The University Business Linkage Cell of the University of Vavuniya, in collaboration with the students of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (ESBM) program, proudly hosted the World Entrepreneurs’ Day and Industrial Exhibition – 2025 on the 25th and 26th of August 2025. The event took place at the University of Vavuniya premises and stood as a landmark occasion that not only celebrated entrepreneurship but also connected academia, industry, and government institutions in a spirit of collaboration and innovation. This prestigious exhibition was organized in partnership with several renowned organizations,the participation of national, regional, and international stakeholders. Day One was inaugurated by Hon. N. Vethanayagan, Governor of the Northern Province, Senior Professor A. Atputharajah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Vavuniya, Ms. Vanaja, Director of the Northern Industrial Department, and Mr. Thillai Kumaran, Founder and Managing Director of Tamil Venture LP, USA, highlighting strong collaboration among government, academia, industry, and global networks. The program featured a welcome address by the Director of the Business Linkage Cell, opening remarks by the Vice Chancellor, and an introductory speech by the Program Coordinator of ESBM, followed by insights from the Northern Industrial Department on government support for entrepreneurs. Key activities included experience-sharing sessions by successful entrepreneurs, recognition of outstanding business leaders, and a panel discussion on “Challenges of the Green Economy: Opportunities and Solutions,” focusing on sustainable practices in agriculture, fisheries, and industry.
The Exhibition Day commenced at 9.30 a.m. with a cultural welcome by the student band of Vavuniya Rambaikulam Girls’ Maha Vidyalayam and was formally inaugurated by Hon. R. Chandrasekaran, Minister of Fisheries; Hon. Arun Hemachandira, Minister of Foreign Employment; Mr. S. Shri Sai Murali, Consul General of India in Jaffna; Prof. N. Anandaraja of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India; Prof. T. Jayasingam, Former Vice Chancellor of Eastern University of Sri Lanka; Prof. T. Mangaleswaran, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Vavuniya; and Mr. K. S. Thurai, Director of Tube Tamil Media, Denmark. With nearly 1,000 participants and 200 exhibition stalls, the day included registration, lighting of the traditional oil lamp, National Anthem and Entrepreneurial Anthem, traditional dance performances, keynote addresses, and a technical lecture on value addition in palmyrah and its by-products. Major activities also included an Entrepreneurial Student Awards Ceremony, recognition of distinguished contributors, and a panel discussion on “Growth of Entrepreneurship in the North & East: Challenges, Opportunities, and Steps Forward for Sustainability,” which addressed SME development and regional economic growth.
