IPM Sri Lanka to forge ahead with new Executive Council for 2016/17

IPM Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s leader in human resources management, recently elected its new Executive Council for 2016/17 comprising highly respected professionals and industry experts in order to steam ahead with a new strategic plan to take HR in Sri Lanka to the next level. 

The IPM Sri Lanka Executive Council for 2016/17 is headed by renowned academic and HR professional Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri - Director and Chairman of the Board of Management of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and is supported by a team of 17 highly qualified and experienced professional human resources specialists representing the private and public sectors and academia.

The Executive Council 2016/17: President Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, Immediate Past President Rohitha Amarapala - Head of Human Resources, Pan Asia Banking Corporation Plc, Vice President C. Gannile - Chief Officer - HR and Administration, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd; Hony. Secretary Ken Vijayakumar - CEO/Corporate Coach Talent Enrich Ltd, Hony. Asst. Secretary Wasanthi Vithanage - Assistant Human Resources Manager South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd, Hony. Treasurer Ajith Bopitiya Managing Partner and CEO –TRIKONSULT, Hony. Asst. Treasurer Major General (Retd.) Rohan Kaduwela - Director Personnel and Administration S-lon Lanka Ltd, Hony. Editor Gp. Capt. Manoaj Keppetipola- Permanent Faculty/Directing Staff (AIR) II, Defence Services Command and Staff College, and Council members G. Weerathunga - HR Consultant, Dr. Bhadra Arachchige - Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Resources Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dhammika Fernando - General Manager, Tropical Findings Ltd, Priyankara Seneviratne - Head of Human Resources and Administration, Millennium Development Ltd, Col. Saman Jayawickrama - Senior Staff Officer Sri Lanka Army Corps of Signals, Group Captain Kumar Kirinde (Retd.) - Group Manager Administration, WNS Global Services Ltd, Aruna Jayasekera - Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Sampath Bank PLC, Samitha Perera-Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CBL Foods International Ltd, Jayantha Amarasinghe - Deputy General Manager HR, Seylan Bank Plc, Prasad Piyadigama - Vice President HR, Holcim (Lanka) Ltd 

 

“I am indeed happy and privileged to work with an Executive Council comprising high-calibre HR professionals and academics who are proven and respected leaders in their own entities as well as in the HR fraternity,” said Prof. Dharmasiri.

“We have a mandate from the over 1,000 members of IPM Sri Lanka to chart a way forward to achieve the goals and objectives not only of IPM but also to chart a way forward to meet the aspirations of our community of over 7,000 students, and the aspirations of our country itself, which is at a crucial juncture where a well thought out human capital strategy at a national level is required to help the nation reach its growth and development objectives. IPM will be actively engaged in this endeavour and will engage with other state and private sector organisations to realise these aspirations,” he added, emphasising the national role that is expected of IPM Sri Lanka.

The Executive Council’s focus will be to precipitate a transformation in four key areas, namely membership, faculty, staff and students, in order to take IPM to the next level by enlarging its member base with membership drives, upgrading the faculty and developing the member base by providing opportunities for continuous development. These are some of the transformational initiatives that are being planned. 

In addition to continuing and upgrading the curriculum of HR courses, comprising CCHRM (Certificate Course in Human Resources Management), FCHRM (Foundation Course in Human Resources Management) and PQHRM (Professional Qualification in Human Resources Management), which is its flagship course for human resources professionals, IPM will be offering degree-level qualifications in collaboration with prestigious internationally recognised UK based universities, for which discussions are already in progress. 

The ultimate objective for IPM will be to spread its wings to all corners of the country and to expand throughout the region. 

Furthermore, in order to improve IPM students’ employability factor and make them ‘corporate ready’, opportunities will be continuously provided to the students to engage and participate in organising actual projects such as the Battle of the Brains and other CSR activities. 

Furthermore, individual mentoring services will be provided to students with the involvement of the general membership in order to guide and advice students on employment, skill development, etc. 

IPM was founded in 1959 and was subsequently incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. IPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Human Resources Management and also to the World Federation of People Management Association. IPM, being a professional institute, is also a constituent member of the Organization of Professional Associations [OPA] Sri Lanka. Currently, IPM comprises over 1,000 professional members who serve in both public and private sector organisations.