The inaugural Management Excellence Awards ceremony organised by Chartered Management Institute UK (CMI) Sri Lanka Branch was held in Colombo last week.
Minister of Special Assignments, Dr. Sarath Amunugama said, “In presenting its first ever Management Excellence Awards, the CMI UK, Sri Lanka Branch has stepped in to fill a vacuum by giving due recognition to professional managers in their achievements in the three key economic sectors – agriculture, industry and services, in two organizational sizes – large and small and medium.
“This is indeed a highly commendable initiative of the CMI UK, Sri Lanka Branch that will encourage on the one part, businesses to engage professional managers who would put in systems and processes in place in a disciplined environment to achieve the objectives of the company while on the other part, encourage managers to strive higher and higher to orient the company towards its goals and objectives with utmost professionalism,” he said.
The future belongs to the professionally managed businesses and there is no doubt that the development of professionalism in management is very important in today’s economic context .It is timely that excellence in professional management is celebrated and rewarded as it will complement the vibrant and dynamic measures that the government is taking towards achieving the country’s economic progress, he said.
A message from President Maithripala Sirisena said, “It is noteworthy that this awards ceremony honours the three main contributing sectors of the Sri Lankan economy - agriculture, industry and services.
“Professional management of businesses and enterprises whether large or small, is vital in today’s diverse and competitive economy. As Sri Lanka has entered a journey towards achieving inclusive green growth, professional management can become an accelerator for a responsible organization to achieve its goals and objectives, while upholding the obligations to its customers, owners, employees, and the community and environment at large.”
Chartered Management Institute, UK Chief Executive Officer, Ms Ann Francke said, “CMI is inspired by a vision where we see better-led and better-managed organisations in a world where leaders and managers are as valued and respected as other professions.
“Our mission is to increase the number and standard of professionally qualified managers and leaders. We do this by bringing consistent excellence to management and leadership. Overall we are creating a true profession: we are raising the standards and practices of management and leadership up to those of the other professions.
“As the professional association for leadership and management, CMI’s mission is to increase the number and standard of professionally qualified leaders and managers all the way up to accredited Chartered Manager status. Gaining professional accreditation not only boosts individual satisfaction and wellbeing, but also improves organizational performance and benefits the wider economy,” she said.
“Today, our membership community stands at more than 140,000. We continue to build and expand, with our presence growing globally. One of the ways we are doing this is by working with the international partners of UK universities to extend CMI dual awards and practical support to their students, to enhance their employability. We have recently approved our first Sri Lankan partner institution and expect more partnerships to follow,” Francke said.
CMI Sri Lanka has made history by launching the first ever Management Excellence Awards to recognise and reward Sri Lankan Managers who excel in the fields of management and leadership, Chartered Management Institute UK, Sri Lanka Branch President and Chairman, Organising Committee, Malraj B. Kiriella said.