News
China hosts reception for Lankan rescue mission that rushed to aid capsized Chinese fishing ship
On the evening of 06 June, an appreciation reception for the Sri Lanka’s search and rescue mission of the capsized Chinese fishing ship “Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028” was hosted at the Shangri- La Hotel Colombo by Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Qi Zhenhong.About 300 guests, including Sagala Rathnayake, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser on National Security to the President, Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Transport and Highways, Minister of Mass Media and Cospokesperson of Cabinet, Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dewi Gustina Tobing,Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, and all the officers and sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy ship Vijayabahu P627 were present at the reception Ambassador Qi Zhenhong thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe for his
decisive and timely decision to provide full assistance; appreciated the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka, the tri-forces,and all the officers and sailors of Sri Lanka Navy ship Vijayabahu for immediately responding and coming to their aid despite the long distance.
The. Chinese envoy specially paid most sincere appreciation and highest tribute to the nine brave divers, as well as all the countries and agencies involved in the search and rescue operation, for their timely help. “This is not only a joint action to fulfill international obligations,but also a glorious mission to demonstrate the spirit of international humanitarianism.”, said Ambassador Qi, “The Chinese government, the Chinese people and all the families of the crew members of the fishing boat will always remember this special friendship.
” Ambassador Qi stressed that the ruthless sea only highlights the compassion of humanity. “Through this search and rescue operation, we once again feel the fraternal friendship of the government,the people, and the military of Sri Lanka towards China. We also feel deeply that every country and nation belongs to the global village where we share weal and woe. At a time when global risks and challenges keep emerging, solidarity and cooperation is the only right way forward. Let us join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind!”
Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera gave a detailed introduction of the ins and outs of the rescue operation. He reviewed the danger of the diving and said that when the divers tried to enter the crew cabin area, it was just like a turbulence inside a washing machine. The gushing watermade the access impossible. Commander Perera specially mentioned that this mission was very special because of the international joint effort. Sagala Rathnayake, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser on National Security to the President, said that Sri Lanka and China have enjoyed a relationship for a long time with cooperation in fields, including economy and defence. More importantly, China has helped Sri Lanka through many tough times. When it came to the moment to make the decision to carry out the rescue operation, it was not a difficult one.
It was not just the international obligations but also the historic relations and connections between the governments and peoples of Sri Lanka and China that let us make the decision. Nine (09) divers who participated in the salvage operation – Lieutenant Commander S.A.I.A Subhasinghe, Petty Officer K.P.A. Arunajith, Petty Officer E.M.D.A. Ekanayaka, Petty Officer D.D.N. Jayathissa, Leading Seaman H.D. Darshana, Leading Seaman N.M.C.L. Narayana, Able Seaman W.W.N.C. Sandaruwan, Able Seaman I.D.L.M. Dissanayaka, and Able Seaman R.S. Kumarage were invited to the centre of the stage where they were presented with flowers by Chinese diplomats and received tribute by all participants. Before the reception, a minute of silence for the victims of the tragedy was observed and a special video clip presented by the Sri Lankan Navy to introduce the heroic rescue mission was played.
The Chinese fishing boat “Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028” tragically capsized at the central part of the Indian Ocean on May 16, with 39 Chinese, Indonesian and Filipino crew members on board missing. China, together with Sri Lanka, Australia, India, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries had then carried out a joint search and rescue, which covered a total area of nearly 20,000 square nautical miles and the maximum possible drift region of people in distress.Sri Lanka immediately sent Navy ship Vijayabahu and a diving team to the accident site, which was more than 800 nautical miles away. The Sri Lankan divers were the first to dive into the water and enter the hull at the risk of their lives.
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
