Institute of Supply and Materials Management’s 45th anniversary celebrations tomorrow

• To hold international seminar ‘Leveraging Supply Chain Management to ensure Sustainability’ in the morning followed by grand banquet dinner and get-together

The Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) is celebrating its 45th anniversary tomorrow with an international seminar  titled ‘Leveraging Supply Chain Management to ensure sustainability’  at the Kingsbury Hotel where eminent local and foreign  supply chain scholars are due to address the  ISMM members, guests and foreign delegates set to attend the international seminar. 

Eran Wickramaratne will be the event’s keynote speaker. 

Nalin Silva elected 14th President of ISMM

Top professional Nalin Silva, FISMM (SL), DPMM (SL) and MMS (Lon), was elected the 14th President of the Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) Sri Lanka, which is incorporated by the Act of Parliament No. 3 of 1981,

Seated from left: Sirimal Kurukulasuriya (Internal Auditor), Milinda Obeysekera (Editor), Sarath Gamage (Vice President), I.G. Perera (Vice President), R.L. Nalin Silva (President), Noel Wickremasinghe (Immediate Past President), Harsha Sirimanne (General Secretary), Maj. Gen. R.V. Udawatta, psc, ato (Vice President) and S.K. Dimuka Hemantha (Treasurer)

Standing from left (front row): Udaswin Daluwatte, Brig. D.S.A. Dehiwatta, ato, Jayantha Wijesinghe, Lilantha Subasinghe (System Auditor), Darshana Jayasinghe, Jayantha Gallehewa (Assistant Secretary), Brig. H. M. U. B. Herath, RSP, USP, AATO, Lsc, AVM Lalaka H. Peiris, VSV, USP, psc, M.A.P. Tilak Perera (Assistant Treasurer) and Nimal Gonaduwa. 

Standing from left (back row): Dhananjaya Dharmaratne, Gamini Madhuraarachchi, R.A. Chamira Harshalal, Asanga Weerackody (Institutional Member – Eagle Logistics Colombo Ltd.), C. Janaka Wijesinghe and Brig. Himal L. Guruge, AATO. Absent: Gerry Hidelaratchi (Past President), M. Bandusena (Past President), Maj. Gen. T. Sivashanmugam USP (Past President), V. Ganesh (Past President), AVM Duncan Dissanayake VSV (Past President), Danesha Perera (Past President), Anil Ponweera (Past President), Krishan Tennekoon (Institutional Member – Logiwiz Ltd.), Pradeep Kudagamage, Dr. (Mrs.) A.K.C.H. Priyangani Jayasundara and Sunil Medagama

On the same evening a grand banquet dinner and get-together is planned for ISMM members, guests and foreign delegates. National Policies and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva is due to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. National Savings Bank Chairman Aswin De Silva will be the Guest of Honour.

Founded on 24 October 1972, ISMM is the leading specialised institute which fosters professional development of purchasing and supply chain education in Sri Lanka. It was registered as a company under Section 19 of the Companies Ordinance in 1978 with the Registrar of Companies.   

Recognition of its expertise led ISMM to receive membership of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka in 1976 and two past presidents of ISMM have been elected as Presidents of the OPA. ISMM was incorporated by Act of Parliament No. 3 in 1981. 

ISMM is affiliated to the world body – the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management - encompassing 45 national associations having more than 250,000 professionals engaged in purchasing and supply management. ISMM is also affiliated to the International Trade Centre (ITC), which is the technical co-operation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) for operational enterprise-oriented aspects of trade development. 

ISMM is the only body which poses the license to promote the principles of international purchasing and supply chain management and is authorised to conduct courses in international purchasing and supply chain management under the Modular Learning System in Sri Lanka on behalf of ITC, Geneva.

Last year the ISMM conducted its 25th convocation at the BMICH to award diplomas to 41 students who successfully completed the three-year Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management program. In June last year ISMM signed an MOU with the Open University of Sri Lanka for their diplomates to follow the two-year MBA program conducted by the Open University of Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Public Administration, through their Circular No. 46/90 (i) dated 20 June 1994, recognised the corporate membership of the ISMM as equivalent to a First or Second Class Honours Degree relevant to the field of Supply and Materials Management awarded by a recognised university.

ISMM’s main thrust of activities from the inception was the training of supplies chain management personnel at all levels. ISMM has trained more than 15,000 practitioners in the field of procurement and supply chain management. There are nearly 1000 diplomates who have successfully completed the diploma course conducted by ISMM which enjoys wide recognition in all sectors, having heavy input of procurement and supply chain activities. Training is also given  at the grass-roots level and over 12,000  stores personnel, including storekeepers, stores managers and officers engaged in purchasing, inventory control, import and export trade, shipping and clearance work have successfully undergone training so far.

The extensive range of services rendered by ISMM includes up-to-date training programs, seminars, workshops, conferences and consultancy services for organisations needing specialised services in supply chain functions.