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Hirdaramani Apparel, Lacoste Foundation, and UNDP collaborate to empower 100 families with increased income and nutrition supply
Hirdaramani Apparel and the Lacoste Foundation have come together through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka’s facility for Private Sector Giving to promote socio-economic recovery and food security and address its multidimensional vulnerabilities.
To signify the partnership, Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman, Hirdaramani Apparel, and Azusa Kubota – Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, engaged in a symbolic exchange of letters. Fadhil Bakeer Markar – Strategic Engagement, Digital, and Innovation Team Leader, UNDP in Sri Lanka, Buddika Hapuarachchi – Team Leader, Climate and Environment, UNDP in Sri Lanka, Damith Chandrasekara – Technical Specialist, Climate Smart Programme, UNDP in Sri Lanka and Imanthi Perera, General Manager – Corporate Communications, Hirdaramani Apparel were also in attendance for the occasion.
Speaking on the partnership, Azusa Kubota – Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka noted, “Towards achieving inclusive growth and building broad-based resilience in communities, UNDP gives utmost importance to working directly with vulnerable communities and families. In order to do so, we must work with multiple partners. Therefore, we deeply appreciate the valuable partnership with Hirdaramani Apparel and Lacoste Foundation to expand on the work spearheaded by the UNDP Private Sector Giving Facility, with a focus on economic empowerment of women for sustainable futures.”
The grants for Integrated Backyard Poultry and Market Development will support over 100 families through the integration of free-range backyard poultry (country birds) farming with commercial fruit and vegetables, helping increase income and nutrition supply for the beneficiaries. The initiative will additionally play a key role in creating market linkages and access to eco-friendly fruits and vegetables on a regular basis for 500+ community members.
Commenting on the partnership, Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman, Hirdaramani Apparel stated, “Uplifting the lives of communities across our footprint is a commitment that we have always taken to heart. The collaboration between the Lacoste Foundation and Hirdaramani is built on shared values, enabling us to invest in strengthening community livelihoods and enhancing overall quality of life. We are happy to have the support of the UNDP for this endeavour, and we will continue to collaborate with like-minded partners to ensure that every touchpoint across our communities experiences a change for the better through the way we conduct our business.”
The initiative is well-aligned with the core values of the Lacoste Foundation and Hirdaramani Apparel, in aspiring to improve the living conditions of local communities under the focus areas of Education, Environment, and Health. The beneficiaries of the project will be communities residing in two remote villages based in Vavuniya Town and Vavuniya South DS divisions and is in close proximity to Hirdaramani’s manufacturing operations in the area.
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
