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Lankan HC in New Delhi launches Sinhala translation of Jairam Ramesh’s The Light of Asia
The Sinhala translation of renowned Indian author Jairam Ramesh’s book The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha, Budusiritha Lowata Genagiya Maha Kavyaya; Asiyawe Alokaya, published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka- India diplomatic relations was presented to its author and the Maha Sangha at the Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi on Saturday (4).
The Sinhala translation, published by the Pathfinder Foundation, was presented to the author of the original work, Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Maha Sangha led by the General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society of India Venerable Pelawatte Seewalee Nayaka Thero, by the translator Niluka Kadurugamuwa.
The Light of Asia ; the poem that defined the Buddha is a work of deep scholarship based on extensive research and serves as a biography of both the epic poem The Light of Asia and its author Sir Edwin Arnold. The book describes how the poem The Light of Asia, which is based on the life of the Buddha, captivated and inspired many iconic personalities both in India and Sri Lanka. The book is also a testimony to the strong relations between Sri Lanka and India, reinforced by the pillar of Buddhism.
The solemn event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda, followed by the rendering of the National Anthem. A special feature of the event was that the National Anthem of Sri Lanka was sung by staff members of the High Commission, including six Indian nationals.
High Commissioner Moragoda also garlanded the bronze bust of Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka, the first Representative of Sri Lanka to India, which was installed in the High Commission premises last November to mark the 80th anniversary of Sri Lanka sending her first diplomatic representative to India.
Multi religious observances, representing four major religions in Sri Lanka were conducted and Independence Day messages by the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were read in all three languages at the ceremony.
At the end of the ceremony, President of Indo-Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association in Sarnath, Varanasi Venerable Dr. K. Siri Sumedha Thero, on behalf of the Buddhist societies, temples, monasteries, and institutions situated in sacred Buddhist sites in India and the Sri Lankan Dharmaduta monks presented a memento to High Commissioner Moragoda marking the 75th anniversary of Independence.
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
