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SLIM collaborates with John Keells consumer food sector to enhance sales managers’ skills
The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for marketing, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a leading FMCG conglomerate John Keells Consumer Foods, to conduct a customised programme for their sales managers. The programme aims to develop sales managers with the right knowledge and skills where sales are concerned, with the aim of driving and improving sales performance. Concurrently, they will also receive guidance on how to take over bigger responsibilities in sales management, thus uplifting their careers in the long run.
The MOU signing was graced by Mr. Daminda Gamlath – President of John Keells Consumer Food Sector and Mr. Chinthaka Perera – President of SLIM, at the SLIM Business School premises. The signing ceremony was also attended by Ms. Nisansala Paranayapa – Head of HR at John Keells Consumer Food Sector, Mr. Sathish Rathnayake – Head of Frozen Confectionery, Mr. Sanath Senanayake-SLIM CEO, Mr. Viranga Wickramarathne – CEO of Keells Food Products PLC, Mr. Jude Martino – Head of Beverages, Mr. Nigel Adems – Head of Sales of Keells Food Products PLC, and Mr. Jayampathi Mavilmada – Head of Sales of Beverages.
The programme, which would be designed exclusively for Sales Managers of the Consumer Food Sector, will focus on a range of sales-related segments such as managing a region, understanding marketing and trade marketing, monitoring and evaluating performance, financial aspects of sales, negotiation skills, people development, and personal transformation. The programme will be delivered by experienced faculty members from SLIM and trainers of John Keells Consumer Foods who also come equipped with extensive industry exposure and expertise.
Sharing his remarks about this undertaking, Mr. Chinthaka Perera, President of SLIM, said, “As the national body for marketing, this is a great initiative for us, tying up with an FMCG industry. We are delighted to partner with John Keells Consumer Foods, which is a reputed and respected brand in the market, and to offer this programme to their sales managers. We believe that this programme will help them enhance their sales capabilities and competencies, as well as prepare them for future leadership roles.”
Mr. Daminda Gamlath, President of John Keells Consumer Food Sector, commented, “Marketing plays a huge role in today’s market, especially where more uncertainty tends to linger in terms of the marketplace. Gaining that extra bit of knowledge gives us the strength to focus on the aspect of profitability and to face this uncertainty in the market. We are glad to collaborate with SLIM, the leading marketing education institute in Sri Lanka, to provide this opportunity for our sales managers. We hope that this programme will equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their sales performance and career growth.”
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Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
The Prime Minister made this statement while addressing the launching the She Trades Sri Lanka Hub funded by the UK’s She Trades Commonwealth+ Program held at Galle face Hotel in Colombo on March 14 organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
While addressing the audience, the Prime minister stated, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. Emphasizing gender-inclusive policies, financial inclusion, and access to global markets, authorities are prioritizing support for women-led businesses in key sectors such as ICT, agribusiness, and engineering.
A new initiative will establish 200 women-led cooperatives, fostering supportive environments for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, efforts to strengthen childcare, elderly care, and disability services aim to reduce the burdens that limit women’s economic participation.
A dedicated platform has been launched to provide women entrepreneurs with knowledge, networking, and international trade opportunities. Strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding global market access are key strategies to create an inclusive and sustainable trade ecosystem.
By equipping women with the necessary skills, financial resources, and digital trade access, the government aims to ensure that women entrepreneurs become key drivers of economic growth, aligning with broader policies for inclusive and sustainable development.
The event was attended by Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Center, His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Officials from the International Trade Center and the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Export Development Board Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe and Officials from Export Development Board and International Trade Centre and woman Entrepreneurs.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
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