Honorary doctorate for OPA President Dr. Lalith A. P. Wijetunge

The Commonwealth University, in collaboration with the London Graduate School, has awarded an honorary doctorate of “Doctor of Human Resources Management” to Lalith A. P. Wijetunge at a recently concluded award ceremony held in Dubai, to recognise his contribution to the professional community in Human Resources Management, locally and internationally. Dr. Lalith A.P. Wijetunge is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka, and was the Past President of the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka for three consecutive years (2007/2010).

 He served as the President of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (2017/2018). The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka is the apex body, consisting of 50 member associations representing 32 professions, such as engineering, medicine, architecture, law, human resource management, supply chain management, etc., with a combined membership of over 60,000. This organisation is highly recognised by the Government of Sri Lanka and involved in an advisory capacity for all professional and national issues.

Dr. Lalith Wijetunge is presently employed as a Consultant (Human Resources & Administration) at Dutch Lanka Trailer Manufactures Ltd., a well reputed BOI company. He has a wide range of experience in serving reputed organisations as Head of Human Resources, such as: SLT Human Capital Solutions Ltd., Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (popularly known as Lake House), Ceylon Leather Products Ltd., Korea Ceylon Footwear Mfg. Ltd., and various other private and public sector organisations.

The dynamic leadership of Dr. Lalith Wijetunge, and his role in transforming IPM Sri Lanka into a dynamic professional body, is emulated by the professional institution in the Asia Pacific Region. He has served as a Vice President of Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resources Management, the professional body of human resources and people management associations’ representative countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand and all other Asian countries.

Dr. Lalith Wijetunge has participated in several International meetings and conferences in various parts of the world, representing the HR fraternity of the country, including World Federation of Personnel Management and Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, United Kingdom. 

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the HR profession in Sri Lanka and internationally, he has been conferred a number of awards, such as:

• IPM Lifetime Gold Medal for HR Excellence in 2017, the highest accolade an individual can receive for achieving excellence in HR profession
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution in HR at Sri Lanka’s Best Employer Brand Excellence Awards - 2017
• Lifetime Achievement Award in HR at the Global HR Excellence Awards 2013 in Mumbai, India
• Lifetime Achievement Award In HR at the Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2012 in Singapore
• International Pride of HR Profession Award at the Asia Pacific HR Congress 2009 in India

He is also a Professional Member of several professional Institutions: a member of the Institute of Management (U.K.), The Institute of Management Services (UK), Fellow Member of Sri Lanka Institute of Training and Development, Fellow Member of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers Sri Lanka, and a life member of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka.