IFS Customer Day at University of Moratuwa Bridges ERP Learning with Industry

On September 30, 2026, SEBSA, in partnership with IFS and the University of Moratuwa, hosted IFS Customer Day at the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Business. The event brought together IFS customers, industry professionals, lecturers and students to connect academic learning with real-world ERP applications.

The event was part of a long-term CSR project by SEBSA and IFS for the University of Moratuwa’s academic programme, Minor (Degree) in ERP Systems. As a part of this initiative, SEBSA delivered several modules using IFS Cloud as the practical learning platform, enabling students to gain hands-on experience and develop industry-relevant skills before entering the workforce.

Kelum Wickramasinghe, DGM IT & Information Security at Silvermill Group, and Jayalath Abeywardena, Head of Finance at Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka, shared their organisations’ experiences with IFS and discussed how ERP knowledge and technology support real business needs.

Muthuraja Nanayakkara, CEO of SEBSA, said the programme has delivered IFS ERP education to four batches across 12 semesters over the past two and a half years. More than 160 students have gained knowledge of eight key IFS Cloud modules through over 4,500 learning hours. 

Dr. Indra Mahakalanda, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business, University of Moratuwa, said that some graduates face challenges finding internships and employment that align with their field of specialization and interests. He noted that initiatives such as IFS Customer Day help bridge this gap by giving students industry exposure and enabling them to apply their skills and knowledge in the workplace, creating value for employers.

For students, the event provided an opportunity to understand how ERP systems are used in industry, and what employers expect from graduates with Industrial AI shaping the future. The event also gave IFS customers an opportunity to connect with students who already have exposure to IFS Cloud. Martin Gunnarsson, Senior Vice President – Growth and Innovation at SEBSA, also highlighted the importance of building the right professional connections, encouraging students to use opportunities such as this to create connections that can support their career growth.

Minindu Somaratne, Programme Manager at IFS, explained how Industrial AI is transforming traditional asset-intensive industries and how IFS is embedding agentic capabilities into everyday operations through the IFS.ai platform. He also highlighted the importance of developing young talent as the IFS ecosystem continues to grow, noting that future professionals will need the skills to understand, apply, and work with emerging technologies such as Industrial AI.

The event highlighted the growing connection between academic education and industry requirements, while strengthening the pipeline of graduates with hands-on experience on IFS Cloud and ERP systems.

Some of the moments captured at the IFS Customer Day at the University of Moratuwa