ISMM organises National Supply Chain Day 2025 celebrations on October 24

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana 

The Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and the Industrial Development Board (IDB) is to hold the National Supply Chain Day 2025 celebrations on October 24th at the Monarch Imperial in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. 

President ISMM Lilantha Subasinghe addressing a special media briefing held last week to announce the event said the comprehensive programme for the day is divided into two main sessions, a morning session seminar and the evening awards ceremony. 

The morning session, from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. will feature the National Supply Chain Day Seminar, themed “Empowering Sri Lanka’s Supply Chain: Innovation and Resilience in a Global Landscape”. 

The Guest of Honour for the morning session will be President of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) Chris Oanda. 

“This seminar aims to bring together local and international supply chain leaders, experts and professionals to explore the latest trends, best practices and technological innovations in SCM,” Subasinghe said. 

The seminar includes a series of specialised forums and sessions. The First Technical Session, titled “Innovative Practices for Supply Chain Resilience,” will be chaired by former Group CEO of Fairway Holdings Imal Fonseka. 

The Industry Forum is themed “Supply Chain Excellence through Strategic Integration: Aligning Process, Technology and Partnerships” and will be moderated by Vice President ISMM and Chairman of the Professional Development and Training Committee Prof. Sanath Divakara.  

The CEO Forum, under the theme “Navigating Global Disruption: Executive Strategies for Supply Chain Continuity,” will be chaired by CEO Ceylon Biscuits Ltd Nalin Karunaratne. 

The Third Technical Session will focus on “Digital Transformation in Supply Chain Management” and will be chaired by ISMM Past President and leading supply chain consultant L. G. Perera. 

The evening session, starting at 7.00 p.m. at the same venue, will host the National Supply Chain Excellence Awards, followed by ISMM’s 53rd Anniversary Banquet Dinner. This awards ceremony will celebrate outstanding contributions to supply chain management at both individual and organizational levels. 

Awards will be presented across four enterprise sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium and Small) and under Manufacturing, Service and Trading Sectors. Special accolades will also be given for the “Supply Chain Practicing Organization of the Year” and the “Supply Chain Professional of the Year”. The Chief Guest for the event is yet to be finalised and will be announced shortly. 

The media briefing was also attended by ISMM Vice Presidents Dimuka Hemantha and Ranil Abeysekera (who is also Chairman of the National Supply Chain Day and 53rd Anniversary Celebrations Committee), Prof. Sanath Divakara along with ISMM General Secretary Priyanga Kirihena, ISMM Treasurer Kavinda Jayathilaka and Chairman of the Marketing Committee Dilshan Silva.