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ISMM signs MoU with Ministry of Industries as part of contribution to national endeavour

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The Institute of Supply and Materials Management, the pioneer and government recognized institute for Supply Chain Management Education was established on October 24, 1972 and is the leading institute which fosters the professional development of the purchasing and supply chain function in Sri Lanka. It is a member of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) since 1976 and was incorporated by the parliament by Act No 3 of 1981.

The ISMM is affiliated to the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management, which is the world body encompassing 48 national associations, having more than 250,000 professionals engaged in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. ISMM engages in many educational programs covering all aspects of the supply chain for the last two decades, in addition to conducting other professional short courses, adding more than 10,000 professionals to supply chain management in Sri Lanka.

ISMM, being the national institute enacted by Act Parliament for Supply Chain Professions in Sri Lanka has taken the initiative to sign a MOU with the Ministry of Industries to conduct a national programmes on resilient and sustainable Supply Chain Management for Industries in Sri Lanka. Under this initiative there will be two programmes:

a. One year consultation program on “resilient and sustainable Supply Chain Management for 30 x Industries”.

b. 03 x One day workshops on “how to achieve competitiveness in local and global markets through strengthening supply chain capabilities of Sri Lankan Industries”.

The inauguration ceremony for above programme along with the conduct of an awareness session and first knowledge sharing workshop was held on June 7, at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort, Colombo 07. Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Shantha Weerasinghe, graced this occasion as the Chief Guest. Jayantha Gallahewa, president ISMM, Chaminda Pathiraja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Sarath Gamage, President OPA / Immediate Past President ISMM, Maj Gen Renaka Udawatta (Rtd), Vice President ISMM, Lilantha Subasinghe, Vice President ISMM, Dr. (Eng.) Sanath Divakara, General Secretary ISMM, Ms Kunalini Subramanium, Assistant Director, Ministry of Industries, Priyanga Kirihena, Council Member ISMM were among the other officials who participated in the ceremony. As a part of the inauguration ceremony, the signing of the MoU took place at the same venue under the patronage of the above dignitaries and participants from the 30 industries.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the optimization of a product’s creation and flow from raw material sourcing to production, logistics and delivery to the final customer. In other words, it is the management of the flow of goods, data, and finances related to a product or service, from its origin (Nature) to the delivery of the product at its destination. SCM encompasses the integrated planning and execution of processes required to manage the movement of materials, information and financial capital in activities that broadly include demand planning, sourcing, production, inventory management and storage, transportation or logistics and returning excess or defective products.

Aim of the Project: To enhance the supply chain management capabilities of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka, fostering efficiency and effectiveness in their operations to ensure sustainability.

Scope of the Project: Sharing knowledge on supply chain management, evaluation processes (before and after), conduct workshops, participant assessment, monitoring and evaluation of progress, Field visits, gap identification, and preparation of comprehensive reports for individual SMEs.

Objectives of the project:

The primary objective is to empower SMEs by improving their supply chain management processes and practices, ultimately contributing to their sustainable growth and success in the local and international market. (To reduce waste, costs by improving supply chain management processes and practices, ultimately enhancing the profitability and sustainable growth of Sri Lankan SMEs).

The secondary objective is to Improve the capabilities of the individuals on managing supply chain functions in effective and efficiently.

Direct benefits

Direct benefits are; minimize cost of operations by reducing waste and improving efficiency/productivity of supply chain process, awareness on best practices/standards on supply chain management, Improve networks and relationships with industry experts, awareness on current trends in supply chain management, improve leadership qualities on supply chain decision making.


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HNB Finance bags 2 CMA Reporting Awards 2025

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2025/12/7

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Prof. Ho Yew Kee presents the award, while Rajeeva Bandaranaike hands over the certificate to the HNB Finance team. Featured (right to left): Thushara Jayasekara – Chief Manager / Head of Corporate Planning & Analytics; Randula Munindradasa – Assistant Manager Planning & Analytics; Sandakelum Jayathunga – Senior Manager – Financial Reporting; Maheshika Samarakoon – Manager – Strategy Implementation & Reporting

HNB Finance PLC has been honoured with two prestigious accolades at the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2025, reaffirming the company’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and integrated business performance.

At this year’s ceremony, HNB Finance PLC was awarded Second Runner Up – joint in the category of “Best Integrated Report , Finance and Leasing Sector”, and also received a Merit Award in recognition of its continued efforts to enhance reporting quality and strengthen stakeholder communication.

The CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards, organised annually by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) of Sri Lanka, acknowledge organisations that demonstrate superior financial reporting standards aligned with global best practices. Winners are assessed on key criteria such as financial performance and strategic management, corporate governance and compliance, innovation and digital transformation, sustainability practices, and professional excellence.

Chaminda Prabhath, Managing Director/CEO of HNB Finance PLC, commented on the recognition, “These awards reaffirm our commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrated reporting and transparent financial disclosure. At HNB Finance, we remain focused on delivering sustainable long-term value through robust governance frameworks, prudent financial management, and continuous innovation. The acknowledgement by CMA Sri Lanka reflects the disciplined efforts of our teams across the organization and motivates us to further enhance our reporting quality, strengthen ESG integration, and reinforce our stakeholder centric approach.”

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ComBank joins ‘Liya Shakthi’ scheme to further empower women-led enterprises

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2025/12/7

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Mithila Shyamini, Assistant General Manager – Personal Banking at Commercial Bank and Jude Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of the National Credit Guarantee Institution exchange the agreement in the presence of representatives of the two organisations

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and financial inclusion, by partnering with the National Credit Guarantee Institution Limited (NCGIL) as a Participating Shareholder Institution (PSI) in the newly introduced ‘Liya Shakthi’ credit guarantee scheme, designed to support women-led enterprises across Sri Lanka.

The operational launch of the scheme was marked by the handover of the first loan registration at Commercial Bank’s Head Office recently, symbolising a key step in broadening access to finance for women entrepreneurs.

Representing Commercial Bank at the event were Mithila Shyamini, Assistant General Manager – Personal Banking, Malika De Silva, Senior Manager – Development Credit Department, and Chathura Dilshan, Executive Officer of the Department. The National Credit Guarantee Institution was represented by Jude Fernando, Chief Executive Officer, and Eranjana Chandradasa, Manager-Guarantee Administration.

‘Liya Shakthi’ is a credit guarantee product introduced by the NCGIL to facilitate greater access to financing for women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that possess viable business models and sound repayment capacity but lack adequate collateral to secure traditional bank loans. Through NCGIL’s credit guarantee mechanism, Commercial Bank will be able to extend credit to a wider segment of women entrepreneurs, furthering its mission to drive inclusive economic growth.

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Prima Group Sri Lanka supports national flood relief efforts with over Rs. 300 Mn in dry rations

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2025/12/7

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Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha receiving the donation from Sajith Gunaratne - General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Limited, and Sanjeeva Perera - General Manager of Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC

Prima Group Sri Lanka has pledged assistance valued at over Rs. 300 million, providing essential Prima food products to support communities affected by the recent floods across the island. This relief initiative is being coordinated through the Ministry of Defence to ensure the timely and effective distribution of aid to impacted families.

As part of this commitment, Prima Group Sri Lanka donated a significant stock of Prima dry rations to the Government of Sri Lanka on 30 November. The consignment will be distributed across multiple severely impacted districts. These supplies will support families facing disruptions to daily life, ensuring they receive assistance as recovery efforts continue.

The handover took place at the Ministry, where the donation was received by the Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha. Representing Prima Group Sri Lanka, Sajith Gunaratne – General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries Limited, and Sanjeeva Perera – General Manager of Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC, officially presented the donation.

Prima Group has been standing with the people of Sri Lanka for over 40 years, and this donation reflects its broader commitment to the nation during challenging times. As relief operations continue across the island, the company remains focused on helping families rebuild their lives and supporting the ongoing recovery process in collaboration with the Government Authorities.

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