PHDT awarded international certification for quality management

The Plantations Human Development Trust (PHDT) has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the accredited body in Sri Lanka by the International Standards Organisation.

The PHDT functions under the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development implementing sustainable social development programs to continuously improve the quality of life of the plantation community, working closely with the Ministry, Regional Plantation Companies and Trade Unions. Its core activities cover housing and infrastructure, water and sanitation, health care and nutrition, child development centres, training and development, and the Estate Worker Housing Cooperative Society (EWHCS) network.
The certification covered the seven PHDT regional offices as well which are located in the plantation areas in Badulla, Galle, Hatton, Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura through whom these initiatives are implemented in the 432 estates under the regional plantation companies.
The award was presented by SLSI Director General Dr. Lalith Senaweera to PHDT Chairman H. Sandrasekera in the presence of the Director General Ranjith Ellegala and Directors at a simple ceremony held at PHDT head office at Battaramulla. Each Regional Office certificate was received by the respective Regional Director.
Congratulating the top management and the steering committee for the effort put in, Dr. Senaweera said that in today’s context, organisations that fail to adopt proper quality management systems will undoubtedly be adversely affected by losing the competitive edge in the marketplace.
“T he cost benefits and improvement in quality consequent on the adoption and implementation of ISO 9001 will, no doubt be the baseline to any organisation’s success,” he added.
 “Use the ISO certification as a tool for improvement and not as a cosmetic,” Dr. Senaweera advised.
He outlined the benefits of ISO 9001 certification as consistent effective control of key processes, better management control, reporting, prevent defects, motivate employees, promotion and standardisation of best management practices. There is recognition in the international marketplace too and the Plantations should take advantage of the agency rights of SLSI held by PHDT to secure ISO certification for their own future benefit to face global challenges.
Commenting later, PHDT Director-General Ranjith Ellegala described getting the globally accepted ISO Certification as a historic achievement for the PHDT main and regional offices.
“We achieved this award due the encouragement given by Minister Arumugan Thondaman. We did so after successfully going through the many stages over a period of time under the guidance of the consultant engaged for the purpose and due to the dedication and commitment of all staff both in the main and regional offices,” he said proudly.
He also thanked the Management Representative M. Rinaz and the steering committee members who worked hard whilst attending to their official duties and responsibilities to obtain this ISO standard.
The award of this International standard recognised and accepted worldwide is a milestone in the history of the PHDT since its establishment in 1992 by the Government of Sri Lanka.