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Lankan Navy takes delivery of Ex-USCGC Douglas Munro
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took the delivery of the Ex-United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Douglas Munro, provided by the United States to SLN, in a ceremony held at the US Coast Guard Base Seattle of Washington in the United States on 26 October. On behalf of Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the event was attended by Chief of Staff of the Navy Rear Admiral Y.N. Jayarathne. As such, the ship formally joined the SLN fleet from 26 October under the pennant number P 627 and the main mast of the ship will fly the national flag effective from the very date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, US Coast Guard has previously provided two ships to SLN, and they are currently patrolling island waters by the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621) and ‘Gajabahu’ (P 626). As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s service, Ex-USCGC Douglas Munro was transferred as the third ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC Douglas Munro, the second ‘Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutter,’ received by the SLN measures 115 metres in length, capable of attaining maximum speed of 29 knots and endurance of 14,000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for 187 of crew and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and machinery. The ship, which was used by the US Coast Guard, has rendered an exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal fishing, illegal immigration and the seizure of over 11.5 tons of cocaine in US waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging operations that include conservation of marine resources in the region, and search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilise this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while making safe and secure seas for all for economic affairs. In the same vein as the SLN’s Samudura (P 621) and Gajabahu (P 626), the Offshore Patrol Vessels received by SLN from the US Coast Guard on previous occasions have been conducting a praiseworthy role for the island nation and have contributed to the seizure of large consignments of drugs being smuggled via sea routes.
Further, as the first line of defence of the island nation, it is mandatory for the navy to be equipped with ships having higher endurance and operational capabilities. As such, acquisition of high endurance vessels to the SLN fleet will enable the country to achieve its maritime security aspirations resourcefully.
The designated SL Navy crew for the ‘EX USCG Douglas Munro’ is expected to undergo training and carry out necessary restoration attached to the US Coast Guard Base Seattle over the next seven months as scheduled and is scheduled to sail home port in 2022.
Thus, the ship’s home journey is to commence in 2022 and the voyage commencing from the Port of Seattle across the Pacific and Indian oceans to Sri Lanka will possibly be the longest ever sea voyage a Sri Lankan naval vessel has ever sailed in SLN history.
Meanwhile, the event at the US Coast Guard Base Seattle which saw the transfer of the Ex-USCGC Douglas Munro to SLN was attended by the Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Y.N. Jayarathne, representing the Sri Lanka Navy. As the USCG host, 13th District Commander Rear Admiral Melvin W. Bouboulis was present on the occasion.
Besides, the Adjutant General for the State of Montana Major General John P. Hronek II, Senior Assistant Secretary (Defense-III) Chinthaka Abeykoon, Deputy Director Naval Projects and Plans Captain Nimal Ranasinghe, Commanding Officer Designee P-627 Captain Lanka Dissanayake, Commanding Officer Base Seattle Captain Ibrahim M. Khalil official from the officials of the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka and officials from the State Department of United States were also present on this occasion.
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
