The Centre for Organisational Excellence Research (COER), New Zealand, recently concluded an extraordinary visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, marked by intensive training and strategic collaboration. Partnering with the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) and Sri Lanka’s National Productivity Secretariat (NPS), our team delivered a series of Technical Expert Service (TES) training sessions aimed at advancing business excellence across the nation.

Sri Lanka has set ambitious goals for advancing business excellence to drive productivity improvements across all sectors. For 2025/26, over 5,000 organisations have already registered to participate in the business excellence assessment as part of the National Productivity Award Competition. This number is expected to grow in the coming years as participation becomes mandatory for State-Owned Enterprises and more private sector organizations get involved. The government’s five-year plan is clear and resolute: to position Sri Lanka as a new leader in business excellence and productivity.

The events, held at the iconic Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, brought together over 300 senior leaders from Sri Lanka’s public services, private, healthcare, and education sectors.

Building Assessor Capabilities

A primary focus of the visit was the ‘Business Excellence Assessors’ Training’ for the judging panel members of the Sri Lanka National Productivity Awards. Delivered in two groups, this intensive 2-day training equipped participants with globally benchmarked tools and methodologies for business excellence assessment.

The COER team, consisting of Dr. Robin Mann, Dr. Atif Baig, and Dr. Almas Tazein, led the sessions. The goal was to empower these leaders to assess organisational performance more effectively, thereby fostering a widespread culture of continuous improvement within Sri Lankan organisations.

The second group’s training was inaugurated by an inspiring address from Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, who reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to embedding excellence principles in public sector service delivery.

Certification in TRADE Best Practice Benchmarking

COER delivered the 2-Day ‘Benchmarking for Excellence Certification’ training. Participants were immersed in the evidence-based TRADE Best Practice Benchmarking Methodology, engaging in dynamic exercises to gain a practical understanding of how to systematically conduct benchmarking projects.

This powerful tool is designed to drive measurable performance improvements. In recognition of their work, all participants received a verified certificate and badge for successfully completing the ‘Bronze Level of TRADE Best Practice Benchmarking’.

A Strategic Vision for Sri Lanka’s Future

The visit concluded on a high note with the “Strategic Review of the National Productivity Awards (NPA) with Recommendations for Enhancements for 2025/26 & Beyond”.

What was particularly impressive was the commitment of the government to support the business excellence initiative and encourage 1,000’s of organisations across all sectors to undergo a business excellence assessment (over 5,000 have already registered for 2025/26) and t

This strategic workshop featured several distinguished speakers:

• Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe FCMA CGMA, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, delivered a powerful address on “The Strategic Significance of Sri Lanka’s Productivity Movement,” focusing on creating an inclusive environment for business excellence.
• Mr. Niranja Jayakodi, Director of NPS, shared a compelling vision to elevate Sri Lanka’s position on global indices for competitiveness, innovation, and ease of doing business.
• Dr. Robin Mann, Director of COER, provided valuable insights into national approaches for productivity improvement and business excellence.

Dr. Atif Baig and Dr. Almas Tazein Yusuf also contributed as resource persons for the workshop. An interactive session with NPS staff focused on strategies to build capacity and enhance the NPA program.

We extend our sincere congratulations to the APO and NPS teams, with special recognition to Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry, for her vision and strong leadership in advancing business excellence to drive productivity improvements in Sri Lanka. Working alongside Niranja Jayakodi, great achievements are anticipated. We also thank Ms. Tilani Sugandika Liyanage, Deputy Director, NPS, for her organizational skills in leading the event, with valuable support from Pranidhi Bopagamage, ensuring the program’s success. COER was honoured to contribute to this impactful initiative and support Sri Lanka’s vision for sustained productivity growth.