CMI, UK Sri Lanka Branch holds its 13th AGM
The Chartered Management Institute UK Sri Lanka Branch held its 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 25th June, 2014 at the Kingsbury Hotel amidst a large gathering of their members.
His Excellency John Rankin, the High Commissioner for UK in Sri Lanka, who is also the Patron of CMI Sri Lanka Branch graced this occasion as the Chief Guest.
Mr Keith Davies, OBE, Country Director of British Council, the Vice Patron of the Branch was the Guest of Honour.
Delivering an interesting speech at the AGM, His Excellency John Rankin appreciated the knowledge sharing initiatives of CMI Sr Lanka branch, undertaken jointly with KPMG and welcomed their plans to conduct a management quiz.
He said that quizzing is fun, but we need to constantly ask questions about our work too - How can we better develop and use the skills in our workforce? How can we improve our information flow? How can we better deliver our goals? These he said were questions he asks himself every day at the British High Commission in Colombo, and these were questions that are likely to be asked - and tackled - in any organisation that strives to be successful and improve constantly.
He recalled that CMI’s predecessor, the British Institute of Management was in operation since 1947, delivering training and professional qualifications in management and that it was in recognition of its excellence in this field, and the importance of this work, that the Royal Charter was granted in 2002 to what then became the Chartered Management Institute.
He said “The CMI remains the preeminent body in its field, not just in the UK but also internationally. I am delighted that the Sri Lanka branch continues to thrive and grow successfully, ensuring excellence in management here, and serving as an important part of the professional links between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.”
Speaking on the role managers can play in promoting diversity he praised the efforts of supporting the needs of the disabled and stressed on the importance of welcoming and embracing staff of different genders and sexuality, staff of different ethnic backgrounds, and staff of different religious backgrounds.
He said “at the British High Commission we do our utmost to ensure that we respect each other’s religious beliefs and faiths, and we try to celebrate each other’s festivals, for example Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Eid and Christmas. Through such celebrations we share goodwill and also learn, including understanding that in our dif- ferent faiths there is much more that we have in common than might divide us. I am clear that as an organisation, such diversity is one of our strengths, with different experiences and approaches helping us to make better informed decisions.”
Continuing his interesting address HE John Rankin said that the Chartered Institutes, including the Chartered Management Institute, remain an important part of the links, in business, in the field of education, and in our cultural and people to people links that UK and Sri Lanka share.