Thursday Jul 16, 2026
Thursday Jul 16, 2026
Thursday, 16 July 2026 10:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Twenty-five years gives us good reason to look back with pride, but it also asks us to consider what comes next. What has always stood out to me about AHRP is its ability to keep the HR profession connected to the business realities facing organisations. Over the years, the Association has created opportunities for practitioners to learn from one another, engage directly with business leaders and gain access to international thinking that may otherwise have remained beyond their reach.
The expectations placed on HR have changed considerably during this time. Organisations once looked to HR primarily for policies, processes and people administration. Today, HR leaders sit alongside other business leaders, contributing to the business agenda through its people strategy. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this shift by changing how work is designed, which skills matter, how performance is assessed and how decisions are made. Yet AI alone will not determine whether organisations succeed. Leadership, judgement, trust and the ability to bring people together will remain just as important.
This is where AHRP has a meaningful role to play. Our responsibility is to bring relevant global knowledge into the Sri Lankan context and turn it into practical value. As part of our 25th-anniversary programme, the session “Shaping the Future of Work & Organisations” on 16 July 2026 will continue this work. A keynote by Ankhit Khanna, Director Talent Solutions, LinkedIn will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Chathuri Munaweera, CEO of AIA Insurance Sri Lanka, Anshuman Upadhyaya, Managing Director and Partner of BCG, Guna Grace, Head of Enterprise Sales of LinkedIn and Shaakun Khanna, Head of Leadership and HR transformation of SHRM. The discussion will examine latest talent trends, skills-based organisations, productivity in the age of AI, and what the future holds for humans while grounding these global developments in Sri Lankan realities.
As AHRP enters its next 25 years, we will continue to strengthen the link between HR and business, create opportunities for emerging professionals and remain open to new ideas without losing sight of our human responsibility. I extend my appreciation to everyone who has contributed to AHRP’s 25 year legacy and invite all to join us in laying the foundation for the next 25.
Ravi Jayasekera
Executive Vice President, AHRP
