News
A story to tell
By Somasundaram Skandakumar
In February 2017, my team and I at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Australia was informed that then-Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe had been invited to deliver the keynote address and accept an honorary doctorate at the Deakin Law School graduation. We immediately communicated the news to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and inquired if the trip could be made into an official state visit – after all, that year marked the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Sri Lanka, and it was over 60 years since a Sri Lankan PM had made an official state visit to Australia. The request was well received, and the dates were fixed for February.
Earlier, the High Commission learnt that Sri Lanka Cricket had confirmed a brief tour to Australia for a three-match T-20 series in February 2017. It is a richly preserved tradition in Australia for the PM to host foreign teams on a full tour at the Manuka Oval in Canberra to an invitation game against the Prime Minister’s XI (up-and-coming grade cricketers across the states). We were delighted that Cricket Australia and the PM’s office agreed to host our national team in the spirit of commemorating the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations despite it not being a full tour.
Seeing both PMs, together with His Excellency the Governor General and Lady Cosgrove, observe the toss at the aforementioned invitation game on 15 February was a moment carved into the history of the relations between our two countries.
These fortunate coincidences heralded auspiciously our 70th anniversary, and before a packed Parliament House, PMs Turnbull and Wickremasinghe toasted the relationship as one built on “mutual respect and trust”. A blood donation programme was organized in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross Society for Canberra’s Sri Lankan community to commemorate the anniversary on 29 April. Moreover, at the Parliament of Australia, the 150th anniversary of our tea industry was celebrated with members attending from both houses.
The 70th Anniversary was also marked by the first-ever State visit by a President of Sri Lanka, just three months after the PM’s. For Australia to host a Prime Minister and a President of a country within such a short space of time was almost unprecedented in their history of foreign relations.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made reciprocal visits to Sri Lanka later that year. The visit led to the signing of meaningful agreements of mutual interest, including assistance for dengue control, a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, cooperation to counter human trafficking, prevention of chronic kidney diseases, mineral mapping of Sri Lanka and sports development. The recommencement of Sri Lankan Airlines direct flights to Melbourne after two years of lobbying by the High Commission was another significant achievement that increased exponentially the number of Australian tourist arrivals.
Unfortunately, the end of my tenure was marred by the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter Bombings which shattered dreams and destroyed lives back at home. The Australians understood our grief and empathized with us as our own kin. The first to sign the book of condolence at the High Commission was the Governor General himself who arrived at the Mission that very afternoon. A community farewell for me scheduled for that evening was converted to a multi-faith service at the famous Saint Christopher’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. Notwithstanding the short notice, the Governor General graced that event as well. As I accompanied His Excellency down the aisle to the front pew in a Church packed to capacity, the congregation at the solemn event appreciated the depth of the relationship between our two countries.
On April 30, 2019, my final day in office, I met with my wonderful staff for one last time. After singing the National Anthem at 9am (as was customary) I was deeply touched by the unexpected arrival of the Head of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara to bestow a final blessing before I left for the airport.
As the connecting flight from Canberra to Melbourne took to the skies, I looked at the vast expanse of land beneath, and reflected on the generous hearts and minds I left behind. The memories I accumulated during my term in Australia will be cherished for a lifetime!
Somasundaram Skandakumar was Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia from 2015-2019.
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
