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CBK lambastes politicians for playing ethnic card for expediency
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaiake has alleged that a section of the politicians continued to play the ethnic card for political gain.
“The majority of people don’t want to have another conflict. But politicians can’t resist using the ethnic card,” Mrs. Kumaratunga told a gathering of clergy at an international conference organized by Religions for Peace International, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace (SLCRP), recently.
The former President insisted that the Sri Lankan people were not racist but they are provoked by politicians. She said public opinion had turned favourable for a political solution from 23% to 68% during her presidency in a matter of two years due to a combination of leadership and education for the younger generations.
The High-Level Forum on Increased Advocacy, Community Engagement and Learning on Positive Behaviour Outcomes for Children, Families and Communities was chaired by Associate Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, Deepika Singh. She explained how Religions for Peace had been guided by a vision of a world where faith communities cooperate effectively for peace since its formation in 1970. Working alongside religious leaders and their institutions and communities, and in partnership with other sectors of society, the organisation addresses critical challenges, ranging from violent conflict to gender inequality from environmental degradation to assaults on freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief and is today present in over 95 countries.
Secretary General of Religions for Peace Asia Rev. Dr. Yoshinori Shinohara said they had convened the meeting in Sri Lanka to strengthen the Sri Lanka branch of Religions for Peace for increased collaboration and common action with the government and other stakeholders under the Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities (FPCC) initiative.
The activities and methodologies under this initiative was spelled out by Jimmy Obuya, FPCC Global Coordinator, Religions for Peace International and Prof. Pablito Baybado, Jr., FPCC Regional Coordinator, Religions for Peace Asia.
After being welcomed by Ven. Senior Prof. Medawachchiye Dhammajothi, Secretary, Sri Lankan Council of Religions for Peace and Christobel Saverimuttu, Treasurer of SLCRP, a panel discussion took place in which four religious leaders, representing the four main religions, were speakers. Ven. Dr. Madampagama Assaji Thera, Head of the Interfaith Section, International Buddhist Confederation, spoke on the recent breakthrough in dialogue between members of the Buddhist clergy and Tamil Diaspora.
This was followed by brief interventions by Swami Gunatitananda Saraswati, Head of Chinmaya Mission, Ash Sheikh Arkam Nooramith Moulavi, General Secretary, All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ullama, and Rev. Fr Rohan Silva, Executive Director, Centre for Society & Religion.
A highlight of the event was the presentation by Janithu Hettiarachchi and reading of the draft statement by Nethaaya Perera on behalf of the Youth Wing of the Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace (SLCRP). The statement called for “Promoting and protecting child rights, wellbeing and development through continued collaboration among faith communities and other stakeholders including the Government of Sri Lanka, UNICEF and other Faith-based Organisations working for children.”
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
