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Dilmah Ecovation Awards Empowers Eco-innovators
Despite COVID-19 hitting economies hard this year, the Global Innovation Index 2021 illustrates a boom in innovation around the world. This goes to show that ideas are crucial for overcoming the economic challenges of post-pandemic economic growth. Therefore, Ecovation Awards, inaugurated in 2019 to create an innovation culture and empower Sri Lankan eco innovators, couldn’t have resumed its second edition at a better time.
Dilmah Tea, CEO, Dilhan C. Fernando said, “”Ecovation seeks to encourage practical or scientific innovation from youth, women and men in academia or any field, in designing creative and impactful solutions to our most urgent ecological issues. Our schools and universities have an abundance of brilliant ideas and our hope is that we can deliver recognition, support the creative innovators with mentorship to refine the idea into an actionable plan, and initiate collaboration that will deliver positive impact on our environment while benefiting the innovator.”
Having received an overwhelming number of applicants, this year, 16 eco innovators have qualified to the next round. The shortlisted contestants (A to Z) are Anupama Kulasinghe, Banuri Gammanpila, Couleur(group), Danushka Jayasooriya, Food for All (group), Gamini Alexander, Hesith Rajakaruna, Keshala Amarasena, Manjula Jayampathy, Prof. R. U. Halwatura and Himahansi Galkanda, Ransirige Dhammika, Sandani Wijenayake, Selvarajah Thevakumar and team, Sudhara Suneth,Sujatha Weerasinghe & team and Tharaka Weddagala.
Sustainability, cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and practicality are what the shortlisted innovations have in common. The 16 eco-innovators are hopeful that their eco-innovations will contribute to waste management, resource efficiency, and sustainable packaging – the key focus areas at this year’s awards.
Making up the judge panel are Prof. Ajith de Alwis, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Moratuwa; Prof. Ilmi Hewajulige, Additional Director General, R&D, ITI; Mr. Jeevan Gnanam, Group CEO of Saks Global; Ms. Pathma Abeykoon, Director, Operational Focal Point Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment; Ms. Savera Weerasinghe, Founder of Ananta Sustainables; and Ms. Shiranee Yasarathne, Advisor, Biodiversity Sri Lanka.
Innovation requires collaboration across a wide range of constituencies including corporate leaders, start-up entrepreneurs, university leaders, faculty members, and students, investors, and public officials.
“Ecovation is not about innovation in a silo, it is about supporting and scaling social enterprises that can contribute to a sustainable and robust ecosystem of products and services that can make our daily consumption a little more conscious; a little more impactful.”, said Ms. Savera Weerasinghe.
Therefore, moving forward in the competition, the top 16 will be privy to one-on-one Mentor-mentee Sessions with our Ecovation judges. The constructive criticism and insights contestants receive during the Mentor-mentee Sessions will help contestants improve their innovation in time for the finale. Ecovation Awards’ aim is not only to select the best eco-innovations but also to nurture eco-innovators and empower them to take their innovations to market while safeguarding their intellectual property rights.
The tea brand is no stranger to innovation. “Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando was the original disruptor, the first tea grower to break out of the colonial economic model and offer his tea direct to customers around the world. He built Dilmah on a Foundation of Taste, Goodness and Purpose. We want to support the many women and men who have the same dream, unique perspective and commitment to do good for the environment.”, said Dilhan C Fernando.
Some of the tea company’s noteworthy innovations are Dilmah’s Seasonal Flush Tea, School of Tea, and Tea Gastronomy Programme. The brand is also one of the first, to have introduced value-added tea products with flavoured teas, infusions, iced tea, and real tea cordials.
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
