Janaka Kumarasinghe launches first-ever cartoon book on HR

Janaka Kumarasinghe hands over the cartoon book to Chief Guest WFPMA Secretary General Bob Morton at the CIPM National HR Conference while CIPM President Dhammika Fernando looks on

A unique initiative to create awareness and interest on human resource management through cartoons was launched by Janaka Kumarasinghe – Executive Director, Kent Ridge Ltd. and senior HR Professional, Company Director and Past President of CIPM Sri Lanka. The initiative draws upon people’s sense of humour in easy to comprehend pictures and cartoons in order to share meaningful messages and challenge the thinking of the reader. 

The launch of the cartoon book titled ‘Everyone Knows HR’ a useful fast reader for CEOs, Managers, HR professionals and students of management took place at the recently concluded CIPM National Human Resource Conference (NHRC) 2019 held at the BMICH, Colombo. 

“It is with great pleasure that I launch this book today. After reading the book, I am confident that many people will be inquisitive to know more about human resource management and development which is vital for the development of an organisation or a country,” said Janaka Kumarasinghe who is also a senior visiting lecturer in Masters programs at University of Moratuwa and Colombo.   

“The cartoon book manages to take some complex human resource and human relations issues, and translate them into easily understandable messages, not in just a humorous way but with a pointed and serious message behind it to say ‘oh, are we doing this? And if we are doing this, why?’ We need to look at ourselves and our organisations internally,” said Bob Morton of UK – Secretary General, World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) who was the Chief Guest at NHRC 2019.

“Furthermore, with Janaka’s background, in-depth insight and knowledge into human resource and human relationships, he has brought out a serious message in a most subtle manner so that everyone can understand the message of the cartoon quite easily. The book is a resource and a tool useful in corporate settings with meaningful humour,” he added.

 Since the launch, the book has received many excellent reviews from HR professionals, academics and business leaders alike which are a source of inspiration for the writer’s future publications through Kent Ridge. 

“This is a great initiative and I commend you for bringing awareness about HR by using humour. The title of the book, ‘Everyone Knows HR’ is excellent and very practical for what HR professionals go through daily at work,” says Aruna Jayasekera Chief People Officer of Sampath Bank PLC. 

“The initiative is innovative and insightful for all stakeholders,” he added.

The cartoons touch upon topics such as; induction and orientation, job titles, recruitment and selection, outsourcing, organisational culture, strategy, health and safety, employee involvement, HR analytics and social media, multigenerational workforce, expatriation, multitasking to name a few.

‘Everyone Knows HR’ will be available at leading book stores including Expographic, Vijitha Yapa and Sarasaviya Book stores.