While the practice of psychological counseling had gained some grip, professional career guidance for careers remained in its infancy, at the dawn of the 21st century. Recognizing this need, the state university system established the first dedicated career guidance unit at the University of Colombo in 1998. This initiative coincided with a pressing issue then, as it is now – redundancy. The demand for guidance was high, prompting individuals with limited expertise in the field to launch projects and offer advice based on personal opinions rather than scientific grounding. This lacked the necessary rigor of psychology, philosophy, and counseling methodologies.

However, the tide began to turn with the introduction of the Career Key the Psychometric Test developed by the University of Colombo in 2003. Our core mission was to inject a scientific approach into career guidance, both for individuals and groups. We partnered with the prominent EDEX Education Exhibition at the Royal College of Colombo to reach millions of students and make this service widely accessible.

Two decades have since passed, during which we recognized the need for formalized guidance education. This led to the creation of the National Diploma in Career Guidance offered by the Sri Lankan Foundation Institute, now a program exceeding ten years of success. By combining formal education with trained counselors, we established the Ceylon Career Guidance Association (CCGA) to meet the demand for professionals in this sector. Witnessing hundreds of qualified career counsellors now actively engaged in this field fills me with immense pride.

It is crucial to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of those who have diligently nurtured this field from its nascent stage. Just as a flower silently unveils its beauty after the dew of the night, it is essential to recognize the efforts of those who have toiled tirelessly from the foundation up. The CCGA’s unwavering dedication to empowering individuals and shaping meaningful careers fills me with immense pride, and I have no doubt that this unwavering mission will continue to bear abundant fruit in the years to come.

Ajith Jayawardhana
Advisor to the CCGA.