Shanta R Yapa gave an orientation speech to NDT IT students about the role of IT professionals and how to become capable professionals. She discussed that Sri Lanka faces many problems that politicians have not solved, so it is the students' responsibility to acquire skills in technologies like IoT, machine learning and big data to solve problems. She advised students to complete their NDT qualification with commitment, think differently, invent, innovate and start their own ventures. She provided 10 points on how to become a real professional, including understanding oneself, being proactive, improving communication skills, innovating, being responsible and ethical.

1. Orientation speech - NDT in IT - January 31, 2019
Role of IT Professionals
Shanta R Yapa
Director – ICT Industry Skills Council
Head of Org Dev @ Avonet Technologies

2. Profile - Shanta R Yapa
Industry experience: 34 years in diverse fields of engineering, banking, international
business and IT and at present works for Avonet Technologies, the Sri Lankan CRM
company making inroads to regional markets.
Teaching experience: Visiting faculty member teaching business strategy, OB,
technology management, SCM, international business and research methods in
programs of 18 local and overseas universities for 18 years. Visiting resource person of
AITE, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Supervised over 350 MBA research
projects since 2010. Published several papers on innovation.
Academic affiliations: Member of program advisory committees of University of
Moratuwa, SLIIT and SLIATE. Member of the standing committee for computing of the
University Grants Commission for 8 years up to 2017.
Current industry affairs: Director/General Secretary of ICT Industry Skills Council,
Council member and a past President of the Software Chapter of the Federation of IT
Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) and executive council member of the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance
(APICTA), Member of the judging panels of YCS, NBQSA and CSSL Awards.
LinkedIn: Shanta Rajapaksha Yapa, Email: shantayapa@gmail.com, M: 0773 908262Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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3. Lonely Planet rates Sri Lanka as the
best travel destination 2019
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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4. Who are we?
• A proud nation with a long history
• A strong heritage of culture
• High literacy rate
• Intellectually capable
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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5. 1. Where are we?
Are we doing well as a country?

6. A partial list of problems to solve
• Exports/High tech exports
• Productivity
• Crimes
• Corruption
• Suicides
• Sugar consumption
• Alcohol
• Deforestation
• Digital divide
• Income inequality
• IPRs
• Google search
• Pesticides/ Fertilizer
• Road accidents
• Diseases – Dengue
• Cost of living
• Migration
• Technology adoption
• Innovation
• Floods
• Ethics
and the list continues..
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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7. Politicians have adequately proved
that they have no interests in solving
these problems.
So, it is our responsibility.

8. You are not late!
Your arrival is timely as the existing
professionals have not been able to
solve most of those problems.

9. You will acquire skills to solve those
problems
• IoT
• Machine learning
• RPA
• Big data and analytics etc.
• Learn the technologies with an objective.
Think big. Focus on the bigger picture.
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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10. 2. What should you do?
Start contributing from now onwards
to solve local and global problems.

11. Complete the NDT qualification
1. With in the minimum time period
2. With maximum commitment to
acquire knowledge

12. Think differently.
Invent. Innovate. Patent.

13. ODI
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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14. Target few organizations!
Select the right people to work with
and work for!

15. Start your own venture!
Imagine if one of you can start an
entity like Google from Sri Lanka..!

16. 3. How to be a capable
and committed
professional?
!

17. The next 10 points will be useful for
you to become a real NDT holder.
Remember, NDT is not an ornament.
It is a time tested tool to explore the
world.

18. 1. Understand yourself
හ ොඳම ඉහෙනුම
තමා පිළිබඳව ඉහෙනුමය. දම්මපදය
உங்களை புரிந்து ககொள்ளுங்கள்

19. 2. Be proactive!

20. 3. Identify the stakeholders

21. 4. Attitude matters
ආකල්ප හ ේතු හේ
அணுகுமுளைகளை கொரணங்கள்

22. 5. Challenge the taken for
granted thinking!
Think win-win

23. 6. Improve
communication skills
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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24. 7. Stay tuned
Learn the latest. Think where to and
how to apply.

25. 8. Innovate

26. 9. Be responsible
Dependability and reliability

27. 10. Be ethical
Show that you always care for values.

28. NDT should not be your ultimate
qualification. NDT is probably the
best foundation on which you can
build your academic and
professional career.
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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29. Instead expecting NDT qualification
to add value to your profile, please
try to add value to NDT
qualification.
This is how you can leave your
footprint!
Shanta R Yapa - NDT IT Orientation speech -
ITUM - January 31, 2019
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30. I trust that I was able to inspire
those who truly love the country
and remain in the country.
Let us make Sri Lanka a country we
all can be proud of!

31. I wish you every success!
Thank You!
Shanta R Yapa
January 31, 2019