24/06/2025
GAFM USA Launches Practitioner Certification for Management Consultants in Sri Lanka
The Global Academy of Financial Management (GAFM), USA has taken a significant step towards advancing the professional standards of management consultancy in Sri Lanka with the introduction of the Practitioner Certification for Management Consultants — Management Consultancy Professional (MCP), GAFM USA.
The initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed at Hilton Colombo by Rajkumar Kanagasingam, GAFM’s Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, alongside leading Sri Lankan Management and HR Consultants Prialal De Silva and Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake.
Both De Silva and Dias-Bandaranayake are highly experienced professionals, with long-standing careers as Management and HR Consultants, Corporate Trainers, Certified Life & Business Coaches, and veterans in banking, finance, and entrepreneurship.
Prialal De Silva brings over 30 years of experience in Human Resource Development across the corporate sector.
Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake contributes 35 years of leadership and operational expertise in the banking and financial services industry.
The launch is further supported by Amintha Sugath de Silva, Chairman of Vision 8 Academy Pvt. Ltd., a respected leader in Sri Lanka's training and development sector with over two decades of experience. With over 25 years of distinguished banking experience, he enhanced his expertise through executive training with McKinsey & Company, USA, while serving at Emirates Bank International in Dubai, UAE. He plays a pivotal role in the GAFM accreditation process and serves as Coordinator for the GAFM Sri Lanka and Maldives Chapter.
The Global Academy of Financial Management (GAFM), headquartered in Colorado Springs, USA, is a premier international certification body offering globally recognized designations in finance, management, economics, and business-related disciplines. GAFM credentials are held by professionals, executives, and academics in over 150 countries.
The certifications and trademarks awarded by GAFM are governed and owned by the International Board of Standards (IBS), a Colorado, USA-based certifying body operating in over 40 nations worldwide. IBS is a charter member signatory of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in Washington, D.C., and has maintained an academic recognition agreement with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), based in Kansas, USA, since 2004.
GAFM certifications also meet rigorous international standards, being accredited by TÜV Austria to ISO 9001 and ISO 29990, and are aligned with CHEA-recognized guidelines—ensuring both global credibility and academic integrity.
The introduction of the Management Consultancy Professional (MCP), GAFM USA certification marks a pivotal development in Sri Lanka’s professional landscape. As a globally issued and industry-endorsed certification, the MCP provides a clear path for consultants to formalise their expertise, elevate their standing, and access new international opportunities.
This collaborative initiative is set to empower a new generation of certified consultants — advancing ethical standards, enhancing professional credibility, and aligning Sri Lanka with global best practices in consultancy.
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Memorandum of Understanding Exchanged at Hilton Colombo. From left to right: Vision 8 Academy Chairman Amintha Sugath de Silva, GAFM Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Rajkumar Kanagasingam, and Management & HR Consultants, Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake and Prialal De Silva.
