The Great HR Debate 2025: Celebrating a Landmark Edition and a Champion Team
View(s):CIPM Sri Lanka proudly concluded the Great HR Debate 2025 on a high note, with DIMO PLC emerging as champions at the Grand Finale held on 2nd June 2025 at the Monarch Imperial, coinciding with the inauguration of the National HR Conference (NHRC) 2025.
The final debate featured an intellectually charged face-off between DIMO PLC and Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd., centered on the motion: “Organisations should focus more on Financial Performance than Employee Development to support Nation Building efforts in Sri Lanka.” Both teams delivered compelling arguments, but DIMO PLC secured the championship title with their articulate, well-reasoned, and impactful performance, earning the unanimous commendation of the judging panel.
This year’s debate marked a historic milestone for the competition. Attracting a record 20 corporate teams from across a wide range of industries, the 2025 edition unfolded over a five-week period of rigorous and engaging debates. The Grand Finale was attended by an esteemed audience comprising HR and business leaders, academics, and emerging professionals from across the country.
A heartening development in this year’s edition was the active involvement of line managers alongside HR professionals. This broader participation has not only strengthened the HR-business partnership but also helped in diffusing HR knowledge across functional boundaries—an encouraging sign for the future of people-centered leadership in Sri Lanka.
CIPM’s partnership with Toastmasters International (District 82) offered all participating teams exclusive coaching in public speaking, persuasive communication, and leadership development. This initiative added significant value to the participants’ experience, with enhanced presentation skills and confidence clearly evident throughout the tournament.
Commenting on the success of the event, Priyantha Ranasinghe, President of CIPM Sri Lanka, stated:
“The Great HR Debate continues to be a flagship platform for nurturing thought leadership in the HR profession. It is inspiring to witness the next generation of HR professionals engaging in complex, future-focused discourse with such confidence and clarity.”
Kanishka Ranaweera, Chairman of the Great HR Debate 2025 Committee, remarked:
“What truly stood out this year was the level of preparation and maturity demonstrated by all teams. From the very first round, we saw tremendous growth in their confidence, articulation, and critical thinking.”
Reflecting on the journey of the debate, C. Hewapattini, the Founder of the Great HR Debate, shared:
“When we initiated this platform in 2009, our goal was to create a space for HR professionals to debate, learn, and grow. Today, it has become a nationally recognised event that contributes meaningfully to the professional development of HR in Sri Lanka.”
Over the past 15 years, the Great HR Debate has grown into a prestigious event that fosters intellectual rigor, professional excellence, and collaborative learning. From first-time participants to seasoned debaters, each team brought passion, insight, and professionalism to the stage—making the 2025 edition one of the most dynamic in the debate’s history.
While DIMO PLC took home the championship title, Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd. must be lauded for their formidable performance, depth of research, and professionalism throughout the debate series. Their presence in the finals reflected the high calibre of this year’s competition.
Beyond the trophy and accolades, the true triumph of the Great HR Debate lies in its power to spark critical thinking, elevate discourse, and bridge gaps between HR theory and business practice. As the curtain falls on this landmark edition, the seeds of strategic HR thoughts are already taking root across boardrooms and teams alike.
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