CMI UK Sri Lanka Branch successfully concludes 19th AGM, its first e-AGM

The 19th AGM was conducted with the Chief Guest, past presidents, companion members, general members, students and invitees joining in virtually through ‘Zoom’, adhering to the health norms brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic

Outgoing President Murali Prakash: “As we witness new economic landscapes such as gig economy along with social media led opinions, mankind would be challenged with values, traditions and ethics”

CMI UK APAC Chief Guest David Jones: “CMI has played a prominent role as the professional body for management and leadership for over 65 years and we certainly value the support and effort the Sri Lanka members are giving us”

The Sri Lanka Branch of the Chartered Management Institute of UK (CMI) recently concluded its very first e-AGM, which was also its 19th Annual General Meeting. 

The 19th AGM was conducted with the Chief Guest, past presidents, companion members, general members, students and invitees joining in virtually through Zoom, adhering to the health norms brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technology enabled its outgoing President Murali Prakash to join the AGM and conduct the affairs virtually from Australia, while the Chief Guest for the occasion, CMI UK APAC Managing Director David Jones joined in virtually from Malaysia, and to conduct a seamlessly integrated virtual AGM with great success. 

The newly-appointed Executive Committee Members for the Administrative Year 2020/2021 consists of FCMI President Kaushal Rajapakse, FCMI Immediate Past President Murali Prakash, FCMI former Vice President Sajith De Silva, FCMI former Vice President Rohitha Amarapala, FCMI Secretary Kamaya Perera, FCMI Treasurer Chaminda Ediriwickrama, FCMI Assistant Secretary Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, FCMI Assistant Treasurer Ramesh Dassanayake, FCMI M. M. S. Quvylidh, FCMI ACMI  Niranjali Weerasekera, MCMI Chartered Manager Chaminda De Silva, FCMI Nirmalan Nagendra, FCMI Rishantha Mendis, MCMI Chaya Ranaweera and FCMI Ninesh Amirthiah Daniel, as committee members.

The outgoing President and pro tem Chairman Murali Prakash in his speech stated that during the past year as promised, the CMI Sri Lanka UK Branch kept governance and compliance at the forefront; which was all possible with the team effort of its Executive Committee Members and subcommittees led by the Vice Presidents. 

A special mention went out to KPMG Sri Lanka for its continued collaboration as a knowledge partner, the sponsors, well-wishers and all others who continued to support the events and webinars hosted during the past year. He went on to state that for the first time we have witnessed a health pandemic with economic chaos bundled with economic upheaval. 

However, after every adversity and as every mountain climber would say, what is to follow would be a decline which is easier for all of us, creating new vistas and opportunities. “Let’s be optimistic!”  Murali further stated, “As we witness new economic landscapes such as gig economy along with social media led opinions, mankind would be challenged with values, traditions and ethics.”

“Future management structures globally and especially locally need to have a clear and distinct notion of ethics and governance and if not, proliferation of social technology-based advancements could create polarised and highly toxic societies.”  

The newly-elected President Kaushal Rajapakse is also the President of the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL), a pioneer in the recycling industry in Sri Lanka, the Group Managing Director at Kalhari Group, an ex-co-member of the environment professionals, a management committee member of the National Chamber of Exports and Director of Building a Future Foundation, Baff Polymech, Sail Lanka Charter and the first Vice District Governor of the Lions District 306 B2. 

Rajapakse stated that we are fortunate as Sri Lankans to be safe of the pandemic, thanks to the authorities for bringing the situation under control. He also stated that COVID-19 has drastically altered the landscape of human activity. 

“This new normal means social distancing, wearing face masks and following stringent rules laid down by the health authorities and it also means major disruption to life as we know it. Complete confidence about the future has never been possible and this new normal has made it worse. Process planning and scenario planning make more sense than fixed projections for they focus on answerable questions.”

Kaushal emphasised: “Factor the possibility of the unknowables into your decision making, but do not wait for perfect information to make decisions. We have to make choices every day but freezing is as bad as overconfidence.”

As the new President, he also confirmed that CMI Sri Lanka’s branch was committed to continue its programs that strengthen professionalism through education, training and resources with vigour.

Another memorable event of the evening was the recognition of Gamini Karunarathne, a leading light in the banking and financial sphere and a former Director/General Manager of the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB), and a past President of CMI Sri Lanka, for completing 25 years of CMI Membership.

Chief Guest David Jones stated: “CMI exists as a not for profit making body and its vision that inspires us is a world where we see better led and better managed organisations. CMI has played a prominent role as the professional body for management and leadership for over 65 years and we certainly value the support and effort the Sri Lanka members are giving us.”

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the only chartered professional body for management and leadership dedicated to improving managers’ skills and enhancing the number of qualified managers. It is also the leading authority on management and leadership in the UK. 

CMI Sri Lanka aims to be the most recognised and respected professional body in the country, providing its members with the latest management thinking and practical support, helping its members gain professional recognition to improve their management skills and progress in their careers.