News
TN Assembly adopts resolution urging Centre to send assistance to Lanka
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to positively consider the request of the Tamil Nadu government immediately to send food and other essential commodities, including life saving medicines from Tamil Nadu to the people of Sri Lanka, who are facing severe hardships, due to the economic crisis here, said a news report published online by The Hindu.
The Hindu report filed from Chennai said: Though the Tamil Nadu government addressed the Union government to permit the State Government to send essential commodities, including rice, pulses and milk products and life saving medicines to the people of Sri Lanka, “so far no clear reply has been received from the Government of India” in this regard, the resolution read. All political parties represented in the House, including the BJP, supported the resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to send 40,000 tonne of rice valued at ?80 crore, 137 medicines valued at 2 I crore2 and 500 tonne of milk powder meant for children valued at ?15 crore for the people of Sri Lanka. “These could not be sent directly but only through the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka,” the chief minister pointed out and recalled his meetings with the Prime Minister and communicationd with Union External Affairs Minister in this regard.
Elaborating on the hardships being experienced by people in Sri Lanka, Mr. Stalin contended: “We cannot view this as a problem in a neighbouring country. We cannot see who is in power there and what kind of people they are. We have to extend our help to the extent possible.” Though he initially wanted to help Tamils living in Sri Lanka, Tamils in the neighbouring island urged the CM against sending help only for Tamils in Sri Lanka (and excluding the Sinhalese), he said.
Quoting from the Thirukkural — ‘As hand of him whose vesture slips away, friendship at once the coming grief will stay’ (Couplet 788), Stalin contended that help on humanitarian grounds was to be extended while they were in need. “The people of Tamil Nadu are expecting the same.”
Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Congress legislator K. Selvaperunthagai (Sriperumbudur), PMK’s G.K. Mani (Pennagaram), BJP’s Nainar Nagenthran (Tirunelveli), VCK’s J. Mohamed Shanavas (Nagapattinam), CPM’s V.P. Nagaimaali (Kilvelur), CPI’s K. Marimuthu (Tiruthuraipoondi), Vasudevanallur MLA T. Sathan Thirumalai Kumar, Papanasam MLA M.H. Jawahirullah, Thiruchengodu MLA E.R. Eswaran, Panruti MLA T. Velmurugan and K.V. Kuppam MLA M. Jagan Moorthy spoke in support of the resolution.
Following a voice vote, Speaker M. Appavu declared that the resolution was adopted unanimously.
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
