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Dr. Melanie Ratnam, first Tamil Canadian woman to be recognized for Canada’s Women’s History Month 2023
Woman and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada recently recognized Dr. Melanie Ratnam as part of Women’s History Month, an annual celebration highlighting the outstanding achievements of Canadian women and girls. Dr. Ratnam is the first Tamil Canadian women to receive this honour. This year’s WAGE theme, “Through Her Lens: Celebrating the Diversity of Women,” acknowledges the contributions of eleven remarkable Canadian women from various backgrounds who are actively shaping the future and fostering inclusivity. Dr. Ratnam’s journey is deeply rooted in Scarborough, where she was raised, continues to reside, and passionately dedicates her work. A proud graduate of the University of Toronto with a Ph.D. in neurobiology, her research focused on the regulation of inflammation by resident immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, following cerebral ischemia.
Dr. Ratnam serves as the President of the UTSC Alumni Association, committing her time to support activities that strengthen the alumni community and deepen their connections with the institution. Her dedication to volunteerism was acknowledged in 2022 when she received the Arbor Award, the University of Toronto’s highest honor for individuals exhibiting exceptional and sustained dedication to the institution.
Dr. Ratnam’s advocacy extends from local schools in Toronto to national organizations. She has mentored over a thousand students, spanning elementary, high school, and university levels, empowering them to tackle contemporary challenges through innovation in science and technology. Her mission to foster change and gender equity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is evident through her role as the President of The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing gender equality and breaking down systemic barriers in STEM for equity groups across Canada.
In the spring of the previous year, Dr. Ratnam actively participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women session. She built on the work of SCWIST’s Policy and Advocacy team and incorporated insights from diverse communities across Canada. These insights were instrumental in shaping gender-responsive policy recommendations. Dr. Ratnam underlines the importance of these conversations, stating, “SCWIST has spoken with women in STEM throughout Canada about the barriers they face, and these conversations have been very influential when outlining gender-responsive policy suggestions.” Her commitment to addressing systemic barriers within STEM is ingrained in SCWIST’s national strategy, encompassing early education through career advancement. This strategy serves aims to improve address known barriers in STEM fields.
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
