IPM ‘Battle of the Brains 2016’ CSR initiative prompts much enthusiasm

The winner of the ‘Battle of Brains 2016’ Anula Vidyalaya with the trophy

IPM ‘Battle of the Brains 2016’ Annual Inter School Debating Championship organised jointly by IPM Sri Lanka under the auspices of the Sri Jayewardenepura Zonal Education Office prompted much enthusiasm amongst the education officials, teachers, students and IPM members and invitees which was evident from the high level of participation at the grand finale held on Monday 4 April at the Auditorium of IPM Sri Lanka head office – ‘HR House’ in Narahenpita, Colombo 5. 

The theme for this year’s championship was ‘Human resources is the most valuable resource’ and the topic for the grand finale between Nugegoda Anula Vidyalaya and Malabe Sri Rahula Balika Vidyalaya was ‘Outsourcing is a solution for the manpower shortage of an organisation’. The winning school adjudged by the distinguished panel of judges was Nugegoda Anula Vidyalaya, who received the Battle of the Brains 2016 Champion’s Trophy together with prize money of Rs. 50,000 for the school and certificates and trophies for the team members. 

The runner-up Malabe, Sri Rahula Balika Vidyalya received the Battle of the Brains 2016 Runner-Up Trophy with prize money of Rs. 30,000 for the school and certificates and trophies for the team members. All participants of the Battle of the Brains 2016 Annual Inter school Debating Championship received certificates of participation.     

IPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resources management – organises the popular ‘Battle of Brains 2016’ Annual Interschool Debating Championship as a CSR project to groom school children by providing opportunities to participate in exciting co-curricular activities of this nature.

“The main objective of organising the Battle of the Brains interschool debating championship is to facilitate the uplifting of knowledge and to harness hidden talents of the students. As the leading professional body in human resources management, IPM Sri Lanka gladly assumes the responsibility towards training and moulding our younger generation at formative stage to take on future responsibilities.  This much looked forward  to event is organised with great enthusiasm  by IPM students together with IPM officials and forms  a part of IPM Sri Lanka’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Program. 

“We believe that for students participating in a debate of this nature as a speaker affords an ideal opportunity  for exposure to the commercial world and their personal development.  It gives an opportunity for members of the team to work together and coordinate their activities to work towards and achieve a common goal in a time bound environment which is basically what is expected by any organisation and helps to mould individuals to take on corporate and personal responsibilities,”  said IPM Sri Lanka President Rohitha Amarapala.

Guest of Honour Sri Jayewardenepura Zonal Education Director Nirmala Ekanayake – in her speech thanked IPM Sri Lanka for their efforts in meticulously organising the Battle of the Brains 2016 Annual Debating Championship thereby giving an unprecedented opportunity for students to showcase their talents.       

“The Annual IPM Battle of the Brains Interschool Debating Championship organised by IPM Sri Lanka provides a great opportunity for students to display their skills and talents. We take great pride in organising this event as part of our corporate social responsibility program. Children are the future leaders of our country and it gives us immense pleasure in imparting our knowledge and effort in supporting them,” said CSR and Career Guidance Committee Chairman and IPM Council Member Priyankara Seneviratne.

The Battle of the Brains 2016 followed last year’s highly successful championship and has had over 34 schools, 34 teams and 136 students debating enthusiastically over various interesting topics while displaying their inherent capabilities in speaking and articulating diverse viewpoints. The Debating Championship has become a significant activity in the zonal school calendar which was demonstrated by the enthusiasm shown by the students as well as the teachers during the run-up to the debates.

The Battle of the Brains 2016 Interschool Debating Championship took place over three qualifying rounds which were held during the months of February and March at the Hevawitharana Vidyalaya Rajagiriya. Each debate was judged by a panel of judges comprising HR professionals and academics. 

IPM Sri Lanka keeps pace with the new trends and concepts in HR by engaging continuously with the business community to share experiences, thoughts and insights in order to enrich and enhance the HR profession. It actively encourages and promotes members’ participation at international conferences and fora to provide relevant exposure, build networks and conduct research into areas of interest to the HR profession in Sri Lanka. 

IPM was founded in 1959 and was subsequently incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. IPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Human Resources Management and also to the World Federation of People Management Association. IPM, being a professional institute is also a constituent member of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) Sri Lanka. Currently IPM comprises of over 1000 Professional Members who serve in both public and private organisations.