“Get the house in order” – Prof Lakshman Watawala, addressing CPM Conference.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Addressing its annual International Management Conference in Colombo today, the Founder and President of The Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka, Prof. Lakshman Watawala noted that theory alone is not sufficient, and one needs to look at the practical aspects.

"Many do not know what they are doing. Many are making decisions that are really the wrong decisions. The people who suggest the right thing are put to a corner," he told the conference.

He said the present-day crises are affecting all parts of the economy and the people need to understand the crises.

"This needs to come from the top and not from the bottom," he said while adding that when people at the bottom are shouting, the people at the top must get that message.

"We call it listening to the stakeholders as they are the key element," he added.

Professor Lakshman went on to note that though everyone talks about the crises, no one talks about solving them, and that is the reason for the disruptions taking place in the country.

"We need to make the correct choices and the first is to put their house in order, and that is how we will get assistance," he added.

These year's conference was organized around the theme, ‘Management Practices decoded: Disruption & Choices’.

Prof. Errol D’Souza of the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad addressed the physical and online audience as the Guest of Honour, while Prof. Charles Wood of the University of Tulsa, USA, also spoke at the inauguration event.

The Keynote address was delivered by Executive Group Director of the Capital Maharaja Organization, Chevaan Daniel while Dr. Samatha Rathnayaka of the Governing Council headed the technical forums, which began soon after the morning session.

Topics such as ‘Leadership and Focus’, and the best management practices in the ‘New Normal’ were amongst the thoughts and ideas shared by experienced and accomplished speakers during the technical session panel discussions held during the conference.

The Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka counts over 3,000 members in its ranks and is a member of the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia.