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Ajahn Brahmavamso in Sri Lanka on a very busy schedule
The greatly anticipated and planned for visit and nine days stay of Ajahn Brahmavamso is in its first week. Since his arrival on May 22 from Australia, he has been fully occupied with spreading the Dhamma in this island of ours. His itinerary was meticulously planned by the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka (ABSSL) under the direction of Ven Mettavihari.
Meditation Retreat: The nine day meditation retreat at Bandarawela for 157 persons comprising 55 bhikkhus, 44 bhikkhunis and 58 lay persons is ongoing at the National Holiday Resort managed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Board. Meditators are housed in specially constructed temporary tents. Group sessions began on May 23 under the direct guidance of Ajahn Brahmavamso. Opportunities to receive personal guidance from Ajahn Brahm at appropriate interventions are also accommodated. The retreat ends on May 28.
Forum for Business/Professional Persons: The next item on the visiting Venerable Thera’s busy schedule is the forum for invited participants from the business/professional community of Sri Lanka. This will be at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo on May 29. It is both innovative and unique; the first time that professionals and businessmen have been invited for discussion and giving ear to what the Buddha said to persons of this category, which remains relevant even at present. Ajahn Brahmavamso with his Oxford University education, experience in life and as a world renowned meditating monk, is certainly the most unique person to guide such a forum.
A total of 115 persons will be beneficiaries on this day. Each of the two sessions lasts 90 minutes, within which direct discussion with the Thera will be accommodated
Dhamma Talk to the Public: Justifiably considered to be the highlight of the Venerable Thera’s all too short visit to Sri Lanka is his making himself available to address the public. This much looked forward to event by the many, is on Tuesday May 30 at the BMICH starting at 7.00 am and ending at 11.00 am. The ABSSL anticipates the presence of 5,000 persons from the free passes collected from venues made known in mid-March.
Suitable arrangements have been made to accommodate all pass holders in the main BMICH hall and in Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Halls A and B. Ajahn Brahm will deliver a dhamma talk in the main hall, then another talk followed by a meditation session in Hall A. The focus when he is in Hall B will be answering questions which were already perused and collated. All halls are live–linked enabling persons to see the Thera while listening to him. Ajahn Brahm’s Dhamma talk in the main hall and key elements of questions asked will be supported by summary translation in Sinhala by Ven Damita.
Request: The Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka kindly requests the public to be seated according to passes by 6.45 am on May 30, to enable the smooth commencement and progression of the programme. Participants are advised to wear face masks and bring their drinking water.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
