Hemas being dependent on truly exceptional leaders to navigate their challenging and diversified business landscape and drive corporate performance, sought the assistance of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) to formulate and conduct a General Management Program (GMP) for its senior management. Hemas held the view that a GMP presents the ‘big picture’, envisions what is on the horizon, and formulates a proactive, competitive response. In fact, the GMP formulated by the PIM, based on the specific requirements of Hemas, is expected to accelerate a process that would empower senior management to think and compete strategically. The GMP was inaugurated on Saturday, November 07, 2009, at the PIM.

Dr. Uditha Liyanage, Director, PIM, in his welcome address stressed the point that these programs would enable one to revisit and reexamine what we already know more than to gather new knowledge. He drew the difference between awareness and knowledge.  Knowledge is more deep-rooted, and clearer. Knowledge, in fact, comprises of ‘building blocks’, and these need to be simple, profound and deep. More than accommodating, knowledge should be assimilated so that it is ultimately adds to the wealth of knowledge that has already been acquired.  

 
Dr. Uditha Liyanage, Director, PIM, emphasizing the difference between awareness and knowledge.

 Mr. Husein Esufally, Chairman/Managing Director, Hemas Holdings PLC, was of the view that Directors and senior executives of a company would be engaged in almost a repetitive work pattern, unless and until a new life-cycle is begun with changed thinking and new  ideas. 

 
According to Mr. Husein Esufally, Chairman / MD, Hemas Holdings PLC., the  company should get a new generation of leaders who could face the new challenges in the ever-changing market-place.

 In fact,  the  company should get a new generation of leaders who could face the new challenges in the ever-changing market-place. The new leaders should be able to take a higher degree of risk as well. What is experienced now is that many an officer would get shelved in his/her comfort-zone, getting excessively involved in routine activities. The anticipated change will not/cannot happen overnight. It is mainly in this context that Hemas have considered the need to formulate appropriate training and development programs, and allocate funds towards their implementation.  Mr. Esufally, in fact, described the three main objectives of the company’s training and development endeavours, namely,

a) Improvement of specific job-related functions, wherein skill and competency building will be emphasized. 

b) Change management where innovativeness and creativity will be emphasized.

c) Leadership where good decision-making, and judgment will be emphasized.

He, therefore, said that the company would not hesitate to allocate funds appropriate to meet these objectives.

Mr. K. A. I. Kalyanaratne, Manager, Training and Publications, PIM, compered the ceremony.  Dr. Travis Perera, Dr. William Hickey, Mr. Sisira Athuraliyage of the PIM faculty,  Mr. K. A. Sarath, Deputy Bursar, PIM, Mr. Isuru Thilakawardana, Director, Group HR, Mr. Malinga Arasakularathna, Group CFO, Mr. Kishan Nanayakkara, MD, Hemas Power,  Dr. Aruma Rabel, Head of Medical Services, Col. Manoj Peiris (Rtd.), Head of HR, Pharma, and Col. Raj Vijayasiri (Rtd.), Group Training Manager, Hemas Holdings PLC., also attended the inaugural ceremony.