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

Super El Niño threatens to deepen Sri Lanka’s drought and economic woes

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/4

Thilina Walpola

By Ifham Nizam

A potentially dangerous El Niño is gathering strength across the Pacific, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warning that the climate event is expected to become very strong and continue into February 2027, raising the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and major disruptions to rainfall patterns worldwide.

The warning has particular significance for Sri Lanka, where communities in several agricultural districts are already facing severe drought, depleted water sources and shrinking farm incomes.

The WMO said yesterday that forecasts from its Global Producing Centres show an “exceptionally high likelihood of nearly 100%” that El Niño will persist through February next year. The organisation said this is the first time one of its El Niño/La Niña updates has been so unequivocal, reflecting strong agreement among forecasting systems.

The event, driven by exceptionally warm waters in the tropical Pacific, is expected to strengthen further in the coming months, reach very strong intensity and peak towards the end of this year. Its climate impacts, however, are expected to continue well into 2027.

According to Meteorological Organization

Sri Lanka is already experiencing the consequences.

A Reuters report published on Wednesday from drought-affected areas said rainfall deficits of between 85% and 100% have been recorded in important farming regions including Ampara and Monaragala.

Wells, tanks, rivers and lakes have dried up, while tens of thousands of people are depending on government water deliveries, with some remote communities reportedly waiting up to 23 days for supplies.

The drought is also rapidly becoming an economic problem for rural communities. Croplands have withered, livestock operations have been affected and farmers who have lost their harvests are being forced to seek daily-paid employment to survive.

The latest WMO outlook also warns that the consequences of El Niño will not necessarily be uniform. The severity and timing of impacts in individual countries depend on geography, season and other climate drivers, including conditions in the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

For Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) will therefore be crucial. The WMO expects a positive IOD to develop, with a September-November seasonal mean of about 0.9°C. This could modify the normal influence of El Niño on rainfall over the region.

That creates another potential risk for Sri Lanka: the country may have to prepare not only for continued drought but also for episodes of intense rainfall, flooding and landslides later in the year. Climate variability increasingly means that a prolonged water shortage can be followed by sudden and destructive rainfall rather than a gradual return to normal conditions.

For Sri Lanka, the warning should therefore be viewed as an economic and national-planning issue, not simply a meteorological forecast. Agriculture, drinking water, electricity generation, food imports, public expenditure and rural livelihoods could all be affected.

Business

ABC Trade & Investment – All-China Environment Federation partner to drive Sri Lanka’s green infrastructure and investment

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/4

Thilina Walpola

ABC Trade & Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a leading homegrown conglomerate in Sri Lanka’s ICT distribution and diversified business landscape, has formally entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All-China Environment Federation (ACEF). The partnership establishes a collaborative framework aimed at accelerating new-energy development, water management, and environmental protection projects across Sri Lanka.

The agreement bridges advanced Chinese engineering capabilities, equipment, technical expertise, and investment resources with ABC Trade & Investments’ local operational strength, market insight, and project implementation skills. By pairing international technology with on-the-ground execution, the initiative is designed to address Sri Lanka’s long-term environmental and civil infrastructure priorities.

The MoU was signed by Amalrajah Jayaseelan, Director/CEO of ABC Trade & Investment (Pvt) Ltd, and Shi Xiang, Secretary-General of the Belt & Road Eco-Industry Cooperation Working Committee of ACEF. The signing took place during the China–Sri Lanka Environmental & Energy Exchange and Cooperation Meeting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Grounds in Colombo, held under the theme “Empower Green Development, Jointly Build a New Pattern of China–Sri Lanka Environmental & Energy Industry.”

Business

Heavy buying interest slows down stock trading

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/4

Thilina Walpola

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

The CSE yesterday was very active at the outset but later slowed down due to heavy buying interest noted for select stocks.Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The S and P SL20 went up by 23.73 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2.44 billion with 10 crossings.

The crossings were: Renuka Foods 19 million shares crossed for Rs 502 million; its shares traded at Rs 25.30, Dipped Products 1.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 117 million; its shares traded at Rs 60.50, JKH 3.9 million shares crossed for Rs 78 million; its shares sold at Rs 19.70, Dialog Axiata 1 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 46.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 46.40, Tokyo Cement 500,000 shares crossed for Rs 39.5 million; its shares sold at Rs 79 and Watawela Plantations 800,000 shares crossed for Rs 34 million; its shares were Rs 42.50 each.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Vallibel Finance Rs 281 million (3.3 million shares traded), Dipped Products Rs 114 million (1.9 million shares traded), Haycarb Rs 90 million (424,000 shares traded), Alumax Rs 42 million (2.6 million shares traded), HNB Rs 38.5 million (102,000 shares traded), Swisstec Rs 30 million (506,000 shares traded) and Sierra Cables Rs 34 million (880,000 shares traded). During the day 118 million share volumes changed hands in 17802 transactions.

It is said that mixed market reactions were noted during the day. Financial sector, especially Vallibel Finance, performed well, while the manufacturing sector, especially JKH and Hayleys , performed significantly.

Meanwhile, Co-operative Insurance Company announced the redemption of 1,100,000 cumulative redeemable preference shares issued in December 2020 to the Health Department Co-Operative Thrift & Credit Society.

The total redemption consideration of Rs 16.61 million, including a 9 percent per annum cumulative dividend, is set for settlement on August 31, 2026.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 328.25/35 to the US dollar in the spot market, stronger from Rs 328.30/60 the previous day, while bond yields were somewhat steady, dealers said.