IPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resources management – announced the successful conclusion of Great HR Quiz 2015 held recently amidst a large and distinguished gathering of industry professionals at Galadari Hotel in Colombo. 

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva was the chief guest and Sri Lanka Army Commander Crisanthe De Silva was the guest of honour. The quiz, conducted in the form of a live table quiz, was staged for the second consecutive year with the participation of 45 teams, representing both private and public sector organisations. 

The National Savings Bank team emerged as the overall winner of the quiz and was presented with the Great HR Quiz 2015 Champion’s Trophy together with Rs.100,000 in cash as prize money along with individual medals and certificates. Sri Lanka Insurance came up as the first runner-up and was awarded the Great HR Quiz 2015 Runner-Up Trophy, Rs.75,000 prize money and certificates, whilst the second runner-up Dialog Axiata PLC was awarded Rs.50,000 prize money and certificates. 

The numerous sector-winners and runners-up of the quiz representing diverse industry sectors such as Banking, Finance and Insurance, IT/Software/Telecom/ BPO, Apparel and Textile, Manufacturing /FMCG, Food and Beverages and Special Category were awarded trophies.        

“We are pleased and encouraged by the number of organisations and teams participating in Great HR Quiz 2015, which shows that this annual event is eagerly awaited and appreciated by the HR fraternity,” said IPM Sri Lanka President Rohitha Amarapala. 

“Our objectives of encouraging broad knowledge sharing, creating opportunities to research on best HR practices and putting together a large HR audience for positive interaction within a competitive spirit and atmosphere of conviviality have all been achieved at this Great HR Quiz event,” he added.

The panel of judges of the quiz included prominent practitioners and academics and comprised of Dinesh Weerakkody-Chairman, National Human Resource Development Council of Sri Lanka, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri (Head of the panel of judges)-Professor of Management-University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Director Postgraduate Institute of Management and Council Member of IPM Sri Lanka and Kanishka Weerasinghe-Director General, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon and Jayanta Jayaratna, renowned consultant in Human Resource Development, Past-President IPM, Past VP Asia Pacific Federation of HRM, Corporate Member Australian HR Institute and Fellow Member of IPM. 

Highly respected and much acclaimed industry professional, IPM Council Member and Past President, with global recognition, including winner of APFHRM HR Professional of the Year – Chrisantha Obeyesekere officiated as the Quiz Master. 

“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the organisations, the participants and all the invitees for so enthusiastically participating in Great HR Quiz 2015,” said Great HR Quiz 2015 Organising Committee Chairman Prasad Piyadigama. 

Adding colour, variety and fun to the event talented students of IPM’s Business School entertained the audience with their creative singing and dance items. The cocktail reception which followed the awards ceremony provided a great opportunity for the invitees to network, interact and renew relationships amongst the members of the fraternity.    

IPM Sri Lanka keeps pace with the new trends and concepts in HR by engaging continuously with the business community to share experiences, thoughts and insights in order to enrich and enhance the HR profession. It actively encourages and promotes members’ participation at international conferences and fora to provide exposure, build networks and conduct research into areas of interest to the HR profession in Sri Lanka.