Page 5 - BACK uP New journal 2021_Handy

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS OF SRI LANKA
JANUARY 2021

FROM THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

The COVID – 19 Pandemic is a major challenge for all Managers in both the public and
private sector including Health, Business, Universities, Schools, many others and a
testing time for Managers at all levels to put their best foot forward to maintain normalcy
in their organisations. Technology has played a major role in these difficult times and
enabled many activities to be conducted virtually enabling near normalcy to be restored.
With the vaccine now developed and certified by WHO we have a ray of hope to
overcome the COVID – 19 Pandemic and move ahead. This would also require the
support of the government to make it available to the public and for society to follow
instructions and keep to the laid down rules and regulations of the health authorities.
CPM as a major Professional Management body in Sri Lanka has been carrying out its
activities using technology and many of the activities done physically have conducted
virtually including the CPM Evening For Managers (EFM) programmes which have
been very popular among the membership. The Management and Entrepreneurship
professional programme was also conducted virtually and the examinations held. We
have also planned to conduct the CPM Regional Conference virtually. Considering the
difficulties faced by members many of the CPD programme have been conducted free
of charge to our membership. I must also thank all our resource persons who have
contributed to the success of all these programmes. The CPM Digital Outreach and the
Online Membership Directory were also other services provided to members.
Many have contributed to make the publication of the journal a success including
the authors of articles, the Chairman and members of the journal committee and the
secretariat who have all worked hard work to publish a quality journal.
The main article highlights the important role played by the banking sector in assisting
the business sector in this COVID – 19 Pandemic. We are happy to feature the CEO/
MD of the Commercial Bank the leading commercial bank in the private sector and the
major role played by them to support the business sector. CPM too are assisting the
CMA Sri Lanka COVID – 19 SME Development Committee which has recommended the
setting up of the SME Credit Guarantee Institution for which a cabinet paper has been
submitted by the Ministry of Industries and awaiting the approval of the finance ministry
for which project the Asian Development Bank has allocated US D 50 Million considering
the importance to develop the SME sector in Sri Lanka. We do hope that this project will
be given top priority by the government and will be a reality soon.
The journal will be sent to all our members local and overseas in the e-format and I
am confident that they will find it useful and help to widen their knowledge and update
them on current events.
I’ am pleased to send my best wishes to all our members in this New Year and are
hopeful that we will be able to soon reach near normalcy.

Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala (FCPM)

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