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Chinese vessel visiting SL can snoop on South Indian ports, nuclear facilities — India
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN,
Our Special Correspondent
DELHI, July 31: India is worried about the Chinese vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ scheduled to berth at the Hambantota Port next week because its aerial reach is more than 750 km. It can snoop on Indian nuclear power plants in Kalpakkam and Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu.
The ship can track ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Thus, as many as six South Indian ports will be under China’s focus. It can also gather information about vital installations along Southern India.The military and strategic implications of Chinese spy ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are manifold. Therefore, analysts say that the vessel visiting Sri Lanka for a week during August 11-17 will have major consequences for the Indian security architecture.
The ship has a distinct role in missile and satellite tracking and its presence in India’s neighbourhood has serious implications for this country. ‘Yuan Wang 5’ is lethal in its capabilities compared to Chinese submarines that were docked at Colombo port in 2014.
India’s concerns have been conveyed to Colombo in no uncertain terms. The matter is being monitored at the highest levels of the Indian security establishment here.The Indian Ocean Region has been an area of traditional influence for New Delhi and an area where New Delhi has legitimate strategic interests. The Chinese have been trying to make inroads from Myanmar to Eastern Africa.According to some reports, ‘Yuan Wang 5’ is currently sailing “at 19.0 knots”, and headed to Hambantota. But there are unconfirmed reports that Lanka may deny the ship’s entry at the Hambantota Port.
China has a major say in the Hambantota Port area and much of its activities in the area remain under wraps, according to critics. Sri Lanka formally handed over commercial activities, at its main southern port, to China Merchant Port Holdings in 2017, on a 99-year lease, after struggling to repay its debt. This has caused fears over potential use of the port by China for military purposes.
‘Yuan Wang 5’ is also potentially violating innocent passage requirements in territorial seas as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). The vessel, according to experts, has a capability to snoop on a coastal state.
‘Yuan Wang 5’ is the third-generation tracking ship of the Yuan Wang series, and entered service in 2007. Built by Jiangnan Shipyard, ‘Yuan Wang 5’ has a displacement of 25,000 tonnes and can withstand wind scales up to 12.Wang class is not a single class of identical design, but a group of different designs grouped under the same series that share one name.
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
