PMI Colombo, Sri Lanka Chapter

The origin of the project management institute (PMI) in Sri Lanka was a result of an increased awareness of the importance of project management due to the fast pace and global orientation that demands the professions today. Project management may possibly be elucidated as to how cautious organization and planning helps towards accomplishing a task efficiently on time.

The request to establish a Sri Lankan counterpart was sent on the 18th July 2003 and was followed with a prompt response by the PMI headquarters as to the procedure of the formation of a new chapter. Once the required criterion was fulfilled the request for the Sri Lankan chapter was approved on the 11th November 2003 by the then PMI CEO Mr.Greg Balestro.

The subsequent phase was to recruit a minimum of 25 members to initiate the chartering process which was possible in a short time span although PMI was not well renowned in Colombo. All these were accomplished on the initiative and tireless efforts of CEO of Mobitel Mr. Lalith De Silva, Mrs. Madhu Fernando PMP and other board members. Thereafter the PMI Colombo Chapter was formed and a public launch was successfully executed at JAIC Hilton in September 2004. The impressive number of membership and the positive response from them enabled the PMI Colombo chapter to achieve charter status in January 2005.

Few of Our Achievements

• Conducted a workshop on Project Management skills for NGOs and religious Leaders by PMICC with Foreign Instructors for Tsunami effected rehabilitation projects
• Initiated the recognition of PMP credentials by ICTA, and trained 100 professionals from private sector in PM discipline under World Bank Funding
• Initiated/Facilitated conducting Project Management Professional training courses & conduct paper based exams for PM credentials.
• Helped our country to produce more than 250 PMP certified professionals.
• Conducted a workshop organized by PMICC & Ministry of Plan Implementation(MPI) under the aegis of the Presidential Secretariat for Permanent Secretaries of the ministries
• Workshop was organized by MPI on Project Management current constraints for public sector Project Directors/Managers. Chairman PMICC conducted the second session on how to overcome project constraints by adopting PM best practices.
• Conducted a high level project audit on honorary basis for Southern Transport Develop-ment Project (STDP). Findings were presented to a team headed by Secretary MPI
• Conducted a Workshop, organised by SLT HR division on Introduction to Project Management
• At a special workshop orgainsed by Institute of Public Finance & Development Accountancy Bureau of Ministry of Finance, PMICC delivered a three hour presentation on Introduction to Project Management & PMI
• Conducted an Project Management awareness course in Male
• Conducted two-day workshops on Applying project management best practices on day to day activities for senior management of SLT
• Strategic planning sessions for the PMI CC, Sri Lanka for next 3 years was held in August 2009

About PMI Global

• US Based World’s leading non-profit professional association for project managers, with over 125000 members in 140 countries.
• Started with 5 volunteers in 1969 – celebrating 35 years of service.
• Involved in advancing project management through developing professional standards, certifying project managers, and with many other professional development activities.