Business
Revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s HR practices, CIPM and SLSI unveil National HRM Standards
On a momentous occasion, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (CIPM) and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) unveiled the National Human Resource Management (HRM) Standards on April 30th, 2024, at the prestigious Blu Orbit by Citrus. This event, graced by esteemed Chief Guest Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, and Guest of Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe, Chairman of SLSI, alongside CIPM President Ken Vijayakumar, marked a significant milestone in the country’s HRM landscape.
Chief Guest Minister Manusha Nanayakkara emphasised the importance of National HRM Standards, stating, “We are embarking on a new journey to ensure that every Sri Lankan worker benefits from standardised, equitable, and exemplary HR practices.” He stressed the critical role of standardised HRM practices in driving economic growth and social development. He further stated the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives like the National HRM Standards, highlighting their potential to rebuild Sri Lanka for future challenges. Minister Nanayakkara praised the collaborative efforts of CIPM and SLSI in spearheading this initiative and appreciated the role of CIPM: “This alignment underscores CIPM’s dedication to improving employment standards at a time when the global spotlight is shining on labour rights and achievements.”
Established in 1959 as the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (IPM), it was later rebranded as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) in 2018. It aims to enhance HR practices in Sri Lanka. Mandated by law, CIPM SL regulates people management practices, holds membership in APFHRM, and is affiliated with WFPMA. Collaborating with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), CIPM embarked on creating comprehensive national HRM standards.
Under the visionary leadership of Jayantha Amarasinghe, Immediate Past President of CIPM, National HR Standards were formulated, and the Sectoral Community was established. Chaired by Dhammika Fernando, the Sectoral Committee, consisting of Ms Ruwani Senevirathne (Secretary), Priyantha Ranasinghe, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, Aruna Jayasekera, C. Hewapattini, Dr. Chandana Jayawardhane, Dhammika Kobbekaduwa, Sanjaya Walpita, and Dr Sanjaya Jayasuriya, collectively ensured that the National HRM Standards maintain the highest standards of professionalism and innovation.
The National HRM Standards comprehensively cover six critical areas of HR practice: HR Strategy and Planning, HR Organizational Governance, HR Service Delivery, HR Development and Performance, HR Measurement and Analytics, and HR Ethics and Professionalism.
Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, highlighted that the newly launched standards will establish a national framework for HRM, ensuring uniformity in practices that elevate quality, consistency, and credibility. Developed through rigorous research, consultations, and validation, these standards offer clear guidelines for HR excellence and self-assessment tools for practitioners and institutions to enhance performance. Aligning HR policies with global benchmarks fosters continuous improvement and innovation while recognising and rewarding HR excellence. Vijayakumar emphasised that these standards will cultivate a culture of professionalism, contributing to national prosperity and sustainable development goals.
The National HRM standards were launched in the esteemed presence of key stakeholders, the sectoral committee tasked with establishing the National HRM Standards, the distinguished Head of HRs representing various industries, the CIPM President and Executive Council members, esteemed Past Presidents, individuals comprising the Standing Committee on setting up People Management Standards, Certification, & Accreditation, as well as the esteemed Senior Management of the CIPM.
Dr Asanga Ranasinghe, Chairman of SLSI and Guest of Honour, hailed the launch as a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey towards economic development in a rapidly changing world. He commended CIPM for its pivotal role in formulating the national standards in collaboration with SLSI. Dr. Ranasinghe emphasised the importance of garnering support from all relevant parties for the smooth execution of these standards.
Business
SIA warns of 1,000 SME collapses, urges fair policies to protect Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The Solar Industries Association (SIA), representing over 1,000 companies and employing 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector, issued a stern warning recently regarding threats to the industry’s survival and the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. The association condemned recent regulatory instability and called for urgent policy reforms to avert economic and social crises.
The SIA categorically rejected the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) claim that rooftop solar installations caused the recent island-wide power outage, calling the accusation “baseless and misleading.”
“Public trust is eroded when accountability is misdirected,” the SIA stated. “We demand an independent, transparent investigation led by experts appointed by the Ministry or the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL). The CEB’s unilateral statements disregard the sector’s contributions and jeopardize Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition,” they said.
“While acknowledging the formation of a tariff determination committee, the SIA criticized its narrow focus on financial parameters, ignoring the sector’s socioeconomic value. Rooftop solar empowers businesses and households with energy independence, reduces grid strain, and supports climate goals. However, proposed volatile tariff structures risk destabilizing over 100,000 installations—primarily owned by middle-class families—and deter future investment,” they noted.
“A rigid, equation-based tariff system is unsustainable,” the association warned. “Sri Lanka needs a stable policy framework to attract long-term investments. For instance, retirees could invest EPF savings into solar projects, securing income while advancing national energy targets. Without urgent action, 1,000 SMEs and 40,000 jobs face collapse, with dire consequences for employment, energy security, and economic stability,” they pointed out.
SIA urged policymakers to establish an independent committee to investigate the power outage fairly, expand the tariff committee’s mandate to include socioeconomic and environmental benefits and implement predictable policies to safeguard SMEs, households, and investor confidence.
“Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads,” the SIA emphasized. “Protecting rooftop solar isn’t just about energy—it’s about livelihoods, economic resilience, and a sustainable future. We urge stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize both people and progress,: they emphasized.
SLT-MOBITEL has entered into a strategic partnership with Rush Lanka Group to provide exclusive SLT-MOBITEL Fibre connectivity solutions to their portfolio of luxury apartment developments in Colombo and the suburbs, enhancing the digital experience of all residents.
The agreement was signed between Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer of Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Group headquarters. Representatives from both companies also attended the ceremony.
Under the partnership, SLT-MOBITEL will serve as the exclusive digital service provider for five prestigious Rush Lanka developments including Street Rush Residencies and Rush Court 4 in Mt. Lavinia, Rush Tower 2, Rush Metropolis in Dehiwala, and Rush Court 5 in Colombo 14. The collaboration ensures residents will enjoy superior fibre connectivity speeds, enabling seamless digital experiences in modern smart homes. The partnership with the Rush Lanka Group aligns with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to offer ultra-fast, reliable connectivity solutions to residential developments. Delivering exclusive fibre connectivity to luxury apartments, SLT-MOBITEL ensures residents have access to world-class digital services that complement the living experience promised by Rush Lanka Group.
Powered by advanced fibre technology, SLT-MOBITEL network will provide the residences with seamless performance across digital activities. The SLT-MOBITEL Fibre backbone ensures lag-free experiences whether tenants are gaming online, attending virtual classes, working remotely, or streaming high-definition entertainment. SLT-MOBITEL Fibre will transform the lifestyles of all apartment users bringing greater convenience and superior quality of life.
Rush Lanka Group, established in 1992, is a property developer specializing in luxury and semi-luxury apartments.
Starting its promotional work for 2025, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) added another feather into its cap of endorsements, by being recognized as the most innovative Tourism Board promotion in Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) . In parallel to that, several other sub events were held. The OTM was held in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—India, from 30th January to 01st February 2025.Before OTM, the Global Village – Global Exchange & Trade Exhibition was held at the Surat International Exhibition & Convention Centre , Sarsana, Surat (Gujarat – India , from 25th to 27th January 2025. This travel fair was organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
Sri Lanka participated in both OTM and South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), held from 19th – 21st Feb 2025, in New Delhi, India . This was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to promote it’s potential as a unique travel destination, especially for the Indian counterparts, as SLTPB has identified India as the number one source market for Sri Lanka, tourism bringing the largest number of tourist arrivals to the destination.
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