The Sri Lankan private sector implements Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in a more advanced way in comparison to the public sector, due to more investment in HRM by corporates, according to the President of the Association Human Resource Professionals (HRP), Isuru Tillakawardana.

Speaking at the launch of the fourth bi-annual "HRM Awards - Super 10", Mr. Tillakawardana also noted that public sector organisations would particularly benefit from entering HRP's competition because of its intensive, five-month long judging process whch is known to encourage self discovery and learning, and ultimately lead to self improvement and more value for citizens.

Interestingly, the last HRM Awards in 2007 featured participation by approximately 75 entries. Only two of these, a government hospital in Ampara and Sri Lanka Telecom, were from the public sector, according to HRP official, Pradeepa Kekulawala. While, in 2010, it is anticipated that approximately 130 entries will be received.

Meanwhile, according to an HRP statement, 2007's Gold award winners included, "Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd, DFCC Bank, Hatton National Bank, HSBC, Keells Hotel Management Services Limited, MAS Intimates Slimline (Pvt) Ltd, Sampath Bank Limited, Sri Lankan Airlines Limited, Virtusa (Pvt) Limited".

Further, entries for 2010 are due in by February 15 with entry forms available online at www.hrp.lk. While entries will be short listed using a questionnaire and company visits by HRP technical partner, international HR practice Hewitt Associates; the final winners will be selected by a judging panel made up of a mix business personalities and academics who are unaffiliated with HRP or Hewitt and "revealed" at an international learning conference and awards evening to be held in May 2010.