Business

ISMM International Seminar on October 24, 2022 at the Shangri-La

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/14

The Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) came into being on 24th October 1972. Accordingly, we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary on 24th October 2022 and to coincide with this event ISMM will be organizing a Full Day International Seminar on 24th October 2022 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, where eminent scholars in the supply chain profession, both local and foreign are scheduled to attend. The theme selected for the Seminar is “Elevating the economy through innovative and sustainable supply chain solutions”.

The Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) is the only national body in Sri Lanka in the field of supply chain management. ISMM was incorporated by Act of Parliament No. 03 of 1981 on 29th January 1981. In 1980 ISMM was affiliated to the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) based in UK. IFPSM is the world body encompassing 45 National Associations having over 250,000 Supply Chain Management professionals engaged in different sectors and levels. In recognition of its expertise the ISMM was able to obtain the membership of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) on 3rd September 1976. Since then, ISMM plays a vital role in OPA activities. ISMM is also registered under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) under reference P01/0160. In 2001, ISMM was affiliated to the International Trade Centre (ITC) and licensed to conduct its MLS-SCM programmes in Sri Lanka and in 2014 ISMM was able to obtain the ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certificate from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

ISMM has been the Diploma awarding National Body for the last three decades awarding Graduate Diploma and Advance Diploma, in addition to conducting other Professional Courses namely Certificate and Management Courses adding more than 10,000 professionals to the profession of Supply Chain Management in Sri Lanka on a national scale including the government sector, tri forces and police. In 2010, ISMM launched the 3-year Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (GDPSCM) programme with a dissertation. This Programme contains 120 Credits, and it is designed equivalent to a Special Degree. As at present, ISMM conducts the following courses at the operational, supervisory middle and senior management levels:

Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (English)

Advance Diploma in Logistics and Warehouse Management (Sinhala & English).

Advance Diploma in Purchasing and Logistics Management (Sinhala & English).

International Diploma in Supply Chain Management (English).

Course in Stores Management (Sinhala & English).

Course in Purchasing Management (Sinhala & English).

Course in Shipping, Air Cargo and Containerization (English).

Certificate Course in Project Management for Supply Chain Professionals (English).

Certificate Course in Government Tender Procedure (Sinhala)

Certificate Course in Import and Export Procedures (English)

Certificate Course in Storekeeping (Sinhala)

In recognition of the increasingly crucial role played by ISMM in the development of the supply chain profession in Sri Lanka, the Department of Public Administration by its Circular No 46/09 (1) of 20.06.1994 recognizes the Corporate Membership of the ISMM as equivalent to a First or Second Class Degree in the field of Supply and Materials Management awarded by a recognized University in the recruitment and promotional process.

ISMM’s main thrust of activities from the inception was the training of supplies personnel at all levels. ISMM has trained more than 10,000 practitioners in the field of procurement and supply chain management. There are more than 1,000 Diplomates who have successfully completed Diploma Courses conducted by ISMM which enjoys a wide recognition in all sectors having a heavy input of procurement and supply chain activity. Training is also given at grassroots level and over 10,000 Stores personnel, including Storekeepers, Stores Managers and over 6,000 officers engaged in Purchasing, Inventory Control, Import & Export Trade, Shipping and Clearance work have successfully undergone training so far.

The extensive range of services rendered by ISMM include the up-to-date training programmes, seminars, workshops, conferences, discussions, members days, lectures, consultancy services and annual get-togethers. ISMM is strengthened by a professional membership who has wide knowledge on Supply Chain Management. President, Office Bearers and Council Members are selected by the members at the Annual General Meeting. Council of Management includes the Past Presidents of the Institution. In its recognition of the education and experience in the field of Supply Chain Management, ISMM membership is awarded to the professionals and Institutions in the following sequence:

Fellow Members

Life and Corporate Members

Associate Members (Non-voting members)

Affiliate Members (Students)

Institutional Members (Institutions)

Supply Chain Management is a fast-developing field of management, having a major influence on economic development and trade both at domestic and international levels. Globalization and regionalization are taking pride in international trade and development of competition is taking precedence over other factors as the driver of business. The benefits of Supply Chain Management are immense and to name a few; higher productivity, reduce cost, raise output, raise efficient/effective levels, boost cooperation, lowers delay in processes and enhances the effectiveness of Supply Chain Networks.

It is pivotal that Supply Chain Management has taken an imperative role with the Sri Lankan Government development plan to procure and manage scares resources wisely with limited money available. As it is leading private sector organizations in Sri Lanka has employed most of our highly skilled professionals to manage the high spend of the organisation by understanding the importance of the effective and efficient management of Supply Chain. The impact of supply chain will be felt in all activities and no institution could carry on with its activities devoid of material resources. As a result, the role of purchasing and Supply Chain Management is assuming a strategic role for the progressive development of the country.

ISMM Office and the Training Directorate is housed at the Organisation Professional Association Premises, Professional Centre, No. 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07, and for further information you can visit the website www.ismmsrilanka.com

All News Advertisement

Business

DevPro and WCIC come together to accelerate women’s economic empowerment in Sri Lanka

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

DevPro and Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) signed a formal partnership on Wednesday, 28th January to collaborate in promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusion in Sri Lanka.

DevPro builds on 30 years of OXFAMs legacy in Sri Lanka and works towards Inclusive Economic Development leveraging expertise in inclusive and climate-resilient market systems and enterprise development and innovation. DevPro’s work is guided by the core values of gender justice, inclusivity and community-led development. Through its recent projects, DevPro has supported over 270 women-led MSMEs, across agriculture, handloom, and tourism-related value chains in five provinces in Sri Lanka through a mix of interventions combining skills development, enterprise strengthening, market linkages, and gender-sensitive community engagement to improve income, resilience, and economic participation.

WCIC is the first women-only trade chamber in the world, dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and women-led MSMEs in Sri Lanka through skills-building, business advisory services, networking etc. Among its many initiatives, WCIC’s flagship annual event, “Prathibhabhisheka” – Women’s Entrepreneurs Awards has empowered many women owned and women-led businesses in Sri Lanka to enhance their business resilience and competitiveness through improved governance processes, financial health, market recognition and global expansion.

Through this partnership, both DevPro and WCIC, will leverage their collective expertise, networks and resources to advance women’s economic empowerment and inclusion through projects, capacity building, research and policy advocacy focused on women entrepreneurship development, innovative business models, sustainability certification and credentials, export readiness and market integration and financial literacy and inclusion.

The MoU was signed by Gayani de Alwis, Chairperson of WCIC and Chamindry Saparamadu, Executive Director of DevPro in the presence of senior members of both teams.

Business

FRELLA launches world class wellness products locally with Baurs & Co.

Published

15 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

FRELLA partners with the French perfumer Véronique Gabai

FRELLA, Sri Lankan-born and internationally-respected natural beauty and wellness brand, is setting the stage to expand operations by entering the Sri Lankan retail market. As the country’s only dedicated wellness company operating at an international scale, this move marks a new chapter for a brand with a growing global presence that has already earned the trust of luxury hotels and international customers.

For over seven years, FRELLA has emerged as Sri Lanka’s leading wellness brand, serving clients and partners across more than 15 international markets. The brand’s entry into the Sri Lankan retail market marks a significant milestone, allowing local consumers to access globally respected wellness products developed from the island’s own healing traditions. This retail expansion is supported through a strategic partnership with Baurs, a trusted 170-year-old Swedish multinational company, ensuring sophisticated distribution and access aligned with international retail standards.

FRELLA is rooted in Sri Lanka’s ancient healing traditions and inspired by centuries-old Ayurvedic wisdom. All FRELLA products are specially designed as holistic wellness solutions for the body, skin, hair, and soul, and focuses on providing nourishment, balance, and healthy aging through refined, modern wellness systems.

Business

Writer Business Services enters Sri Lanka to partner with institutions to provide information management and payments solutions

Published

15 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

Writer Corporation, one of India’s leading business groups, announced the launch of its subsidiary, Writer Business Services Pvt. Ltd., and the commencement of its operations in Sri Lanka. The expansion reflects Sri Lanka’s strategic importance in Writer’s regional growth plans and its role in supporting a highly regulated digital and financial services market which is currently undergoing digital transformation.

Sri Lanka’s continued focus on strengthening regulatory frameworks, digital platforms, and financial systems is shaping how institutions across banking, government, and enterprise sectors approach their business operations. There is a clear emphasis on secure, compliant, and resilient information and transaction environments that can scale with regulatory and business needs. Writer’s entry into Sri Lanka aligns with this direction, bringing global experience and a partnership-led approach to the market.

As part of its launch, Writer will establish a secure records and information storage facility in Seeduwa, Colombo. Designed to meet global standards for security, compliance, and disaster resilience, the facility will support banks, financial institutions, government bodies, and large enterprises in managing physical and digital information across its lifecycle.

Alongside information management, Writer brings established expertise in integrated payment services to support the modernization of transaction infrastructure across the banking and financial services sector. Its payments capabilities focus on strengthening availability, transaction continuity, and transparency across critical payment channels that underpin institutional reliability and customer confidence.

Writer’s digital payments offerings in Sri Lanka include end-to-end ATM and self-service terminal outsourcing, integrated channel ownership and managed services, field management applications, payment and reconciliation platforms, and remote monitoring with near real-time reporting. These solutions support financial institutions in improving uptime, strengthening governance, and enhancing operational efficiency across payment networks, in line with the continued evolution of electronic and automated payment systems.

Across information management and payments, Writer operates with an integrated portfolio spanning records and information management, business process outsourcing, cloud and digital services, data privacy, cybersecurity and enterprise payments infrastructure. These capabilities support institutions in addressing evolving regulatory requirements, digitization of legacy environments, and rising operational and cyber risks.

Writer’s local presence enables closer collaboration with clients and on-ground delivery, while supporting the development of Centres of Excellence across cybersecurity operations, SOC and NOC services, AI-led solutions, and payments operations and monitoring.

Writer’s Sri Lanka operations will be built, led, and run by Sri Lankan professionals, reflecting a long-term commitment to local talent growth and development.

Commenting on this development, Satyamohan Yanambaka, CEO, Writer Global Services Pvt. Ltd., assured Writer’s long-term commitment to the country’s digital ambitions. He said, “Writer’s entry into Sri Lanka reflects our belief that digital ambition in regulated environments must be supported by trust, sound governance, and strong execution. As institutions scale digital services, the reliability of information and payment systems, channel operations, and governance frameworks becomes increasingly important to public and institutional confidence. Our experience across information management, digital transformation, and enterprise payments enables us to support secure, large-scale financial ecosystems, with a clear commitment to building and leading these capabilities locally.”

Sri Lanka’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework raises expectations around how personal and sensitive information is secured and governed.