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National organisations meet Prime Minister
A meeting between national organizations and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, was held on Wednesday, at the Prime Minister’s Office.Venerable Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama, professor R.B. Herath, engineer Keerthi Wickramaratne, specialist Dr. Harris Pathirage, lawyer Madumali Alwis, Primal Fernando, Yasas Dharmadasa, Senaratne de Silva and several other scholars, representing national organizations, participated at this event.
Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara pointed out that “Together with Dinesh Gunawardena, then a MP, we brought the real struggles to life in the past. Today, there are struggles that meet the needs of foreign interests and they are done for money. They cannot be called struggles. Reactionaries, who try to destabilize the country in economic, social, religious and cultural perspectives, are working rapidly, in different ways. In such a situation, on behalf of all the national organizations, we thank you for your commitment to the country by accepting this important position. We believe that you will be able to turn the country in the right direction, based on the mission you have carried forward, on behalf of the nation, for four decades.
“The combination of the President and you becomes a great strength for the country”.
Taking part in the event, Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera said: It is very important for the country that you have been appointed as the Prime Minister since you have committed yourself to protect the national identity of the country, even in and outside of the Parliament. Our organizations have presented a programme for the all-party government that will be implemented in the future. We hope that you will study it and take it forward. Reactionaries are engaged in a grand operation of discrediting progressive characters who voice the needs of the country.”
Expressing his thoughts, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama commented: We reversed some unimaginable laws that were harmful to the country. You were also with us that day, providing a giant strength. No one thought that we would win the case against the Foreign Exchange Act. But we did it that day. We have regained that confidence today. Let’s work with the right decision, together”
Meanwhile, Dr. Wasantha Bandara said “You, to be in the office, as the Prime Minister, is a great strength and a beacon of light for national organizations. You are the only person who can save us if we go into bad situations on this journey. If public trust is directed in the right direction, the struggles will disappear. If they head towards the right path within that programme, we will contribute”.
“You are the only leader who consistently followed a nation-first policy,” Prof. R B Herath said, and assured, “We will support you to implement that policy forward in the correct path”.
Attorney-at-Law Madumali Alwis called for an immediate change in the elections system, which she described as corrupt. “We are aware of your commitment to the principle of electoral reforms. I urge you to use your current exalted position as a weapon for that purpose. The belief in the country, as well as your belief, is that a system of elections that is accountable to the people should be introduced. Furthermore, we call on you to introduce a new income tax formula suitable to our country. Our appeal to you is to lessen the cost of living burden faced by the people,” she said.
Engineer Keerthi Wickramaratne, Yasas Dharmadasa and Primal Fernando also spoke on this occasion.
The Patriotic National Movement, National Scholars Monks Association, 56’ Children Organization, Union of National Organizations, Global Sri Lankan Forum, Professional Engineers Association, Vijayagrahi National Organization, Buddhist- Christian Brotherhood, Patriotic Scholars Association and the Patriotic National Front were among the organizations that participated in the event.
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
