The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), through its Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM), signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) last week (23). 

According to the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, the MoA was signed during the special ceremony, ‘Thailand International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition’, held at CIAME Asia 2025 in Bangkok.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, witnessed the signing of the MoA.

Director General of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), Siddhika G. Senaratne, signed the MoA on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Director of the Strategy and Programme Management Division of ESCAP, Adnan Aliani, signed on behalf of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Through this agreement, SLSI and ESCAP-CSAM will jointly lead the process of adopting and localizing regionally harmonized ANTAM test codes for agricultural machinery in Sri Lanka.

By institutionalizing these test codes, the MoA aims to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of agricultural machinery in the country. It supports Sri Lanka’s broader agenda for agricultural modernization, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability, ultimately benefiting farmers through improved machinery performance, trade facilitation, and safer working conditions.

During her statement, Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe commended ESCAP-CSAM’s leadership and SLSI’s proactive engagement. She emphasized the critical role of partnerships in advancing food security, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods.

While delivering the introductory remarks, Siddhika Senarathne emphasized that this partnership, established under the framework of the Asian and Pacific Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM), marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen its agricultural standards system.

Vice President of the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Suppliers Association of Sri Lanka (AgMMA), Chaminda Sanjaya Kumara Nishankage, also delivered remarks highlighting the role and engagement of the private sector in supporting CSAM initiatives.

Following the signing ceremony, a dedicated panel discussion was convened to introduce the ANTAM initiative, engage regional manufacturers and suppliers, and gather insights on how the initiative can best serve stakeholders across the agricultural machinery value chain. Experiences from other ANTAM participating countries were also shared, underlining the benefits of regional collaboration.

Deputy Head & Programme Officer, ESCAP-CSAM, Marco Silvestri, and Head of Chancery, A W S Samanmali, also attended the ceremony. (Newswire)

The post Sri Lanka signs landmark agreement to enhance agricultural machinery standards appeared first on Newswire.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has destroyed nearly 6,800 plastic drinking water bottles that were found with a forged logo of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). 

During raids conducted in October last year, the CAA had found a private company in Pugoda manufacturing plastic water bottles using the fake SLSI logo.

Following a case filed against the firm, the court ordered the company and a director as well as a manager of its tax-buying company to be fined Rs. 300,000 each.

The Pugoda Magistrate’s Court recently ordered the destruction of the stock of drinking water bottles with a market value of over Rs. 01 million that had been produced in this way, under the supervision of the court.

On 20 February, water was removed from the seized water bottles and the empty bottles were sent for recycling.

Furthermore, steps have been taken to prosecute the concerned company under two charges for misleading the customer by making a false representation by falsely using the logo of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute. (Newswire)

The post CAA destroys 6,800 plastic drinking water bottles appeared first on Newswire.

Key Pillars for the successful launch of National HRM Standards

On a momentous occasion, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (CIPM) and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) unveiled the National Human Resource Management (HRM) Standards on April 30th, 2024, at the prestigious Blu Orbit by Citrus. This event, graced by esteemed Chief Guest Hon. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, and Guest of Honor Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe, Chairman of SLSI, alongside CIPM President Mr. Ken Vijayakumar, marked a significant milestone in the country’s HRM landscape.

Chief Guest Hon. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara emphasised the importance of National HRM Standards, stating, “We are embarking on a new journey to ensure that every Sri Lankan worker benefits from standardised, equitable, and exemplary HR practices.” He stressed the critical role of standardised HRM practices in driving economic growth and social development. He further stated the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives like the National HRM Standards, highlighting their potential to rebuild Sri Lanka for future challenges. Minister Nanayakkara praised the collaborative efforts of CIPM and SLSI in spearheading this initiative and appreciated the role of CIPM: “This alignment underscores CIPM’s dedication to improving employment standards at a time when the global spotlight is shining on labour rights and achievements.”

Established in 1959 as the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (IPM), it was later rebranded as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) in 2018. It aims to enhance HR practices in Sri Lanka. Mandated by law, CIPM SL regulates people management practices, holds membership in APFHRM, and is affiliated with WFPMA. Collaborating with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), CIPM embarked on creating comprehensive national HRM standards.

Under the visionary leadership of Mr Jayantha Amarasinghe, Immediate Past President of CIPM, National HR Standards were formulated, and the Sectoral Community was established. Chaired by Mr Dhammika Fernando, the Sectoral Committee, consisting of Ms Ruwani Senevirathne (Secretary), Mr Priyantha Ranasinghe, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, Mr Aruna Jayasekera, Mr C. Hewapattini, Dr. Chandana Jayawardhane, Mr Dhammika Kobbekaduwa, Mr Sanjaya Walpita, and Dr Sanjaya Jayasuriya, collectively ensured that the National HRM Standards maintain the highest standards of professionalism and innovation.

The National HRM Standards comprehensively cover six critical areas of HR practice: HR Strategy and Planning, HR Organizational Governance, HR Service Delivery, HR Development and Performance, HR Measurement and Analytics, and HR Ethics and Professionalism.
Mr Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, highlighted that the newly launched standards will establish a national framework for HRM, ensuring uniformity in practices that elevate quality, consistency, and credibility. Developed through rigorous research, consultations, and validation, these standards offer clear guidelines for HR excellence and self-assessment tools for practitioners and institutions to enhance performance. Aligning HR policies with global benchmarks fosters continuous improvement and innovation while recognising and rewarding HR excellence. Mr Vijayakumar emphasised that these standards will cultivate a culture of professionalism, contributing to national prosperity and sustainable development goals.

The National HRM standards were launched in the esteemed presence of key stakeholders, the sectoral committee tasked with establishing the National HRM Standards, the distinguished Head of HRs representing various industries, the CIPM President and Executive Council members, esteemed Past Presidents, individuals comprising the Standing Committee on setting up People Management Standards, Certification, & Accreditation, as well as the esteemed Senior Management of the CIPM.

Dr Asanga Ranasinghe, Chairman of SLSI and Guest of Honour, hailed the launch as a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey towards economic development in a rapidly changing world. He commended CIPM for its pivotal role in formulating the national standards in collaboration with SLSI. Dr. Ranasinghe emphasised the importance of garnering support from all relevant parties for the smooth execution of these standards.

With the introduction of these standards, CIPM and SLSI are paving the way for a future where HR practices in Sri Lanka are not just on par with global best practices but are driving organisational success and societal prosperity.

The post Revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s HR Practices, CIPM and SLSI Unveil National HRM Standards appeared first on Newswire.