The 15th International Conference on Business and Information (ICBI) 2024, the flagship event of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, was held under the theme “Beyond Excellence: Integrating AI for Sustainable Business Innovations” on the 1^st of November 2024, at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Wattala.

The aim of ICBI 2024 was to bring together academics, practitioners, and policymakers, sharing their research findings and discussing current and challenging issues in management and business.

ICBI 2024 marked a significant milestone with partnerships from two prestigious international universities: Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia, and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The event was graced by the presence of Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the chief guest, while other esteemed guests included Prof. Bandara Wanninayake, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Prof. Sachith Mettananda, Chairman of the University Research Council; Prof. Hassan Ugail; Mr. K. K. K. Dharmathilaka, Registrar of the University; as well as Heads of Departments of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; esteem academic staff; and authors.

A highlight of the conference was the keynote address by Prof. Hassan Ugail, who delivered an engaging presentation on the integration of AI in sustainable business solutions.

Another remarkable event was the inaugural “Meet the Editors” session, where renowned Editors-in-Chief of Scopus-indexed journals shared their insights on recent developments and publication opportunities. The panelists, included Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy, Editor-in-Chief of the South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management; Prof. Sabri Boubaker, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Financial Management & Accounting; Prof. Kathryn Pavlovich, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion; and Prof. Roziah Mohd Rasdi, former Editor-in-Chief of the Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities.

Dr. Chathuri Senerath, Senior Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, moderated the session. For the first time, ICBI introduced the SDG Youth Challenge, providing a platform for young innovators to showcase their creative solutions for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sri Lanka. The Department of Marketing, University of Kelaniya, emerged as the winners, securing a cash prize of Rs. 100,000. The first runners-up, from the Department of Computer Science, SLIIT, were awarded Rs. 60,000, while the second runners-up, the Department of Accountancy, University of Kelaniya, received Rs. 40,000.

In the 3MT competition at ICBI 2024, Ms. Dinosha Sujindar, an M.Phil. candidate from the University of Colombo, was awarded as the winner of the competition, winning Rs. 75,000. The first runner-up, Ms. Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke, a DBA candidate from the University of Kelaniya, received Rs. 50,000. The People’s Choice award went to Mr. Dulip Anuranga, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Colombo.

The ICBI 2024 conference was a tremendous success, drawing active participation from both local and international attendees. This diverse engagement contributed to a vibrant exchange of ideas, reinforcing the event’s impact and reach in promoting sustainable business innovations.