PIMA upgrades annual excellence awards to Platinum Honours

The annual event that is held by the Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) in order to recognise the PIM graduates who perform exceptionally in their careers has been revamped as the Platinum Honours.

A prestigious recognition that motivates graduates to continue with significant growth and performance, the ceremony, will be held in conjunction with the AGM at Ceylon Intercontinental Hotel at Cat Eye Ballroom on 29 April at 7 p.m.

The award in itself is a testament to the integrity of the recipient. Shaped as a pillar based on the original stone pillar from the ‘Nissanka Latha Mandapaya’ in Polonnaruwa, the award signifies the ability of one to become a ‘pillar of society’. Carved in the shape of a lotus stem, with an open flower at the top, it also signifies respect and honour. The name, by incorporating the word ‘platinum’ shows prestige and value as a precious material that is high quality.

Applicants, who must be PIM graduates, are able to apply or be nominated by another member, after which a panel of expert judges, appointed by the PIMA, will make their decision. The requisites for this honour include significant progress both professionally and academically in one’s career, organisation and society, post graduation recognition both locally and internationally in one’s professional field and significant contributions made to society and the organisation.

The judging panel, comprised industry professionals, as follows

Dr. Wickrema Weerasooria – With an LLB Sri Lanka First Class Honours and PhD (London) Dr. Weerasooria has, for the past 40 years gained extensive knowledge and experience in the area of Banking, Financial Sector and Commercial Law and has established himself as an expert in the area. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory and an attorney-at-law in Sri Lanka.

With extensive experience in the private and public sector, Dr. Weerasooria is also the published author/co-author and editor of several well-known texts in the areas of Banking, Finance, Credit and Commercial Law. He has also consulted on various projects both here and abroad and has been recognised for his expertise in the fields of business and law.

Dr. Ajantha Dharmasiri - A senior Faculty member and Management Consultant attached to the PIM, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. With over two decades of both private and public sector experience, he has engaged in consultancies in more than 10 countries.

Dr. Dharmasiri is a Commonwealth AMDISA Doctoral Fellow and a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management (UK). He has won many accolades and recently, the platinum award by the Alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIMA) for outstanding academic contribution.

Bradley Emerson -  A degree holder in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, Sri Lanka (1996/1998)  Advance Diploma in Management Accounting (The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)), he received the Achievers Award in 2004, from the PIM, in recognition of outstanding achievements.

Emerson has been a Banker prior to joining CIMA in May 2007. He has worked with, Commercial Bank as Senior Manager Operations, Nations Trust Bank as Head of retail banking and Pan Asia Bank as Deputy CEO. Currently he is the Regional Director of CIMA in South Asia & the Middle East.

Eardley Perera –  A Chartered Marketer and Graduate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, Perera has undergone management training in Sweden, UK, South Korea, the Philippines and Singapore.

Currently, he is a Non-Executive Chairman of M&E (Private) Limited and an Independent Director of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, Keells Food Products PLC, ODEL PLC.; Director of Sting Consultants (Pvt) Ltd., Superbrands Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. and Brand Finance Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Actively engaged in management consultancy and management education development, he is also a member of the Board of Study of the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (PIM).  

Kemantha Perera – President of the PIM Alumni, he has been in the executive committee for last 5 years in the following roles as Chairperson of the Membership Sub Committee, Chairperson of the Public Lectures Sub Committee and Executive Secretary of the PIM Alumni 2009/10.

Perera has over 12 years industry experience in heading sales and marketing functions and currently serves as the Head of Sales of Multinational Steel Building Solutions provider, BlueScope Lysaght Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of BlueScope Steel Australia.

The Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) is the pioneer in advanced management education in Sri Lanka and is affiliated to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The institute encourages knowledge-based study, continuous development of competence to perform, devotion to innovation for the creation of value and an unwavering commitment to disciplined professionalism which are the four pillars of our programme philosophy.

The Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) is dedicated to providing professional development and raising topical issues through public interest programmes and special programmes of this nature. For more information please contact PIMA through [email protected].