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Facebook helps Sri Lankan small businesses benefit from the power of digital tools
COLOMBO, June 3 -Facebook has successfully completed the first two phases of the Digital Saubhagya program in Sri Lanka. It was implemented in collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka, civil society organizations, and various trade bodies to help small businesses recover and transform.
Small businesses are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, accounting for more than 75 percent of all enterprises. These businesses were heavily impacted during the pandemic and many have moved online to continue their business growth.
The #DigitalSaubhagya program commenced in March, prior to the Sinhala & Tamil New Year season in the country. More than 1,500 small and medium businesses from 15 districts received training on how to open business pages to engage with customers. Online sessions were conducted in both Sinhala and Tamil to raise awareness about the best social media practices for business. An informative story was published in newspapers to empower small businesses with guidance on how to build effective online presence.
A Facebook Live event was organized to showcase local entrepreneurs and highlight how they are adapting to the pandemic and transforming their businesses digitally. Influencer and activist, Stephanie Siriwardhana moderated the conversation with the founders of ZigZag and Saaraketha Organics, two leading local entrepreneurs. Mustafa Kassim, founder and CEO of Roar Digital, Facebook’s reseller partner, also shared his insights.
Jordi Fornies, Director of Emerging Markets at Facebook, APAC participated and discussed Facebook’s initiatives to inform and empower local entrepreneurs. He said “Facebook is committed to provide ongoing training to support small businesses in Sri Lanka. Through our Digital Saubhagya campaign, we have tried to build awareness at the grassroots level. We have partnered with local organizations to bring more micro and rural entrepreneurs online so they can also benefit from digital tools, especially during these difficult times.”
The program also developed case studies on how small and medium businesses are using digital platforms effectively. It highlights the importance of digital reach in the new operating environment that the COVID-19 pandemic has created. These case studies include the journeys of Selyn and Olai, which are engaging with communities in different regions of the country.
A webinar was hosted and moderated by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, with the support of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), which included panelists from Facebook, ICTA, and Selyn. It was also attended by Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Development, Business Development and Underutilized State Resources Development. The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka was represented by its Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura De Alwis. The panel discussed the role of digital platforms and the importance of supporting small businesses so they can survive and thrive despite the pandemic.
Facebook also engaged a local digital developer to create an AR effect for Facebook and Instagram so people can celebrate Avurudu in the safety of their homes.
#DigitalSaubhagya will re-commence for its phase 3 and continue to support small businesses in Sri Lanka through 2021. (Issued by MSL Sri Lanka on behalf of Facebook)
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
