CMI Quiz Challenge 2019 to enhance professionalism of managers in SL

From left: Faculty of PIM Management Consultant Ravi Bamunusinghe, Kalhari Group Chairman/Managing Director, CMI Vice President Kaushal Rajapakshe, Ambeon Group Managing Director/CEO, CMI President Murali Prakash, Human Resources and ER, Sri Lanka Insurance Deputy General Manager, CMI Quiz Committee Chairman Rohitha Amarapala, CMI past President/Advisor Waruna Ratnaweera, KPMG partner-Head of Management Consulting Kamaya Perera and Employers Federation of Ceylon Assistant Director General Prasad De Silva

By Divya Thotawatte

In a bid to enhance knowledge, skills and competencies of Sri Lankan managers, Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is to host its premier Quiz Challenge on 23 October at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. 

The CMI Quiz Challenge 2019 is organised for the fourth consecutive time, becoming a biennial event due to popular demand, according to the organisers. It is organised in an effort to enhance the professional standards of Sri Lankan managers, create greater networking amongst the management fraternity and thereby elevate CMI Sri Lanka as the most recognised and respected professional body in the island. 

Speaking at a press briefing, CMI President Murali Prakash said, “The quiz is done with well-known partners to ensure quality, fair governance and transparency. When we do such public programs, it’s essential that we maintain impartiality and a strict code of conduct to maintain the highest standards of integrity. The Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon have come in as Event Knowledge Partners. They bring in quality and content to the program.” 

“PIM will be instrumental in setting questions for the quiz as an independent entity. The Employers’ Federation will act to advice as required to the overall program and help establish the credibility amongst corporates. KPMG, on the other hand, is CMI Sri Lanka’s main knowledge partner, and they will assure the governance and compliance process. The three well-respected entities as event partners to ensure highest standards are maintained throughout this quiz program,” he elaborated. 

CMI Quiz Committee Head Rohitha Amarapala outlined the key contents of the quiz. He said that in an effort to modernise and reposition the quiz challenge as the country’s premier quiz program in the corporate sector, three key features would be added to the existing quiz program. 

“The first change is coming up with three knowledge partners and the second is the inclusion of team management subjects to the quiz program, which is vital for the corporate sector organisations to thrive. Thirdly, new methodology to conduct the quiz program will be introduced, which will enhance its efficiency and make it more appealing to corporate sector organisations. Electronic devices will be used for answering the multiple choice questions,” he explained. The event, which is to be a live table quiz, will be open for organisations in the public and private sectors. There will be 40 teams participating in the competition, each consisting of five members. Teams can register for the program under categories that include Banking, Finance and Insurance, Telecom an IT, Manufacturing, Apparel and Textile, FMCG and Retails, Food and Beverage, Hospitality and Leisure, as well as a special category. The quiz is to be structured on management and leadership, business management, corporate governance, general knowledge, current affairs and sports. Amarapala stated that an organisation can be represented by a maximum of two teams. He said that through the event, corporate sector managers are encouraged to update their knowledge and competence levels to improve their efficiency. The winners of the challenge will be presented with a cash award of Rs. 100,000, while the runners up will be receive a cash price of Rs. 60,000. The third placed team will receive a cash prize of Rs. 40,000. The winners and runners up of the eight sectors will also win trophies, medals and certificates.  As the competition will have to be limited to 40 teams, applications are now being accepted by CMI Sri Lanka on a first-come first-basis, said the organisers. 

Founded in 1947 as the British Institute of Management, the Chartered Management Institute was renamed upon being awarded the Royal Charter in 2002. One of eight countries in the world to have their own branches of CMI, the Sri Lanka branch was inaugurated in 1996 and within a span of over two decades has planned and executed various strategic initiatives with the objective of developing the professionalism of managers in Sri Lanka.  Pix by Ruwan Walpola