Dr. Senaweera globally recognised

Dr. Lalith N. Senaweera, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, has been recognized as a Fellow by the world authority of Quality and Quality management, the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the largest and world-renowned body supporting the development and enhancement of the knowledge of the professionals in the field of quality. This fellowship is an earned professional Qualification which is based on the members' distinction and pre-eminence in the technology, theory, education, application or management of quality control.

He is the first Sri Lankan to be recognized by this august body.

The American Society for Quality (ASQ) has many stringent mechanisms to recognize world-renowned authorities in the field of quality by bestowing the highest recognition of Fellowship to individuals who have done innumerable services and made many valuable contributions to the field of Quality and Quality management. Previously, Dr. Senaweera was recognized by the Chartered Institute of Quality, the United Kingdom, by that Institution also bestowing the highest grade of professional recognition a Fellow Chartered Quality Professional (CQP) status on him.

Dr. Senaweera was awarded the highest Quality Professional status by that prestigious body of Quality control based in the European Union considering his invaluable services to the field of Quality Management.

After being qualified for higher education, entered the University where he obtained his BSc (Hons) and on leaving the University, he joined the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in the capacity of a Standards/ Testing Officer. He later on obtained other academic qualifications such as MBA and PhD in Management.

"In my 30 years service to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), I have seen many changes taking place, and the country is now on a positive trend with emphasis being placed on Quality and Standardization. After I became the Director General and the Chief Executive Officer, I initiated many new programmes for the improvement of Quality standards in Sri Lanka. It is my firm belief that awareness of quality and standards should start from a very early age. It is with this objective in mind that we have started the information programme on quality standards to create awareness within the schools. We are also working with the Ministry of Technology and Research and Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) to establish Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the SME sector, to enhance the quality standards and increase exports, thereby earning increased revenue for the country.

"We have taken 'SLS' worldwide by granting the SLS mark for products manufactured in different countries such as India, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Thailand ,UAE etc having an export potential to Sri Lanka to assure the quality of such products by evaluating the processes and products of those manufacturing organizations whilst minimizing the delays in goods exported from those countries to Sri Lanka. As a result of this initiative, we are able to bring much needed foreign exchange to this country. We have started the Energy Star Labeling Programme to conserve energy, a timely needed scheme to provide a platform for consumers to use energy efficient products. The SLSI is involved in a plethora of training programmes to upgrade the awareness of Quality and Standardization of the country and as of today SLSI is conducting over 100 training programmes on different subjects on Quality Management focusing also on employment opportunities in the quality and standards sphere educating the masses, especially the younger generation, on becoming a recognized quality management professional."

Dr. Senaweera is also a member of the ISO DEVCO Chair's Advisory Group which is the main committee at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for preparation of Polices for the developing countries on Standardization, continuing his third term, an opportunity not offered to any other member in the world.