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China believes current predicament faced by Sri Lanka is only temporary
China firmly believes that the current predicament Sri Lanka is facing is only temporary; the tenacious and wise Sri Lankan people will surely rise to the challenge, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong has said in a statement.He has said that he is certain that Sri Lanka will be able to turn crisis into opportunity, and enter a new phase of development.
“As an island nation rich in agricultural resources, Sri Lanka had basically achieved self-sufficiency in rice production. However, due to the global food crisis, domestic foreign exchange shortage and fertilizer ban, etc., Sri Lanka is now facing a food shortage. According to WFP Sri Lanka: Situation Report issued on July 15, 2022, 6.3 million people were found to be food insecure (28.3% of the entire population), out of which at least 65,600 are severely food insecure. Skyrocketing food costs have resulted in diminished purchasing power. About 6.7 million people are not consuming adequate diets and 5.3 million are reducing the number of everyday meals,” he said.
Zhenhong said China pays close attention to Sri Lanka’s food security issues and has offered full support. Earlier this year, the Chinese government decided to provide RMB 500 million (approximately USD 76 million) of emergency humanitarian assistance, which includes 10,000 metric tons of rice for 1.1 million children in 7900 schools covering 9 provinces across the island under the School Meal Program, which will last for 6 months. Five batches of rice totaling 4,000 metric tons have arrived by now. Meanwhile, the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Yunnan Province, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, the Red Cross Society of China, etc. have donated tens of thousands of food packages to the Sri Lankan people of all ethnic groups.
“China will continue to offer support within its capabilities. China firmly believes that the current predicament Sri Lanka is facing is only temporary; the tenacious and wise Sri Lankan people will surely rise to the challenge, turn challenge into motivation, turn crisis into opportunity, and enable the country to enter a new phase of development,” he said.
He said that food security issues are not unique to Sri Lanka and according to the report of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022, 828 million people in 2021 were affected by hunger, an increase of 46 million and 150 million compared with 2020 and 2019 respectively.
“No country can stay away from this worldwide crisis, which could be overcome only through cooperative efforts. Proposing the above-mentioned initiative is a practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind, offering a Chinese approach to the current difficulties. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all parties and make due contributions to maintaining global food security,” he said.
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
