Finance Minister commends ISMM at 24th Convocation

inance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was the Chief Guest at the 24th Convocation of Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM), which was held last month at the BMICH, where he presented diploma certificates to 42 students who had successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Management. 

Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the contribution made by the Institute of Supply and Materials Management to the development of the profession in the arena of supply and materials management in Sri Lanka had to be commended and felicitated. 

He further stated that the institute’s history spanning over four decades should provide ISMM with the ideal platform and springboard to reach greater heights in developing professionalism in the industry since that was the need of the hour to bring in further improvement to the process of procurement in Sri Lanka based on transparency and professional management.

ISMM President Noel Wickramasinghe, while welcoming Karunanayake and Guests of Honour Prof. Aryadurai, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka, and Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekera, Executive Director of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, stated: “We supply chain professionals are emenable to the state policies and leadership as we all know supply chain management is a free matching of supply and demand that is vital in the formation of national strategy. Supply Chain Management does not exist in a vaccum, instead it must interact with various entities and the Government is one such important entity. There is considerable capacity and potential to improve our collaboration  in the  context  of national development, normally known as the non-profit organization (NPO). We have an active role to play in the industry other than our core business of training and consultations.”

Addressing the newly passed out Graduate Diplomates, the President said that “this convocation in fact is the beginning of your future career where we expect you to put into practice the knowledge you have gained during these three and a half years and to serve your respective organisations and the country to the best of your ability. Therefore, as you step out today as well qualified professionals in the field of supply chain management, we trust that you will continue your ties with ISMM, your second alma mater, through the Alumni Association and participate in future programs organised by ISMM to share knowledge and experience as these gatherings will be very important to build up your professional network.” 

“We  have signed an MoU with the Open University of Sri Lanka to conduct an MBA program on Supply Chain Management to enable Graduate Diplomates to follow a two-year MBA program. Therefore keep in touch with the Institute for its progress. ISMM is organising all these only to ensure that you will be in the frontline of the industry. As the  pioneers in supply chain education, ISMM is now an ISO certified organisastion. We need your continuous support as active members of ISMM to carry the  flame forward.