News
British HC reminds Lankan professionals who leave country due to crisis of their responsibility to return
… stresses the need for freedom of choice
British High Commissioner in Colombo Andrew Patrick said that he expected those leaving Sri Lanka due to the ongoing crisis situation to return eventually. The top UK diplomat called it a big crisis.
HC Patrick said so at the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) graduation ceremony held at the BMICH on Wednesday (17).
Referring to the developing political-economic-social crisis, the High Commissioner who has been posted to Colombo since last August pointed out the real possibility in some of the marketing graduates seeking opportunities overseas. Patrick succeeded Sarah Hulton. Having declared that CIM qualification a worldwide passport, he stressed the responsibility on their part to return home where they could contribute to the local economy.
At the onset of his brief remarks, the former Ambassador to Burma (2013-2018) stressed the importance and value of the relationship between the UK and Sri Lanka in the education field. Patrick said that he was very sad to hear some of those whom he talked to wouldn’t want to come back.
Among those present were Chris Daly, Chief Executive, CIM, since 2016, and Maggie Jones, Director Qualifications and Partnership, CIM which has maintained a formal presence here for over two decades.
Having explained the difficult tasks he faced in Colombo as the UK’s top envoy, a smiling HC Patrick asserted that his performance could be judged at the end of his three-year term.
The HC reiterated their stand on open societies in which principles of association and access to information are among the matters promoted and encouraged. The HC made reference to access to information as well as disinformation. Patrick stressed that the UK advocated open societies and democracy. It was meant to ensure free flow of information, the HC said. “It is about individuals being able to make choices on how they want to live their lives and who their government is and of course the crucial part of that is them having access to information to decide about buying some product or voting for a candidate.
Patrick said: “As a diplomat, I have to do some amateur marketing much of the time. I’m probably doing a lot of things wrong. My job is two-fold. One is to try to make sure, at a minimum, the country I’m in understands what the UK thinks about big issues, that they are not going to make a mistake and make a decision and be surprised how the UK reacts.”
“There is another, more difficult part when you try to persuade the country that you are in that the way you think of something is the right way and it is in their interest to think the same way. “You have to judge in three years’ time whether I got the second task right or wrong.”
In her welcome address, Onalie Dissanayake, Country Head (Sri Lanka and the Maldives) recalled the difficulties experienced by all during 2023. Dissanayake referred to continuing economic uncertainty, shifting inflation and political instability at global level have contributed to the developing crisis. She said marketers could use this opportunity to prove and underscore their importance (SF)
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
