In a first of its kind in Sri Lanka, a M2C - Military to Corporate Entrepreneurship Green Card Certification Capsule has been mooted for senior retiring military officers facilitated by IIHRM in association with OCDS. The project under the leadership of retired General Daya Ratnayaka supported by the Chief of the Defence Staff and tri-Forces chiefs will make 25 retiring senior officers from Army, Navy and Air Force ‘corporate ready’ with a host of transitional endowments that equips them for senior corporate positions. The initial capsule is facilitated during March 2021 at ACCESS Towers, with three more batchers to follow in successive months.

The conversion kit that will help transform military veterans into corporate trailblazers ready to lead private or State-run organizations will encompass adoption of corporate work ethic and strategic thinking, people management and work agendas driven by wealth creation on the cutting-edge of technology and knowledge transfer, says Mr. Ranjeewa Kulatunga, Patron for the Alumni of IPMA-HR.USA in Sri Lanka and Managing Director of Intercontinental Institute of Human Resource Management (IIHRM) which leads the ground-breaking programme.

The initial batch of 25 retired veterans were drawn from the tri-forces comprises of eighteen Maj Generals, two Air Vice Marshals, three Rear Admirals and two Commodores. The nominations council was represented by Major General Ajith Kolambathanri - Military Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Roshan Biyanwila - Director Admin SLAF, Rear Admiral Upul De Silva - Director General Personnel SLN and Col. Sujeewa Rathnayake - M2C Military Coordinating officer under the direction of the Tri-Force Commanders in collaboration with OCDS. The carefully picked team of corporate trainers and transformational specialists will be led by Mr. Ranjeewa Kulatunga, Mr. Omar Khan, Dr. Dinesh Watawana, Mr. Bradley Emerson, Mr. Faraz Farook, Dr. Marlon Dale Ferreira and Mr. Kumara Galhenage says the war veteran General Daya Ratnayake.

As these professionals leave a distinguished military career, corporate Sri Lanka and State-run institutions have an invaluable opportunity to harness their superior skills and discipline. Trained to be officers and gentlemen, battle-hardened toughness is all but one part of their multi-faceted character and skill sets. Retiring Officers must remain an invaluable asset to the country, we are indeed glad to be part of this laudable initiative working together alongside IIHRM and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce says Sumal Perera, Chairman of ACCESS Engineering PLC, the resource partner for the ‘M2C Military to Corporate Entrepreneurship Certification' Capsule series.

Sri Lanka’s adoption to the universally-recognized concept of M2C or military to corporate transfer was first proposed in a new strategic transformational framework for Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force with IIHRM’s Ranjeewa Kulatunga and Dr. Dinesh Watawana, among its authors during Gen. Daya Ratnayake’s stewardship as the Commander of the SLA.

It is difficult to imagine a group of men and women more multi-dimensionally-trained and tested than those in military uniform. Their uncanny ability to turn disadvantages into winners, thrive under unimaginable pressures and perform diverse tasks on demand makes them uncommon assets. Military veterans need to make a paradigm shift in adapting to a new modus-operandi, says General Shavendra Silva WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP - Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Sri Lanka Army, a key driver of the military to corporate concept.

Military and corporate machinery are wired to operate in own unique ways. Understanding the contrasts and forging a path that combines the strengths of the two systems hold the key to smooth transitioning, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be part of this national initiative to be the placement partner by introducing the M2C graduates to the corporate leadership of our country, says Manjula De Silva – CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The specially designed immersion workshops give senior military officials a simulated experience in understanding how things click outside the military, the general business behavior and just how to embrace the change while pointing them towards modern skill-sets they must acquire on the cutting-edge – especially with the introduction of a pre module assessment center to determine the competency gaps of the participating officers makes the initiative valid, reliable and relevant to each individual said Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara the iconic educationist who is the head of the IIHRM Global Advisory Council. The Audio Visual Support for is provided by Cool Tempo.

The initiative will be flagged under the auspicious of General (Rtd) Daya Ratnayake the Initiator of M2C Project in Sri Lanka as our Chief Guest on 06^th March 2021 at 08.30am at ACCESS Towers, Union Place, Colombo concluded Mr. Ranjeewa Kulatunga the Chief Consultant of IIHRM in a press release.