News
A dream come true for a disabled soldier
By Kandaketiya G Chathuranga
It is more than a decade since the end of the conflict that lasted for over a quarter century. Many sacrificed their lives and some their limbs to save our motherland. Unfortunately, many war heroes are now forgotten.
Against this backdrop, Sergeant J.M.A.S Jayasundara (Ajith Malli) of the 6th Gemunu Battalion, a resident of Imakadura, Meegahakiula Aravapara, who lost both his legs during a LTTE attack in 2008 was recently the happy recipient of a brand-new house.
The house was donated by Sanjeewa Jayaweera in memory of his brother Rajeewa Jayaweera who passed away under tragic circumstances nearly two years ago.
The house was built under the coordination of the Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust Chairperson Lali Kobbekaduwa and the labor contribution was from the Gemunu Watch Regiment.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeewa Jayaweera’s wife Deepthi said: “This house was built to commemorate my husband’s brother Rajeewa. For quite some time we were looking for a deserving person and was fortunate to have met Mrs. Kobbekaduwa who quickly identified the recipient along with the Gemunu Watch Regiment. The Commanding Officer of the Regimental Headquarters Battalion, The Gemunu Watch Lieutenant Colonel Sanjeewa Samaranayake and other officers made a great contribution towards the construction of the house. We sincerely thank all who were involved from the commencement of the project to the handover of the house in a very short period to this war hero.”
She also said: “It was because of the efforts of our brave soldiers that we were able to end the war that lasted for nearly three decades. Many lost their lives as well as some their hands, feet, and eyes. In such a scenario, we consider it a great privilege to have built a house for a young man who was grievously injured and make his dream of owning a home come true.”
Sergeant Jayasundara said: “Today is a very special day for me. It has been a very frustrating time for me. I lost both my legs during the humanitarian operation in Mannar. For years since then, I have suffered mentally as well as physically. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Sanjeewa, who built a house for me when I was homeless, and to the Chairperson of the Lieutenant General Kobbekaduwa Foundation and all those who contributed to the construction of this house, including the Commanding Officer Regimental Headquarters Battalion of the Gemunu Watch.”
At the end of the ceremony, Sanjeewa Jayaweera also presented gifts to those from the Gemunu Watch who were involved in the construction of the house.
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
