Key Events Across 25 Years

Over 25 years, AHRP has created meaningful impact across the HR community and wider society through programmes focused on mentoring, capability building, leadership development and community transformation.

HR Awards

One of HRP Sri Lanka’s landmark contributions to the profession was the introduction of the HRM Awards creating, for the first time, a credible international benchmark for excellence in people management. More than a competition, the Awards became a catalyst for organizational transformation, encouraging institutions to critically evaluate their people practices against internationally recognized standards and continuously raise the bar. They inspired organizations to view human capital as a strategic business asset and accelerated the adoption of global best practices, and fostered a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Beyond recognizing excellence, the Awards elevated the HR profession itself, giving practitioners a platform to demonstrate their strategic contribution to organizational success. Ultimately, the greatest beneficiaries have been the people within those organizations, as stronger HR practices create better workplaces, stronger leadership, higher engagement, and more meaningful opportunities for individuals to thrive.

The HR Think Tank (HRTT)

Launched in 2019, the HR Think Tank is a joint initiative of AHRP and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest not-for-profit human resource membership association, with close to 302,000 members across more than 165 countries. It brings senior HR professionals together to examine challenges facing the profession, develop practical solutions and strengthen HR capability, standards and policy influence in Sri Lanka. Six editions have been held, covering themes such as holistic wellbeing, post-pandemic people practices and the hybrid workforce. The sixth edition, held in 2024 under the theme 'HR Capabilities for Business Excellence', featured a first-of-its-kind capability study based on interviews with 20 CEOs from leading Sri Lankan organisations. The study identified the core capabilities HR professionals need in a fast-changing business environment and was compiled by a team led by the late Dr. Chandana Wijayanama.

GAIN (Growth and Inspiration Network)

Target Group: University Undergraduates and Aspiring HR Professionals

Launched in 2022/23, GAIN is one of AHRP's signature initiatives for nurturing the next generation of HR professionals. Through the programme, AHRP certifies experienced practitioners as mentors for university undergraduates who aspire to careers in HR. Its network of 54 certified mentors has supported the career development of students and young graduates across Sri Lanka.

GLO (Growth and Leadership Outreach)

Target Group: Youth Communities

Launched in 2023, GLO is AHRP's flagship youth community development initiative, delivered with Global Learning Labs (GLL) and leading Sri Lankan companies. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and global leadership methodologies, the programme prepares professionals to become certified trainers and change agents committed to community development.

To date, GLO has partnered with 11 leading companies: Brandix, Fortude, IFS, John Keells Holdings (JKH), Sysco LABS, South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), Sunshine Holdings, Nations Trust Bank (NTB), Commercial Bank, HNB and Hemas Holdings. AHRP has certified five master trainers and approximately 55 trainers through the initiative, reaching more than 600 young people across Sri Lanka.

After completing the Leadership Academy, participants extend the programme's impact by implementing sustainable community projects in their own communities.

Elevate You

Target Group: Emerging and Mid-Career HR Professionals

Launched in 2023, Elevate You is AHRP's speed-mentoring initiative for emerging and mid-career HR professionals. Its interactive sessions connect participants with senior HR leaders who share practical insights from leading people and organisational transformation.

Six sessions have been conducted to date, strengthening knowledge sharing, capability development and the future HR leadership pipeline. Facilitators have included Rehan Anthonis, Aruni Abeysekara, Suresh Muttiah, Dr. Roland Smith, Isuru Gunasekera and Oshana Dias, who have shared their leadership and transformation experiences with participants.

Concord: AHRP's Rebrand and Digital Transformation

In September 2025, AHRP launched its 25th-anniversary year with Concord, a landmark event at Shangri-La Colombo that marked the Association's transition into its next chapter. AHRP unveiled a refreshed brand identity, a new website and a digital membership portal that moved member onboarding fully online. The event also featured a three-way Memorandum of Understanding between AHRP, Sentiva, an AI-native HR platform, and Altrium, a New York-headquartered generative AI consultancy with an engineering centre in Colombo. Together, these initiatives expanded member engagement, improved access to resources and strengthened AHRP's readiness to support the profession's adoption of AI and emerging technologies.

Bite Size Learning

Bite Size Learning is AHRP's series of concise knowledge-sharing sessions designed to keep HR professionals current on timely issues. Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the profession adapt to new ways of working, the series has continued as an accessible complement to AHRP's larger programmes. Sessions are led by senior professionals from Sri Lankan and global organisations and focus on practical topics relevant to contemporary HR practice.

CEO Forums

Through its CEO Forums, AHRP has created opportunities for Sri Lanka's chief executives to engage directly with the HR profession on the people and organisational challenges shaping business.

This engagement also informed the HR capability study presented at the sixth HR Think Tank in 2024. Based on in-depth interviews with 20 CEOs from leading Sri Lankan organisations, the study identified the capabilities HR professionals need in a rapidly changing business environment. It was compiled by a team led by the late Dr. Chandana Wijayanama and reinforced AHRP's commitment to aligning the profession with business needs.

HR Annual Connect

HR Annual Connect is AHRP's flagship annual gathering, bringing the country's HR community together to network, reflect on the year's progress and celebrate the profession. The most recent edition, HR Annual Connect '25, attracted more than 500 HR professionals, underscoring its importance to AHRP's calendar and Sri Lanka's wider HR community.

Human Capital Summit

In 2016, the National Human Resource Development Council selected AHRP as the professional partner for the Sri Lanka Human Capital Summit. AHRP also provided technical expertise for the second summit in 2024, held in partnership with the Board of Investment. The summits focused on identifying national talent needs and developing a blueprint for a future-ready workforce.

Key Partnerships

SHRM: AHRP's Global Anchor

AHRP's partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest HR membership association, has connected Sri Lankan professionals with global certification, knowledge and networks. AHRP became Sri Lanka's first and only channel to offer the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP examinations locally. The partnership has since expanded into emerging areas through a structured Generative AI in HR certificate programme delivered with SHRM APAC, with further masterclasses planned.

The collaboration also gave rise to the HR Think Tank and earlier joint initiatives such as the HR Awards. Sri Lankan professionals have gained greater regional exposure through opportunities including the SHRM India Awards, a delegation to SHRM Tech26 in Mumbai and a Bite Size Learning session featuring Shaakun Khanna of SHRM India. Across certification, capability building and international representation, SHRM continues to serve as AHRP's bridge to global HR practice.

International Coaching Federation (ICF) Colombo Chapter

AHRP's partnership with the ICF Colombo Chapter broadens the profession's impact by connecting coaching with an established community of HR practitioners and organisational leaders. The collaboration supports the exchange of research, case studies and best practices, while equipping HR leaders with practical, coaching-informed approaches to leadership development. Its wider objective is to embed coaching into workplace culture and extend its value across Sri Lanka's organisational and national workforce agenda.