Business
CIPM to host World HR Congress 2021 from December 6 – 8 in virtual mode
CIPM Sri Lanka – the Nation’s leader in human resource management together with the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) and Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM) announced that the world’s most premier people event “World HR Congress 2021” will be held from December 6 to 8 2021 as a virtual conference experience in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The theme of the congress “Exalting People Professionals Amidst a Planetary Pandemic: Explore, Expand and Excel” is aptly selected as the people factor is at the pinnacle of limelight amid the planetary pandemic. The 3 value-packed days will deliberate on digitalization, disruption, diversity, and diligence regarding the distinct dimensions of human resource management with a select panel of world-renowned speakers lined up to share insights and thought-provoking ideas enabling thought leadership in the new world of work. The prospectus, registration, numerous sponsorship opportunities available, and more information can be found at https://wfpmacongress.com/ which is the dedicated website for Word HR Congress 2021.
“We take pride in hosting this prestigious people event in Sri Lanka. In a world disrupted by the pandemic, we need resilience as well as inspirational leadership to proceed into the future. New expectations and challenges have emerged in a new world of work and life. Innovation, best practices in people engagement, and trust are critical to achieve sustainable growth and rebuild our future. The World HR Congress 2021 is the apt place to deliberate the challenges and opportunities to strategize the New HR Agenda” said Jayantha Amarasinghe-President, CIPM Sri Lanka.
“The World Congress is an opportunity to bring together the continental federations and the national associations of 93 countries which make up the WFPMA. As the premier federation of people management associations, we are a globally recognized authority to support the people management profession throughout the world. Blending thought-provoking speakers with networking opportunities, this is a ‘must-attend’ congress that presents some of the best and brightest minds in the global people profession who will share the latest practices, research, and innovations to develop your knowledge and help you shape your organization’s future” said Bob Morton – President, WFPMA inviting people professionals and business leaders to participate in the Congress.
The virtual conference will consist of 4 plenary sessions, 4-panel discussions, and 4 rounds of concurrent technical sessions. The line-up of 21 experienced international panel of speakers, presenters, and panelists includes Johnny C. Taylor, Jr – President and CEO, Society for Human Resource Management-USA, Peter Cheese – CEO, Chartered Institute Personnel Development-UK, Sunita Bhuyan-Violinist & HR Practitioner on Wellness, Prof. TV Rao – Chairman, TVRLS-India, Paul Mills – Chief People Officer Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, and Dr. Archana Arcot – Assoc. VP HR Business Leader, Infosys McCamish-USA amongst many more experienced speakers.
“The World HR Congress is being held at a very crucial juncture of mankind. We are dealing with many complexities on top of this pandemic, juggling with people, planet, and profits. The new industrial era has already dawned, and we are on the brink of the next big thing, the 5th industrial revolution, where the human and machine will dance together as technology will help humans to vastly increase labor productivity and to align return on investment with purpose. However, it will require intentionality and moral clarity. Now that we are grappled with the corona pandemic, we shall overcome by getting used to the next normal where the world of work is challenged the most. The World HR Congress 2021 premier people event will explore, expand and excel in what matters in the new world of work and life” said Dhammika Fernando-Chairman, World HR Congress 2021 and Immediate Past President-CIPM Sri Lanka, President- Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management, Board Director- WFPMA.
“Despite the doom of a devastating pandemic, we see the boom of people factor in corporates with a deeper realization of the value of human wellbeing. World HR Congress 2021 invites people professionals to engage in a cutting-edge learning endeavor towards expansion” said Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, Co-chair of the World HR Congress 2021, who as a Past President of CIPM was instrumental in receiving the hosting rights during the previous World HR Congress, held in Chicago, USA in 2018.
With the impressive line-up of speakers and panelists sharing insights and experiences, networking opportunities with like-minded professionals to share best practices in people management in the new world of work, the World HR Congress 2021 provides a rare opportunity for people professionals and business leaders to mitigate the risks and challenges in a new world of work.
HNB FINANCE PLC has strengthened its Board with the appointment of four Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective September 8, 2026.
The new directors are Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi, who collectively bring extensive experience in financial regulation, banking, risk management, corporate finance, investment strategy, development finance and public policy.
Wijayawardhane, an Attorney-at-Law and capital market professional, retired in July 2025 as Chief Regulatory Officer of the Colombo Stock Exchange after more than 31 years with the Exchange. His experience covers securities regulation, corporate governance, market infrastructure and compliance.
Gnanapragasam has over four decades of banking experience spanning treasury, risk management, credit and trade finance. She currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Cargills Bank, Wealth Trust and Vision Fund Lanka.
Mohamed is a corporate finance and investment professional who previously served as Lead Transaction Advisor at the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, where she led five divestiture transactions worth over US$600 million.
Dr. Wanniarachchi brings over a decade of experience in development finance, institutional reform and social protection, including work with the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka.
Prime Lands Residencies PLC has completed and officially handed over The Palace Gampaha, described as the largest planned gated residential community in Gampaha, to its homeowners.
The development, which commenced construction in 2021, is located two kilometres from Gampaha town and 100 metres from the Colombo-Kandy main road.
Spread across 13.5 acres, The Palace Gampaha comprises 480 two- and three-bedroom apartments in a ground-plus-three-floor development, with prices starting from Rs. 27.5 million.
The project allocates about 80% of its land to landscaped areas and common facilities, while the remaining 20% is used for apartment development. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, clubhouse, library, community kitchen, laundry, mini-mart and a daycare centre managed by the Lyceum Group.
The fully gated community also incorporates solar power for common areas, underground electricity cabling and a sewage treatment plant with water recycling facilities.
Prime Residencies said all statutory approvals required for the handover had been secured, including certifications from the Condominium Management Authority and registration of the Condominium Plan and Deed of Declaration.
Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage said the project reflected the company’s vision of creating large-scale residential communities designed to enhance the quality of life of Sri Lankan families.
The project is the latest addition to Prime Group’s portfolio of more than 70 gated community and apartment developments.
Sri Lanka’s Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) sector is losing ground despite the expansion of the industry in several regional markets, Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA) Chairperson Swabha Wickramasinghe said.
Wickramasinghe, re-elected for a third consecutive term at SLANA’s ninth Annual General Meeting last week said the continued difficulty in collecting Colombo Terminal Handling Charges (THC) as a separate land-based cost was among the key challenges facing the industry.
She said the practice placed Sri Lanka at a competitive disadvantage as principals consider the overall economics of operating through Colombo.
“When Sri Lanka becomes less commercially attractive compared with other regional destinations, the consequences eventually reach our members,” she said.
Wickramasinghe said a committee had been proposed at a recent meeting with the Minister and Deputy Minister to evaluate the THC issue, urging the authorities to expedite its appointment and review.
She also called for an early solution to the problem of uncleared salt containers at the Port of Colombo, which has resulted in delays in releasing empty containers.
With more than 75 NVOCC lines operating in Sri Lanka, she stressed the sector’s importance to regional trade, particularly links with India and China.
Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Sri Lanka should expand regional business while exploring areas such as bunkering, freight forwarding and e-commerce logistics.
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