GAFM USA certifies Sri Lanka’s first cohort of Master Management Consultants

From right: Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake, Prialal De Silva, CMMC recipients Mathiesha Mahamalage and Baskaramoorthy Anantharajah, Special Guest global trainer and consultant Jayantha De Silva, GAFM Representative Rajkumar Kanagasingham, CMMC recipient Ahamad Farhaz Farouk, and Vision 8 Academy Chief Visionary Officer and CMMC Program Coordinator Amintha Sugath De Silva 

The Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM), USA, has certified Sri Lanka’s first ever cohort of practitioners under its Certified Master Management Consultant (CMMC) program, marking a milestone in the professionalisation of management consultancy in the country. 

The certification ceremony was held recently at the Hilton Colombo, recognising three senior corporate professionals who successfully completed what organisers described as the first practitioner-led management consultancy certification of its kind conducted by GAFM globally. The certification presentations were made by GAFM, USA representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Rajkumar Kanagasingham, assisted by CMMC program Coordinator and Vision 8 Academy Chief Visionary Officer Amintha Sugath De Silva. 

The three recipients of the CMMC certification with Distinction were Analytical Instruments Ltd., Deputy General Manager Baskaramoorthy Anantharajah; Morphosis Coaching Ltd., Country Director and Lead Coach/Trainer Ahamad Farhaz Farouk, and Star Garments Ltd., Head of Talent Development Mathiesha Mahamalage. 

Kanagasingam noted that while GAFM operates in nearly 40 countries, the Sri Lanka program represented a unique departure from traditional certification models. “This is the first time, as far as GAFM is concerned, that a certification of this nature has been delivered in such a deeply practitioner-led format,” he said, adding that the success of the program could lead to similar initiatives being introduced in other countries. 

A key differentiator of the CMMC program was its strong practical orientation, requiring participants to undertake a live consultancy engagement with a designated protégé organisation over a nine-week period. Rather than relying on examinations or classroom-based theory alone, participants were required to apply consultancy frameworks in real organisational settings, addressing live business challenges and delivering outcomes week by week. 

The program was facilitated by Prialal De Silva and Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake whose extensive experience in consulting shaped the structure and delivery of the course. Organisers highlighted that the small group size enabled intensive mentoring, peer learning, and continuous feedback throughout the program. 

The special guest for the evening was, Global Trainer and Consultant Jayantha De Silva affiliated with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations, who delivered the keynote address. Drawing on over three decades of domestic and international consulting experience across more than 20 countries, De Silva underscored the realities of global consulting practice.  

He outlined three critical phases of international consulting—preparation, implementation and execution, and follow-up—emphasising that consultants must rigorously assess their own competence before accepting assignments. “In international consulting, you are often on your own. 

There is no safety net. Either your professional reputation grows exponentially, or you fail,” he observed. 

De Silva also highlighted the importance of cultural intelligence, professional discipline, and personal wellbeing, advising consultants to be mindful of host-country norms, contractual and logistical details, and ethical boundaries in client engagements. He stressed that consultants must remain results- and people-oriented while ensuring timely reporting and follow-through on recommendations. 

Certification recipient Ahamad Farhaz Farouk described the CMMC as a demanding but transformative journey. He noted that the program challenged participants to go beyond theory and confront real-world consulting constraints, including stakeholder access and organisational dynamics. The small cohort, he added, enabled productive discussions and cross-learning, making the experience both intensive and highly personalised. 

Baskaramoorthy Anantharajah said he initially expected a structured course with established frameworks but found the program to be far more immersive. He highlighted the value of the live consultancy project, which allowed participants to apply tools and methodologies on an ongoing basis. “Weekly practice and feedback helped convert concepts into action and ideas into measurable value,” he said, adding that the program significantly strengthened his confidence in diagnosing organisational challenges and designing strategic interventions. 

For Mathiesha Mahamalage, whose role involves addressing complex people and operational issues across Star Garments’ extensive manufacturing footprint, the program provided a structured approach to problem-solving that had previously been learned largely through experience. He noted that the protégé engagement pushed him beyond his comfort zone and forced him to develop solutions even when they were not immediately apparent. “Now, when I get a call from a factory, I know what to do and how to do it,” he said. 

Organisers said the program reflects a growing demand in Sri Lanka for practice-oriented professional certifications that bridge the gap between theory and execution, particularly in fields such as management consultancy where credibility is built on demonstrated outcomes.