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South Asian monsoon becoming increasingly unpredictable, catastrophic: experts
File photo of residents walk along a flooded road in Piliyandala in 2010
Calamitous impact of summer monsoon in Lanka marked by flooding and drought is topic of concern
Monsoon season is becoming increasingly unpredictable and catastrophic despite its significance for South Asia, speakers at a webinar said on Sunday, The Dawn reported yesterday.
The Dawn report filed from Islamabad said: International experts and scientists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan participated in an online seminar on the ‘Impacts of Climate Change on South Asian Monsoon’, organised by the Comsats Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS).
They discussed the variability of the monsoon and its relationship with the changing global climate system, as well as the adverse effects of climate-mediated changes on South Asia.
Speakers argued that global warming is causing extreme precipitation and extreme climate events such as drought, with dire consequences for the agriculture-based economy of the region and the livelihoods of farming communities.
CCCS founder and head, retired ambassador Shahid A. Kamal, opened the webinar.
He said the monsoon was considered one of the world’s most important weather systems, adding that it was imperative for reliable monsoon forecasting to understand the changing water patterns in South Asia.
Other speakers included Dhaka University Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Ismail, Tribhuvan University Associate Professor Dr Madan Sigdel, deputy director atthe Pakistan Meteorological Department Dr Zaheer Ahmad Babar, Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology Director Anusha Rashanti Warnasooriya and Thailand National Astronomical Research Institute Senior Researcher Dr Vanisa Surapipith.
The discussion highlighted the gravity of social, economic and environmental implications associated with the abrupt monsoon pattern in South Asia.
Speakers discussed the repercussions of increasing monsoon variability for Nepal as well as disasters caused by extreme weather events, current trends and future projections about shifting patterns of monsoon in various parts of Pakistan, the calamitous impact of summer monsoon in Sri Lanka marked by flooding and drought, the impact of atmospheric aerosols and non-renewable energy resources on precipitation patterns, and the mitigation strategies taken by the government of Bangladesh to curb the fallout from climate change.
Some key recommendations from the webinar included a call for research-backed policy formulation to help mitigate the negative impact of suddenly changing monsoon patterns on the environmental and socioeconomic conditions of the South Asian region.
They also called for the appropriate allocation of resources to strengthen the scientific and technical capacity of South Asian countries and enhanced regional cooperation to promote the sharing of good practices and sustainable solutions to aid adaptation with variable monsoon trends.
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
