The Department of English and Modern Languages took the initiative to organize Retorika: Transnational Dialogues, a business plan contest; the outcome of the telecollaboration project the department held with the University of Lorraine, France. A group of NSBM students representing each department of the Faculty of Business worked collaboratively with a class of Masters in Law students at the University of Lorraine to develop a business plan that is to be positioned in Europe. The NSBM students provided business insights while UOL students acted as the legal advisors for the business.

The first round of the competition was held on the 19th December while the final round was successfully concluded on the 20th December with the presence of an esteemed panel of judges : Ms. Thilini De Silva, Dean – Faculty of Business, Mr. Shehan Adhikari, co-founder of Leapstitch Apparel and the founder Fitzky and Ms. Hasulie Dias Abeysinghe, the assistant manager- corporate communications at T&FG group. The best four groups selected from the first round contested at the finals and the winner for the best promotional video and the best business plan were awarded to Sachin Dewantha from the Department of Management, Avishi Navanjana from the Department of English and Modern Languages and Ovini Nishadi from the Department of Marketing representing Group 1 – Group IDEAL.

The event was graced by Prof. E. A. Weerasinghe- the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Baratha Dodankotuwa- Head of Academic Development and Quality Assurance and the academics of the Faculty of Business.