About Us

About OpenArc Campus

OpenArc commenced it’s operations way back in 1991, as a small scale training unit, coupled to a software house and a computer selling unit. In the year 1995, due to the increase in demand the training unit was launched as a separate company under the name ‘OpenArc Computer School’. Since then the school has produced over two thousand diploma holders in software development by conducting an industry oriented course. From the year 2000, OpenArc has been conducting the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT), the external degree programme of the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC). Since then, to-date, OpenArc School has enrolled minimum of one hundred (100) students continuously in each and every academic year and recorded very good academic results. During this period our students have recorded three First classes, Island-wide best Final year projects and best island-wide semester results, several times. 

The quality conscious work of the school was recognized by government by offering several projects to us in the past. Under the Secondary Education Modernization Project (SEMP) and Education for Knowledge Society Project (EKSP) of the Ministry of Education, OpenArc School has trained over three hundred and fifty (350) national school teachers in ICT (ICDL), International Pedagogy for ICT (IPICT) and soft skills (EPASS). In collaboration with “WatersEdge”, Battaramulla, OpenArc School successfully trained over one hundred and fifty (150) school leavers in “Hospitality Management”, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Education.

Under the Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP) of the Ministry of Higher Education, OpenArc School trained over six hundred (600) school leavers on job oriented ICT and management programmes. Under the Distance Education Partnership Project (DEMP) of the Ministry of Higher Education, OpenArc School developed two on-line, distance educational programmes and trained over two hundred and fifty (250) school leavers resident in remote outstation areas. The National apex body for ICT in Sri Lanka, Information & Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) provided funds to design, develop and deliver an on-line ‘Diploma in Java Programming’ to over two hundred (200) participants residing in remote out-station areas.

The trust placed by National institutions and public was highlighted once again when the University of Moratuwa (UOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OpenArc School on 21st January 2015, appointing OpenArc as the “Partner Organization” to conduct their BIT external degree programme. OpenArc strongly feel that this very important strategic partnership can attract new breed of students and teachers and capable of taking the school to the next level. We were successful in enrolling over one hundred and eighty (180) students, with minimal effort,  for the very first programme commenced in February 2015. 

In the year 2017, the internationally famed ‘Prometric Test Centres’ offered OpenArc the “Colombo Test Centre” status. Since then, we have conducted many tests for Doctors, Engineers, Nurses etc. various types of tests, which enabled them to work abroad.

Branded as “OpenArc Industrial Campus”, we conduct multitude of courses andinternationally famed tests in Sri Lanka.

Capabilities of the school

We identify our capabilities as;

  • Design and Develop new courses to quality requirements of ISO9001:2015
  • Leader in conducting ‘Industry oriented’ Diploma programme to produce Middle level technicians required by the ICT industry
  • Capable in delivering industry oriented sandwich courses in Java, JEE, Drafting, Project Management etc.
  • Quality leader in Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) programme of the University of Colombo School of computing
  • Can develop on-line distance learning programmes with ease, since the school has already developed three such programmes in the past
  • Can develop electronic content which promote interactive learning, to replace any conventional text book material. We have developed electronic content material for the Ministry of Education for year 10; History, Geography, Science and English

Brief profile of Directors

Daya Hettiarachchi

B.Sc. Eng., C Eng., MIE (SL), M. Sc. (Computer Science), FCMA, CGMA, MBCS, GSLID,
Founder Chairman of OpenArc Group and CEO of OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd
  • A Chartered Engineer, Member of Institute of Engineers, Chartered Management Accountant, Fellow of CIMA (UK), Information Technology specialist, Member of British Computer Society (UK), Graduate of Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.
  • Career: 10 years in Engineering, Banking & Finance and Education sectors, 31 years in Software Development, Project Management, and Strategic Management as the Co-founder, Chairman of OpenArc since its inception in 1991.
  • A strong believer in ethical practices and professional code of conduct. Social worker, Teacher and Educationist.
  • Presently leading the OpenArc group with 160 professionals. 
  • Academic: B.Sc. Engineering from University of Peradeniya, Masters in Advanced Manufacturing Systems from Brunel University, UK., partly qualified in CIMA 
  • Professional Qualifications: Member of Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka, Member of Certified Professional Managers, Sri Lanka.
  • Career: Ten years of Engineering experience in large scale, local / Australian companies, exposure to Cement, Marine, Refrigeration, Tea & Rubber Machinery, Drip Irrigation systems and Sapphire processing for export.  Over Twenty-seven years in Education sector (OpenArc) as a teacher, Mentor, Project Manager & Director. Certificate level IV teaching qualification to teach courses in Australian qualification framework, Trainer of Tutor/Mentors on on-line programmes, awarded by Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka
  • Curriculum developer, Course book developer, visiting lecturer, paper marker and examiner of Open University of Sri Lanka to Engineering & IT students. Exam paper developer for prestigious professional body in Sri Lanka.
  • Skills: Teaching, Curriculum development, Electronic content development for Learning Management Systems, Trainer of Tutors & Mentors of on-line educational programmes, Project Management, ISO 9000 Quality Management

Vijith Sinhabahu

B.Sc. Eng., M. Sc. (Brunel, UK), C Eng., MIE (SL), MCPM
Co-founder, Director, OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd

Lalith Goonatilleke

B.Sc. Eng., C Eng., MIE (SL), 
Director, OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd
Managing Director, OpenArc Engineering Solutions (Pvt) Ltd
  • Academic: B.Sc Engineering from University of Peradeniya 
  • Professional Qualifications: Member of Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 
  • Career: Twelve years of Engineering experience in large scale organizations, specializing in Road Maintenance Machinery & premix and crusher plants Machinery, Heavy & Light vehicles.  Over Twenty years in Computer Hardware & Networking sector (OpenArc) and Seven years providing Solar Energy and Industrial automation solutions
  • Skills: Designing of Industrial automation and Green Energy solutions

What we have done so far

  • In1995- Up-dated the ‘Diploma in Computer Science’ programme (DCS) conducted by the training division of the parent company. There were fifty (50) students for the very first batch.
  • Tertiary Education and Vocational Commission ( TEVC), the apex government body   recognized the school and our own Diploma, ‘Diploma in Computer Science’
  • In January 1996, won the first corporate training pragramme, to train the top management of Road Construction and Development Company (RCDC)
  • In July 1997, won the. Corporate training pragramme, to train the top management and all the staff members of SOS Children’s Villages of Sri Lanka 
  • In the year 1998, became a member of Association of Computer Training Organisations (ACTOS) of Sri Lanka.
  • In July 1998, SOS Children’s Villages recognized OpenArc as their IT Training partner to train their children in their villages at Piliyandala, Galle, Anuradhapura, Nuwara-eliya and Moneragala. This partnership continued till 2010.
  • OpenArc students recorded best results at the very first semester examination of the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) external degree programme conducted by the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC), (in the year 2001)
  • Since 2001 to-date, OpenArc students have produced very good results , if not best results, at every semester examination of the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) external degree programme of UCSC.
  • In April 2002., Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Melbourne, Australia recognized OpenArc as an extended campus to conduct TAFE Diploma programmes in Sri Lanka.
  • As a service to the community, trained sixty (60) disabled soldiers and over one hundred national school teachers of neighboring schools, free of charge during the years 2001 to 2008.
  • Granted free training or on concessionary terms totaling up to nearly Rs. 2 million to students with financial difficulties. All of them are employed, some have found employment abroad.
  • In 2007, introduced a new ‘Industrial Diploma in Software Development’ programme to produce smart software developers 
  • In the year 2009, with the help of a grant from the Ministry of Higher Education, developed two, on-line Diploma programmes; Diploma in Software Development and Diploma in Computerized Drafting.
  • During the years 2008 to 2011, developed lessons in electronic form for the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, under a project sponsored by ADB. 
  • Information & Communication Technology Agency (The Sri Lankan Government’s Apex body) funded to develop an on-line course ‘e-Diploma in Java Programming’ and offered to 200 students scattered all over Sri Lanka.
  • The Campus achieved two (2) “first classes” and one 2nd lower class passes in the Bachelor of Information Technology awarded externally by the University of Colombo in the year 2012.
  • In 2013, OpenArc Campus has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education to train around 600 school leavers in Hotel Management, Soft Skills, Securities and Investments through government funding
  • With the sponsorship from OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd, awarded 100% free scholarships to follow four years of study (Diploma & the Bachelors degree with trainee allowances) The total value of these scholarships exceeds Rupees one hundred and thirty one million to-date (ie: computed at Rs.650,000.00 benefit to each scholar)
  • In 2007 – scholarships for 26 deserving school leavers
  • In 2008 – scholarships for 48 deserving school leavers
  • In 2011 – scholarships for 18 deserving school leavers
  • In 2012 –  scholarships for 38 deserving school leavers
  • In 2013 –  Scholarship for 41 deserving school leavers
  • In 2014 –  Scholarship for 32 deserving school leavers
  • In the year 2014, OpenArc School system was certified as ISO9001:2008 compliant by Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
  • In the year 2015, the University of Moratuwa recognized us as the only partner organization to offer their BIT (external) degree programme
  • In the year 2017, the internationally famed ‘Prometric Test Centres’ offered OpenArc the “Colombo Test Centre” status. Since then, we have conducted many tests for Doctors, Engineers, Nurses etc. various types of tests, which enabled them to work abroad.

Why OpenArc?

  • 34 years of academic excellence with ethical practices
  • Industry exposure with hands-on-training under the guidance of industry experts
  • One and only ‘Industrial Campus’ in the island with ISO 9001:2015 quality assurance
  • Affordable cost & flexible educational loan schemes
  • Value-driven culture & soft skills development
  • Affiliations with state-owned universities
  • Affiliations with few foreign universities
  • Individual attention on every student
  • Japanese collaboration

Vision

OpenArc Campus is committed to identify local talents in IT, Provide directed and guided education and develop them to international standards, so that they can be employed anywhere in the world.

Mission

To provide globally aligned IT education that equips students with the skills and confidence to succeed in any part of the world.