-Mr. Jayantha Gallehewa Receives Prestigious IFPSM President’s Award at World Summit, Mexico-
At the World Summit International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) held in Cancún, Mexico, Mr. Jayantha Gallehewa, Hony. President of the Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) in Sri Lanka, was honored with the esteemed IFPSM President’s Award for 2024. This prestigious accolade recognizes his exceptional contributions to raising the standards of Sri Lanka’s Supply Chain Industry, as well as his significant efforts to advance the sector on a global scale. Remarkably, “Mr. Gallehewa is the only Sri Lankan to have received this prestigious award and the third Asian professional to ever win this honorable award within the last 10 years”.
The IFPSM President’s Award, bestowed by the President of IFPSM, is based on personal recommendations and honours individuals who have made a substantial impact on the profession over many years. IFPSM represents a union of 44 national and regional purchasing associations worldwide, reaching over 250,000 purchasing and Supply Management professionals.
Mr. Gallehewa, a Fellow Member of ISMM and its 17th President, has held numerous key roles within the institute over the years, including Vice President for three consecutive terms and positions as Assistant Secretary and General Secretary. His visionary leadership has led to the declaration of ISMM's anniversary as National Supply Chain Day in Sri Lanka, a groundbreaking move to emphasize the importance of the Supply Chain industry within the country.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Gallehewa has spearheaded several impactful national and international initiatives aimed at strengthening the Supply Chain sector. He played a pivotal role in organizing the National Supply Chain Excellence Awards in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industries, which recognizes outstanding contributions from both organizations and professionals. He also launched National Supply Chain Day Seminars and CEO forums to share cutting-edge industry knowledge.
Moreover, Mr. Gallehewa was instrumental in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka to develop a domestic Supply Chain framework. Under his leadership, ISMM also partnered with the Ministry of Industries on the project “Developing Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chain Management Systems for Sri Lanka's industrial sector.”
Mr. Gallehewa’s vision extends beyond national borders. His initiatives have been designed to boost Sri Lanka's economy through specialized Supply Chain Management training for international markets. The first of these programs was successfully launched in Bangladesh in August 2024, with plans to expand to Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji, the Maldives, and other countries.
In addition to these achievements, Mr. Gallehewa has driven efforts to integrate Supply Chain Management into Sri Lanka's national education curriculum. A proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Education to introduce Supply Chain Management as a core subject in schools. Furthermore, ISMM, under his guidance, introduced the Lifetime Prestigious Apex Award, an accolade that honours professionals who have made significant contributions to the Supply Chain industry over the past 76 years.
Beyond ISMM, Mr. Gallehewa serves as Vice President of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka, representing over 60,000 professionals across 52 member associations in 32 disciplines. He also holds the position of Director – Supply Chain at Capital Maharaja Group Industrial Hub, one of Sri Lanka’s leading and long-standing conglomerates.
Mr. Gallehewa’s academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration and various other qualifications in Supply Chain Management. His extensive international experience, particularly through his participation in IFPSM World Summits in multiple countries, has provided him with invaluable insights and expertise in the field.
Mr. Jayantha Gallehewa’s recognition at the 2024 IFPSM World Summit is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering commitment to enhancing both the global and Sri Lankan Supply Chain industries. His leadership continues to inspire and shape the future of Supply Chain Management, both locally and internationally.
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