CIPM hosts ceremony to honour past presidents and fellow members

Chief Guest, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva with CIPM Sri Lanka President Dhammika Fernando and the Council Members of CIPM Sri Lanka

CIPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resource management hosted a ceremony with the objective of honouring and appreciating the yeomen service rendered by the past presidents during their respective tenures and to recognise the chartered fellow members who bring honour and recognition to CIPM and for their contribution for the upliftment of the HR profession in Sri Lanka and the region. 

The ceremony was held on 5 April at the Members’ Lounge, CIPM Head Office ‘HR House’ in Colombo 5 with the participation of CIPM Sri Lanka President Dhammika Fernando, members of the CIPM Sri Lanka Governing Council including Vice President Sarath Jayasinghe, Immediate Past President Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, Hony. Secretary Ken Vijayakumar, Hony. Treasurer Ajith Bopitiya, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Member Services and Events Jayantha Abeyrathna and CIPM Sri Lanka CEO P.G. Tennakoon together with the Members of the Governing Council. 14 Past Presidents and 36 Chartered Fellow Members were presented with their cloaks and colours insignia at the ceremony. 

“It is with great pleasure that we recognise the contribution that each of the past presidents have made to make CIPM Sri Lanka what it is today – the nation’s leader in human resource. Furthermore, under the wise stewardship of the past presidents who worked tirelessly over the years, we have also been successful in building our profile and making our mark regionally as well. We now have a great standing and recognition at regional HR forums such as APFHRM, WFPMA and others. Our fellow members who hold responsible positions in the hierarchies of the corporate and government sectors, the tri-forces and Police bring us recognition and acceptance on a daily basis which we appreciate very much,” said CIPM Sri Lanka President Dhammika Fernando. 

The Chief Guest at the occasion was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, NDU who is also a distinguished graduate and Associate Member of CIPM Sri Lanka. The CIPM Sri Lanka Governing Council felicitated Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva at the ceremony on his appointment as the Navy Commander – a rare and exemplary CIPM member who has made his alma mater proud with his career progression and his contribution to the nation. A plaque of appreciation was also presented to the Navy Commander by Dhammika Fernando during the ceremony. 

“We take this opportunity to honour and recognise Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva – Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy for the unstinted support rendered to us as a distinguished Associate Member of CIPM,” he added. 

The ceremony was followed by networking cocktails and dinner. The fellowship provided an opportunity for all to renew relationships and discuss ways and means of taking HR in Sri Lanka and the region to the next level. 

CIPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM) and to the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). CIPM, being a professional institute is also a constituent member of the Organisation of Professional Associations [OPA] Sri Lanka. Currently, CIPM membership comprises of over 1200 Professional Members who serve in both public and private organisations. The Chartered Status was conferred on CIPM by the Parliament of Sri Lanka on the 28th of September 2018 by amending the original Act No. 24 of 1976.