
Products (Pvt) Ltd recruitment process and to improve the
Project Title: Recruitment quality of induction training to optimize
retention.
Practices and Retention

Internship Experience
Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd is one of the leading and fastest-growing Sri
Lankan food manufacturing companies whose history dates back to 1973. It
was initiated by Mr. C.M.M.R. Pasha established a comprehensive distribution
network across Sri Lanka and abroad with a range of over 150+ products. In
1991, the manufacturing operations were moved to Halbarawa, Padukka and
now over 300 employees are working at the manufacturing plant at Halbarawa.

In Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd, Halbarawa, I worked as an intern at the

Department of Human Resource. My supervisor planned my internship period
in a way that would cover all the procedures of the HR division.

32
I participated in preliminary interviews with the supervisor, prepared personal
files, conducted induction presentations, filled out ABH forms and did all the
document-related activities of the newly recruited employees. Further, it was
my duty to coordinate with the factory nurse to ensure the personal hygiene of
the employees by conducting daily visits to production plants. Further, I
engaged in supervising the security and coordinating with the security firm. In
the second month, the job role was changed from recruitment to performance
evaluation and I coordinated the probation evaluations, quarterly performance
evaluations, and handling NCRs for non-conformities along with the above-
mentioned duties.

Further, my job role changed from performance evaluation to procedures for

attendance, performance evaluation, staff loans, and salary in the next few
weeks. There I entered the details of newly recruited employees to the HRMS,
obtained and analyzed attendance reports through TAS, entered the leaves
through HRMS. Then arranging daily transportation was also added to my job
role.

From the first day onwards my supervisor allocated two hours per day for
learning. I studied “Handbook for Industrial Relations” and BRC
requirements, food manufacturing processes, food safety culture, and Tamil
language skills in detail which added immense value to my career.

Through the internship, I learnt to tolerate people with different attitudes and
behavioral patterns using different tactics. This was very challenging for me
at first. However, I consider this to be the most important aspect that I learnt
during my internship. After the internship period of 04 months, I was
promoted to a Management Assistant who is in charge of performance
evaluations and training of Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd.

33
 Panduwawala P.K.I.S.
Silueta (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

the reasons for the deviations in the
actual process and the Standard
Operating Procedures (SOP) in the
sourcing and supply chain team. In
addition, the study identified the
procedures to reduce such deviations.
Name: Panduwawala P.K.I.S. The study was conducted under the
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) qualitative method and the data was
collected using semi-structured
in Operations Management
interviews. The study identified
Department: Operations unavailability of a proper mechanism
Management for raw material security checking,
Internship Provider: Silueta (Pvt) improper unloading plans,
Ltd unavailability of a standardized
procedure for advance payment, errors
Project Title: Deviation
in material codes, and delaying in
Management of SOP in Sourcing customer liable purchase order
and Supply Chain releasing process are the reasons for
deviations.

Internship Experience

I got an internship at Silueta (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of MAS Holdings which

is the largest apparel and textile manufacturer in South Asia. Here, I was
assigned as an In-Plant trainee in the Sourcing and Supply Chain team under
the Department of Operations.

As an In-Plant trainee, I got the opportunity to participate in the induction

program and it was beneficial for me in familiarizing myself with the
organizational culture, history, and background of the company. During the
internship period, I was assigned to handle the “2XU sportswear account”
which is considered a critical customer account under the CCP operational

34
platform. To enable the smooth flow of production I was expected to procure
raw materials by analysing the ordering requirements and generating orders
for the exact needs.

Furthermore, during the internship period, I was privileged to practice an ERP

system called the SAP system. Another good experience is I got the
opportunity to learn about the patented technologies and special types of
fabrics. During the internship period, I got the opportunity to contribute to a
special project which was undertaken to identify and eliminate the
abnormalities which were deviations from the standard processes and the
actual processes.

In performing the job role as a trainee in the sourcing team, I had to encounter
several challenges such as delay in supplier confirmations, vessel delays, and
unloading issues. In such situations, I was able to overcome those challenges
with support and guidance from the team. Moreover, due to the Covid-19
pandemic situation, I had to practice work from home. Therefore, we had the
induction program and the team meetings and training sessions via online
platforms alternatively.

Moreover, by having the internship opportunity from a well-recognized

company in the apparel sector, I could develop my communication and
negotiation skills by building interpersonal relationships within and outside
the organization. Through the internship, I also got the chance to work under
pressure, meet deadlines, work remotely, and practice a work-life balance.

Thus, this internship opportunity was a great experience that enabled me to

acquire knowledge and skills which are important for my life. Henceforth, I
would like to express my sense of gratitude to all who supported me to
complete my internship successfully.

35
 Panduwawala P.K.U.S.
Silueta (Pvt) Ltd
.
Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to examine

the relationship between inventory
management and firm profitability of
Silueta (Pvt) Ltd. The dimensions used
in determining inventory management
were inventory record accuracy,
inventory investment, and inventory
Name: Panduwawala P.K.U.S. turnover. The study was conducted
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) under the quantitative approach. The
samples were included with 36
in Operations Management
respondents. Linear regression was
Department: Operations used in analysing the data. The study
Management revealed that there is a significant
Internship Provider: Silueta (Pvt) relationship between inventory
Ltd management and firm profitability. The
use of improved technologies such as
Project Title: Inventory
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),
Management and Firm Profitability Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology, and
robotic technology were recommended
to practice in inventory management.

Internship Experience

Silueta (Pvt) Ltd is a subsidiary of MAS Holdings which is the largest apparel
and textile manufacturer in South Asia. Silueta commenced its operations in
2004 as a backward integration supplier to the intimate sector and by now it
has four manufacturing hubs in Biyagama, Weliweriya, Marawila, and
Indonesia. The operations of Silueta consist of three platforms as Moulded Bra
Cups (MBC), Close Comfort Project (CCP), and Impact Protection (IP).

I was assigned to the Department of Sourcing and Supply Chain which is a

supporting department under the Department of Operations as an In-Plant
Trainee. Being an intern, I was given the responsibility of managing three

36
customer accounts; Calvin Klein – PF (CCP plant) and Pour Moi (both CCP
and MBC plants). Managing the supply of raw material for continuous
production of those accounts was ensured by analysing the ordering
requirements and executing the exact need, critical path following up,
completing the payments, and overcoming supply chain challenges.
Furthermore, exposure to an ERP system – SAP was a great opportunity from
which I benefited. A special project of eliminating the abnormalities of the
operational process was also undertaken during my internship period using
Swim lane process mapping.

I was confronted with sourcing and supply chain challenges such as delayed
suppliers’ confirmation, unloading issues, price increases by the suppliers, and
vessel delays. With the guidance and support of the line manager, team
members, and cross-functional teams such as logistics, warehouse, finance,
and planning, I could overcome such challenges. Furthermore, at the
beginning of the internship period, I felt uncomfortable with managing my
workload. With the guidance of team members and with my own experience,
I was able to manage the workload.

This Internship Program can be considered as the best opportunity for me to

have the industry exposure which enabled me to enhance my skills such as
teamwork, communication, negotiation, ability to work under pressure, and
meeting deadlines. Finally, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to
all those who provided me the possibility to complete my internship period
successfully.

37
 Perera H. S. S.
People's Leasing and Finance PLC

Project Abstract

COVID-19 has created a bundle of

complications and dilemmas in
organizations compared to many other
crises organizations have witnessed so
far. Thus, the present study aimed to
explore how to do recovery officers
experience work from home during the
Name: Perera H. S. S. COVID 19 pandemic. In addressing this
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) prime objective, qualitative research
in Human Resource Management methodology and in-depth semi-
Department: Human Resource structured interviews were conducted
with 12 recovery officers, and the data
Management
were analysed using thematic analysis.
Internship Provider: People's It was apparent that employees were
Leasing and Finance PLC experienced work from home as a novel
Project Title: COVID reformed the concept and have experienced both the
traditional workplace dark and bright side of it. It was further
discovered that the employees with
negative experiences were mainly
attempting to carry out unique strategies
to cope with them.

Internship Experience

People's Leasing and Finance PLC was established in 1995 but registered as a
licensed finance company in 2012 under the Finance Business Act No 42 of
2011. It is a subsidiary of People’s Bank. They expanded their presence to 103
branches and 101 service centers and continue to provide a heightened
customer experience via their physical touchpoint throughout the island.
Under People’s Leasing, they have 5 subsidiaries operated in Sri Lanka and
one is operated in Bangladesh.

While performing different duties and responsibilities, I was able to have an

in-depth understanding of the root cause of the problems encountered by

38
different employees rather than focusing on emotions. It needs to be done
smoothly without hurting the emotions or feelings of the employees. This
leads to the most reasonable solution for grievances. My manager, supervisors,
co-workers helped me whenever I had difficulty making decisions and they
guided me on reducing bias in my decisions while monitoring my progress.

As a new experience, I was able to learn and identify how to apply my

theoretical knowledge to day-to-day work like taking disciplinary action,
handling the leave and attendance of probationary employees. The duties and
responsibilities put me on a higher level of emotional turmoil which initially
adds a toll on me, but my team members helped me deal with it.

On the other hand, I had to improve my language skills in different languages

to have a better understanding of the concerns of employees, especially
whenever I had to deal with Muslim employees, because of their unclear
pronunciation of both Sinhala and English, I had to listen to them carefully.
Under the self-evaluation first I identified my strengths such as empathy, quick
learning ability, and ability to adapt to different environments. Because in the
work environment I need both sympathy and empathy. Quick learning ability
helped me gain confidence to perform my tasks and duties.

As a challenge, I had to deal with emotional distress due to the concerns and
problems that I encountered while performing my duties. Because it may
gradually affect the decisions. The advice of team members helped me reduce
the burdened feeling to some extent. During the internship period, I had the
opportunity to participate in mediation cases between employees and the
organization as a team member of the representative group of the company. It
provides a good experience on how practically the legal process has occurred
in mediation.

39
 Rishada M.R.F.
Haputale Divisional Secretariate

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to explore the

effectiveness of the existing training and
development function. This study used a
qualitative case study research design
centered on a purposive sample of 10
management service officers. The
collected data from in-depth interviews
were analysed through thematic analysis.
Name: Rishada M.R.F. The findings of the study revealed the
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) ineffectiveness of the existing training
in Human Resource Management and development function. The majority
of the participants perceived training and
Department: Human Resource
development as very important but were
Management not satisfied with the existing function
Internship Provider: Haputale and process. So the identified perceived
Divisional Secretariate reasons have been discussed and several
Project Title: Employee Training recommendations suggested including
conducting a timely needs assessment.
and Development

Internship Experience

In order to fulfill the requirement of Industrial training for the BBA degree
program, I was employed as an HR intern in the Haputale Divisional
Secretariat. The Divisional Secretariat is an administrative unit that provides
public services to the welfare of the people. The history of the Haputale
Divisional Secretariat goes back to 1978 where it commenced its activities
with four staff members and gradually increased to its present carder and
scope of land to meet the needs of people.

When I first joined as an intern, I was introduced to the overall organizational

activities for two weeks and then assigned to the EHRM division that
administers and manages the entire institution and human resources. I was

40
given training in the method of Job Rotation and therefore was not limited to
a particular area or job role. During my internship, I was assigned under
different officers and performed the duties of many HR-related functions such
as Compensation, Promotion, Transfer, Performance Appraisal, Training and
Development, and Disciplinary control. I was fortunate to assist in almost all
basic HR activities, maintain the different HR systems and databases, and
prepared various reports and documents.

Through this internship experience, I was able to enrich and improve my

competencies and various soft and hard skills including interpersonal,
analytical, documentation, and time management by working with various co-
workers in different work settings. The internship also allowed me to enhance
my skills regarding the use of various software and information systems in the
field of HRM. I was given the freedom to personally experience how each
activity is done and learn from my mistakes which is an aspect that I loved
about my internship. As a final year student who has experienced the
internship program, I think it is a great opportunity for us to gain practical
exposure on how to adapt to the organization and perform job tasks by
exploring how the learned theories can be applied. The experience I gained
through this internship is invaluable even personally as it helped to build my
self-confidence, develop my attitude and groom my personality enhancing
self-development. Overall my internship experience is a great learning curve
in my life and a good starting point for my future endeavors.

So I believe that the internship program is a very valuable opportunity for

undergraduates to update their competencies to start their career and build
networks and especially if you choose the right place, it can groom your
professional personality and be an eye-opener to find your passion to make
the right future career decisions!

41
 Samarasekera S.A.N.H.
Avery Dennison Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to improve

the quality and productivity of the
Printed Fabric Labels (PFL)
department and also to reinstate lean
practices in the company’s operations.
The project adopted a mixed method
where both qualitative and quantitative
Name: Samarasekera S.A.N.H. data were used. Action research was
used as the research strategy. The
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.)
research found that the rejection rates
in Operations Management and rework rates of the company had
Department: Operations considerably increased in the past two
Management years and more than 50% of its
Internship Provider: Avery responsibility is under the PFL
department. Finally, it was
Dennison Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
recommended to introduce automated
Project Title: Lean Practices and inspection systems for quality assurance
Automated Inspection Machine and implement lean practices for
Implementation Project productivity improvements.

Internship Experience

Avery Dennison is a multinational organization and it’s a global materials

science company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety
of labeling and functional materials. The Sri Lankan plant focuses on retail
branding and information solutions providing label materials of various
technologies to leading apparel companies in the country.

I was allocated to the Operations & Quality Assurance Department where I

was involved in both quality and process development projects during my six
months tenure. My main project was to improve the production and quality
processes of the Printed Fabric Labels Department which had around 50% of
the customer complaints and a considerable amount of rework rates

42
simultaneously. Motion studies, time studies, 3-way analysis, and root-cause
analysis were used to understand the current problems and to provide possible
solutions to mitigate these issues. From that recommendations were given, to
implement automated systems to quality assurance and to reinstate lean as a
key practice not only for the PFL department but also for the overall
organization.

The biggest privilege I got working at a multinational organization was the

international exposure. I managed to get acquainted with the standard
operational procedures, health and safety practices, international quality
standards, and audits which are aligning with world-class requirements. Even
when working on the projects we managed to coordinate with international
members of the Avery Dennison global chain and get more sophisticated
knowledge and ideas for the developments.

The challenge I faced was aligning the employees to a change process in their
current operational work especially when implementing lean practices. The
prevailing covid pandemic also hindered the automated inspection machine
implementation project since the suppliers couldn’t visit from China to
assemble the machines.

The first-hand experience was gained when implementing project

recommendations such as practical application of lean tools, productivity
measurement tools, and coordination of work in multiple levels. Single Minute
Exchange of Dye (SMED) methods, Oeko-Tex/SMETA/Decathlon audits,
laboratory testing for labeling and calibrations were some of the new things
that I managed to learn during my tenure. At the end of the internship period,
I was fully aligned to work in a fast-paced environment and gain international
exposure which I believe would benefit me in the future for potential career
growth.

43
 Sandaruwan M.H.
JayKay Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

the factors impact on effectively
handling of wastages of fruits and
vegetable department; with special
reference to keells Godagama outlet.
This study used quantitative research
approach and 32 sample size was
Name: Sandaruwan M.H. randomly selected. Storage conditions,
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) communication of information and stock
clearance, and discount handling
in Operations Management positively impact on effectively handling
Department: Operations of wastages of the fruits and vegetable
Management department. This study recommends
Internship Provider: JayKay increasing the capacity of storage,
Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd enhancement of storage conditions,
applying fast quality checking, discount
Project Title: Wastage controlling methods, and adoption of
Management new technologies to communicate.

Internship Experience

As a subsidiary of the John Keells Group, Keells supermarkets operate with

the core purpose of improving the quality of life for the nation and focus on
providing for life’s regular needs with a world-class retail experience. Keells
is one of Sri Lanka’s largest supermarket chains with 116 stores located across
the island. The Godagama Outlet of Keells achieved a double-digit growth rate
since this year and they could win the bronze award as the top emerging Keells
outlet in Western Province. My experience as a management trainee in Keells
was full of excitement and it was full of challenges since I had very limited
knowledge regarding operations of the retail sector. I worked in cross-
functional departments which have helped me identify my hidden talents. I
have been lucky to have worked on daily routines in exciting areas such as

44
recruitment, vegetables and fruits, back store, and fresh food and production
bakery.

Further, I have gained exposure in the effective scale operations, cost

management of outlet operations, administration audit, stock return process
and non-return policy, outlet hygiene practices, cash handling, and discount
processes mainly. When we were young graduates, we thought we had all the
skills and the knowledge needed to succeed in the corporate world. But with
the Keells, I am encouraged to make independent decisions and with the
correct attitude and a bit of a curious mind. I think the hardest challenge was
ensuring the smooth flow of back store operations, as it is the heart of the
outlet. As well as I had to work with protective shields, face masks, and hand
gloves according to the organizational rules and regulations. However, those
challenges converted my internship journey from good to better by adding
unforgettable experiences.

This management trainee program provided an opportunity to identify not only

my strengths but also my weaknesses. Every day of the Keells management
trainee program brought new challenges which broaden my horizon. My
internship experience developed me in terms of balancing personal and career
life with flexibility and adaptability. I am obliged to say, now I’m an executive
at Keells. I owe everyone who encouraged me from behind.

45
 Sanjaya Lanka L.H.S.
People’s Bank

Project Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify

the factors that affect the Non-
Performing Loans (NPL) of People’s
Bank Regional Head Office Colombo-
south. The research used a quantitative
approach and data has been collected
mainly through questionnaires from the
region’s 40 employees and secondary
Name: Sanjaya Lanka L.H.S. data were also used. The result of the
study showed that poor credit assessment
Degree Programme: BBA
and credit risk management highly affect
(Hons) in Accounting & Finance NPL and credit size is the lowest affected
Department: Business Finance organizational factor to the NPL.
Internship Provider: People’s According to the findings, the income
Bank level of the customer is a highly affected
factor to the NPL. In addition, a sudden
Project Title: Non-Performing
problem faced by the customer, and
Loans wilful defaulting affect NPL respectively.

Internship Experience

The internship in People’s Bank is provided for 6 months and I was appointed
to the ‘Credit Department’ in People’s Bank Regional Head Office Colombo-
South. There are 18 branches controlled by the regional head office Colombo
south. Regional head office Credit Unit plays a major role among other
departments.

Other than that, I was assigned to prepare the project appraisal reports,
inspection reports, limits reports, evaluation reports, credit reports, update the
head office mail book and branch mail books, prepare the interest rate
reduction reports, and purpose inspection other reports which are related to the
credit department.

46
Every employee who is working in the RHO is very friendly and most of the
time they give advice and support to succeed in my work. I’m dealing with all
departments of the region such as Human Resource, Supply Chain Operations,
Business Operations, and Recovery Department, Compliance Department, in
order to conduct my work. Moreover, since People’s Bank is embracing new
technologies and new trends to increase its efficiency and effectiveness, I was
able to get to know about many new things while working as an intern.

I had a great opportunity to deal with the customers. I went to inspect the
customers who requested the loan facility from the Bank. During the
internship period, I prepared project appraisal reports as well as market
analysis reports and competitive analysis reports. People’s Bank provided on-
the-job training, where I learned everything while doing the internship.

During my internship period, I improved my soft skills as well as hard skills.

During university, immersive internships in our field of study are essential to
successful outcomes after graduation. Classroom environments may involve
us with discussion, debate, peer interaction, and shared learning experiences,
but it’s important to seek opportunities for us to apply and develop the
academic concepts we’re learning in a professional setting as well. Nowadays,
the corporate world has huge competition related to job opportunities. When
entering the corporate world, university students should have a better
understanding of the industry and job opportunities that suit them. Therefore
I am so glad we could complete this internship as a part of our degree.

47
 Shanmugarajah T.
Omega Line Ltd-Vavuniya Apparels

Project Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore

the reasons behind the non-adherence to
Health and Safety (HS) workplace
instructions. This study was conducted
by using a qualitative approach where
only 10 employees were selected
through the convenience sampling
technique. Instructors-related issues,
language-related issues, job-related
Name: Shanmugarajah T. issues, organization-related issues, and
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) receivers-related issues are the major
in Human Resource Management categories of findings according to the
data collected through interviews. Each
Department: Human Resource
category has its own collection of
Management factors which contribute to non-
Internship Provider: Omega Line adherence to HS workplace instructions.
Ltd-Vavuniya Apparels This study recommends providing
Project Title: Employee Health ongoing HS training, use appropriate
communication methods, and
and Safety
appreciate employees once the given
instructions have been followed
correctly.

Internship Experience

As an undergraduate who was seeking to get practical knowledge, I luckily

got a chance to work at Omega Line Ltd- Vavuniya Apparels which is a well-
established apparel factory, operating at Rasenthirankulam, Vavuniya with
around 2600 employees. It exports its products like women's lingerie,
nightdresses, and t-shirts to the related company in Italy. I was hired as an In-
Plant Trainee under the Department of HR and Administration where I have
performed several tasks in each HR function namely; conducting interviews
for machine operators, preparing appointment letters, conducting induction,

48
assisting in payroll related matters, and analysing training needs of newly
hired employees, etc. which assisted me to get an idea about operational
aspects. Moreover, I have developed knowledge in HRIS and additionally, I
have prepared several reports through which I have improved my
understanding of the nature of operations in the apparel industry. Apart from
them, I got a chance to organize several events; the Breast Cancer Awareness
programme and COVID Awareness programme which helped me to build
networking behaviour within and outside of the factory.

The experience obtained by exposure to the work environment and interaction

with professionals helped me to improve several skills and abilities which are
crucial for a fresh graduate to deal with the corporate world. It was a great
experience for me to develop my interpersonal and communication skills,
analytical skills, and documentation. Even though I struggled with time
management and IT knowledge, this internship opportunity taught me how to
face and overcome several challenges with a positive mindset. I think this
internship program is a very good opportunity for undergraduates to prepare
themselves for the corporate world.

49
 Silva D.D.
Central Finance Company PLC

Project Abstract

This research focused on investigating

the impact of credit risk management on
financial performance. Data were
collected using quarterly financial
statements from the period of 2013 to
2020. Multiple regression and panel
data analyses were used. The results
revealed that Leverage Ratio (LR) has a
Name: Silva D.D. significant negative impact while Total
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) Assets (TA) and Capital Adequacy Ratio
(CAR) have significant positive impacts
in Accounting and Finance on the financial performance of the
Department: Business Finance company. The practical implication of
Internship Provider: Central the findings suggests that the company
Finance Company PLC may establish a suitable credit risk
environment and effective utilization of
Project Title: Credit Risk
debt to enhance financial performance.
Management and Financial
Performance

Internship Experience

Central Finance Company PLC (CF) is a well-reputed finance company in Sri

Lanka in which it possesses an extensive branch network of ninety-four
branches, thirteen subsidiaries, and three associate companies.

I was recruited by the company as an Account Assistant to the Accounts

Department. The opportunity assisted me to obtain greater exposure to the
application of theoretical knowledge in the work environment. Accordingly, I
was assigned to prepare a Cash Flow Statement for the company, the Main
Product Profitability report, Cash in Hand Reconciliation, Bank

50
Reconciliation, Welfare Shop Report, Dividend Reconciliation and to pass
General Entries through the Oracle system.

CF provided on-the-job training, which facilitated me to learn while

implementing job tasks. Fortunately, during the internship period, I got an
opportunity to accept more responsibilities such as preparing cash flow
statements, cost of fund reports, etc. Although it was a bit challenging for a
newcomer, I managed to fulfill the responsibilities with greater accountability.

CF possesses a unique culture of team working which assisted me to develop

interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, communication skills, and problem-
solving skills. The work experience also provided me with a greater
opportunity to expose myself to the technical environment and helped me to
enhance my technical skills in IT Applications such as MS Excel. Even if we
have deadlines for assignments in our University, the amount of pressure that
falls into our shoulders in the workplace is different. Therefore, I got used to
working late and completing my work, and providing all the reports on time
which helped me to manage everything.

The whole Finance team including my supervisor helped me to improve my

skills, get used to the corporate culture, and to enhance my career goals. They
always want the employees of Central Finance to continuously improve by
going beyond to gather more professional qualifications, to step towards the
future world to be successful in our lives.

51
 Wickramaarachchi W.M.M.N.
Alpha Apparel Ltd

Project Abstract

The aim of this project was to identify

the reasons for delaying order quantity
in Alpha Apparels Ltd. Quantitative
research was used with a sample size of
101. SPSS and Excel were used to
analyze the data. Findings showed that
downtime of the machine breakdown,
Name: Wickramaarachchi operators’ absenteeism percentage of
the module, operators’ turnover of the
W.M.M.N
module, downtime of the operation
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) alteration are positively associated with
in Organizational Management delay quantity whereas; efficiency of
Department: Management Studies the module, production type, quantity of
Internship Provider: Alpha batch fail, downtime of the no-input are
negatively associated with delay
Apparel Ltd quantity. The research recommends
Project Title: Factors Affecting on proper planning and management
Delivery Delay processes to improve delivery
management and reduce delay.

Internship Experience

Alpha Apparels Limited is a direct foreign subsidiary company. Its Mother

Company called “CALZEDONIA SPA” is in Italy. Alpha Apparels mainly
produces and exports lingerie, hosiery, and beachwear for women, men, and
children mainly to the European market. Currently, it employs 4000 workers,
most are women. The success of Alpha Apparels is the result of several
factors: the huge range of products, the special attention paid to fashion in
Europe, and the unbeatable quality-price ratio.

I got In-plant training covering all departments including production planning,

warehouse, inspection, quality audit, cutting, IT, work-study, Human
resource, and Finance Departments. Mainly I faced many challenges such as

52
quick decision making, problem-solving, building plans, applying kaizen, 5S
and lean manufacturing, employee handling, etc. fulfilling all requirements
against covid 19 is a huge challenge faced by me.

I got the applicable knowledge for further use. Working with excel and other
office packages is important to widen my IT literacy. The knowledge gained
in employee compensation, HR policies, industrial laws, and regulations is
useful for future careers. As a whole, this internship was a great foundation
for me to climb up the career ladder. Throughout the internship, I understood
how to apply theoretical knowledge of management to practical situations.
Moreover, the decision-making skills and time management skills gained
through the internship are important to work anywhere; any designation. I
established myself practicing how to cope with the work stress and to complete
the objectives successfully within the deadlines. Even as an intern, I could
make an influential contribution to the successful accomplishment of
departmental objectives.

As an undergraduate following a BBA degree, I would like to recommend that

it is very useful if students can join for internships not only in the final year
but also in other academic years too. Without any hesitation, I got a valuable,
priceless opportunity for my career through an overall internship at Alpha
Apparels Limited, Polgahawela.

53
 Wijesingha D.R.D.
People’s Bank

Project Abstract

This study was carried out to determine

the impact of branch level 5S standards
on service efficiency. The sample of this
study consisted of 70 respondents.
Research objectives were to identify the
importance and support of branch level
5S standards to improve service
Name: Wijesingha D.R.D. efficiency. Responses for the study
Degree Programme: BBA (Hons.) collected through a questionnaire using
the quantitative method. Descriptive
in Organizational Management
statistics and regression analysis were
Department: Management Studies used. These findings revealed that
Internship Provider: People’s branch level 5S standards lead to
Bank improve service efficiency. This study
Project Title: 5S Standards and recommends changing existing 5s
standards to fit with the staff members’
Service Efficiency
working patterns.

Internship Experience

Peoples Bank is one of the important financial institutes in Sri Lanka and also
it plays a vital role in the Sri Lankan financial field. Peoples Bank
Ambalantota branch is the place that facilitates the internship training
program. Attached to the loan section of Ambalantota branch internship
program was started and the primary responsibility was preparing loan
documents. Experiences are gained attached to the recovery, savings, and
clearings sections apart from the loan section. A new obligation sheet format
was introduced. A service blueprint was designed to identify the loan process
from start to end. By using this service blueprint a process map was designed.
Dealing with different types of customers, identifying problems, and
providing suitable solutions generate good experience, and knowledge and

54
also knowledge was gained about online banking, foreign currencies, branch
profitability, and provisions. Experiences were collected about how to operate
different types of printers, fax machines, and connect devices via local area
networks (LAN), scan documents, and operate ATMs. Good internal and
external personal networks were built during the training period incorporating
even the managers and senior executive officers of well-reputed companies in
Sri Lanka. The supervisor is the Business Promotion Officer but primary
duties and responsibilities were attached to the loan section. In that case, I
have to report two officers.

When collecting data for the research study from staff members they retreated
to give information, it was a considerable challenge for the researcher. As a
major challenge, there is a lack of availability of previous research relating to
this study, especially in the Sri Lankan context. Covid-19 pandemic is the
major limitation that had a negative impact on conducting the study.

As an internship trainee, I suppose I have completed my internship training

successfully because this training program helped me to enhance my
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experience. Further, I would like to suggest
if two supervisors who are faculty supervisor and industrial supervisor are
connected with each other and prepare a suitable schedule for internship
trainee to undergo and the final evaluation about the trainee are prepared by
both supervisors together, it will help the trainee to expand his or her
knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience.

55
 Jayarathna K.R.G.R.L.
Horana Plantations PLC

Name: Jayarathna K.R.G.R.L.

Degree Programme: [Link] (Hons)
Department: Management Studies
Internship Provider: Horana
Plantations PLC

Internship Experience

Horana Plantations PLC is a premier plantation company in Sri Lanka. Its

managing agent is Hayleys PLC. I worked at the company head office as an
HR & Admin intern under the supervision of the Deputy General Manager of
corporate affairs. My immediate supervisor was the Assistant Manager in HR
and administration.

Under my internship, my main responsibility was to support day-to-day

Human Resource Management and Administrative functions in Horana
Plantations PLC. I updated the company HR database regularly. I analyzed the
monthly performance of officers and workers. Further, I documented
executive staff leave records and prepared attendance analysis reports
regarding the head office staff. I regularly updated company legal records.
Under the supervision of relevant authorities, I prepared an HR audit scope
and documented all the personal files of managers, assistant managers, and
head office staff.

56
In addition, I documented recruitments and transfers of estate staff as well as
the head office staff. I engaged with organizing training programmes for estate
staff. Besides, I engaged with administrative activities including preparation
of Daily Crop Figures, Flavored tea inventory management, documentation of
tea estates registry, the project of establishing solar panels in tea estates.

During the Covid-19 pandemic situation, I performed multiple activities

including the preparation of safety banners, Daily Covid-19 incident reports,
Staff body temperature records. However, during my internship period, my
major challenge was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The head
office had been closed for certain days due to the sanitization process. Besides,
I had to stay at home because of the lockdown process in the country. But,
even at that time, I was assigned to do certain work by the company
management.

I had a great opportunity to work under the supervision of professionally

qualified senior managers in the HR and Administration departments. Those
internship experiences helped me to develop my communication skills, Time
management skills, Critical Thinking, Research & Analysis, and Technical
Proficiency. Moreover, the friendly, stress-less work environment of the
company has allowed me to introduce new initiatives and engage with a few
projects including the 360-degree feedback method, business risk
identification project, succession planning, and developing new strategic
goals. By completing those activities, I have developed Marketing skills,
presentation skills, teamwork, and the knowledge of HR analysis and HRIS.
In addition, this internship period has opened me to more career development
opportunities including the understanding of areas to follow a Diploma, [Link].,
or MBA.

57
 Thathsarani H.A.K.
Hirdaramani Industries (Pvt) Ltd

Name: Thathsarani H.A.K.

Degree Program: B. Com (Hons.)
Department: Management Studies
Internship Provider: Hirdaramani
Industries (Pvt) Ltd

Internship Experience

The internship program under the B. Com Degree of the University of

Peradeniya has provided me with the opportunity to connect academic
learning to real-world experience and to experiment and pursue a career that
would match my academic and personal interests.

I joined Hirdaramani Industries (Pvt) Ltd at Kahathuduwa as an HR intern in

the woven cluster office to complete my internship. Hirdaramani is a
pioneering global apparel manufacturer who provides integrated apparel
design, production, and supply chain solutions to premium international
brands. It provides employment opportunities to over 50,000 employees in
factories across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. With the help
of this extensive infrastructure and experienced team, Hirdaramani offers a
full range of products in knitted and woven, casual and intimate clothing for

58
men, women, and children. The Hirdaramani Group has diversified in recent
years to encompass apparel, renewable energy, leisure, retail, IT, and financial
services.

I was assigned to the central warehouse, Katunayake under the woven clusters
and I reported directly to the General Manager of HR, Admin, and
Compliance. During my internship, I was involved in various human resource
activities under my supervisor. My main task was to prepare the daily
absenteeism report, the summary of the cost report, the Active carder report,
and the KPI Dashboard report. To prepare all these reports, I had to work with
the HR managers of the sewing factories and the washing divisions under the
woven cluster.

I had a chance to participate in making incentives and festival advances,

identify practical procedures of leave and grievances handling under the
administration section. I recruited new employees and prepared and updated
their personnel files, and I experienced preparing documents relating to
recruitment & selection, promotion, resignation, performance appraisal
procedures in human resourcing.

I gained a lot of benefits from participating in an internship. This internship

allowed me to acquire experience and to gain training in human resource
management. Acquiring experience allows me to be a step ahead of others
competing for the job I want. Through this internship training program, I’ve
learned about my career interests, strengths, and weaknesses. And I was able
to analyze and observe the Human Resource Management process
implementation as well as to improve my interpersonal skills and interpersonal
relationship, communication skills, time management, and better team-
building skills.

59
60