“If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Isaac Newton
I want to thank Dharani Karunaratne and the outgoing EXCO Members as they leave the office as Past President and Ex-EXCO. We can only hope to continue the progress that SLAP has made during their respective terms of service.
I want to give something back to the industry that I've worked in for more than 20 years.
I am a big believer in the need for a strong association and I want to build on the work done by SLAP to revitalise the association and continue its relevance for the industry. It is vital for us as part of this Association to comprehend the vitality of our industry in the country’s economy. This understanding will further affirm us to contribute more cooperatively to the elevating of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers.
Hence as per my focus, I together with the newly elected EXCO would like to make this year a “GEM” of a year for SLAP. We wish to re-instigate in ourselves the importance of our Service, to initiate activities which will reaffirm our contribution, expanding of knowledge relating to our industry while establishing our strength of SLAP through grouping more Members to the Association.
The word GEM signifies three aspects which I along with the new EXCO wish to aspire to attain during our term of Office. As we are indeed interconnected, through the SLAP, we have to instigate this noble journey together as one steadfast community. For without your support as Members we cannot declare success, we cannot accomplish our objectives.
Hence we the EXCO have focused on highlights the General Activities of the Association which projects our stand as an industry in the local and international arena while stands attest our power and capacity as well and acts as a face of the Association to the outside corporate community.Educating of Printing companies, Senior Management, and all employees onknowledge in all spheres of operation in Printing. Through this we hope to empower the employees of the printing industry to discover their capacity, strengthen their deliveranceand initiate individual and company growth.
Living in a fast paced world where development and growth revolve around technology development and empowerment, which is a vital part of our industry, it is the duty of SLAP to make the local industry aware of this vitality and the responsibility of myself as the President and my EXCO to instigate measures to educate the printers and people in the industry on the aspects contributing towards the success of Printing.
The Sri Lanka Association of Printer is a team formed through participation of Members. There is an estimated 8000 printing employees in the country of which our Membership only hold 5%. This year we as the new EXCO seek to accelerate this number to at 1000 Members towards the end of this year. It is your duty as a Member to inform your colleagues in the industry to make them aware of the benefits and service rendered through the SLAP hence motivate them to join hands with us. We have to strengthen our position on industrial relations, the environment, training and industry development. We need to counter some of the negative perceptions that are out there, like the belief that printing is old-fashioned. It isn't. It is a technology-driven industry which contributes towards a country’s economy.
We must work together in unison as an Association representing the entire printing industry of Sri Lanka. There is no level for hierarchy or any other differentiation among us. We must unite as a whole body leaving aside our difference of language and ethnicity, come forward in contributing each of our special skills for the growth of our Association and thus gear forward.
As Sri Lankans we must pride in our diversity enriched by our own and group them together for the betterment of the SLAP. We are the united voice of our industry the representing body of printers in Sri Lanka, hence priding on this let us move forward join hands in developing our industry and the Association. This should be our Vision.
So let me turn to those next two years. Where are we going? And how will we get there?
We have two major priorities for the SLAP over the next two years. Our first priority is work hard at being in touch with all of our stakeholders and our second priority is to work towards demonstrating the importance of a strong local innovation-based printing industry to global arena.
I believe in the SLAP and in allof you who have supported it. We as Members must come together as one to create an Image that has both clout and credibility for SLAP, through networking and collectively ensue to aid the individual members, while at the same time; project a vivid and positive image of the Association. I am confident that our industry stands at an unprecedented time to show its strength in the global industry. These next two years will show us bring out the best in everyone. We are poised to bring the world together: to see our value better; poised to see the industry booming in the country.
I am confident that you as Members will render your fullest support to make this initiative a reality to build forth our Association.
Sanjeev Mohan
President of Sri Lanka Association of Printers |
