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Another batch of Indian Oil’s women executives visit Lanka
Under the ‘Aarohi’ (to ascend) initiative of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), another group of identified middle management level women executives visited Sri Lanka last week. Aarohi is a pioneering effort and Indian Oil’s Commitment to develop unique strengths in senior women executives aimed toward their all-round development and enhancing their leadership quality, so that they can ascend into significant leadership roles and contribute to the organisation through performance excellence.
This year the batch of Aarohi 5.0 consisting of 10 Women Officials from IOCL visited Sri Lanka with the purpose of understanding the operations of Lanka IOC and interacting with Team LIOC which has been relentlessly pursuing the objective of meeting the energy needs of the beautiful Island nation under any circumstances.
It is pertinent to mention that recently in the month of November 2022, another batch of 14 women executives had visited Sri Lanka under Aarohi 4.0 program and had an enriching experience throughout their visit. During their six day–visit, the group travelled across the length and breadth of the country including visit to Trincomalee Terminal facilities. At Trincomalee terminal, the group visited various facilities including Lower and Upper Tanks Farms, Oil Jetty, Lube Blending and Grease Manufacturing Plant which also involved fruitful interactions with terminal employees of LIOC with visitors displaying plenty of inquisitiveness and enthusiasm. A Harbor trip was also arranged to witness the harbor mount and other facilities at the harbor.
All latest developments, the strategic steps being taken and way forward towards business excellence were shared with the group. An Industrial visit was organised at Army School of Logistics (ASL), Clappenburg, Trincomalee with the kind assistance of Sri Lankan Army, wherein the participants were briefed on the various modalities and importance of Logistics in the smooth functioning of National Safety and Security.
The Aarohi team also visited LIOC›s Head office at Colombo and had a lively interaction with all HO employees. The interaction was mutually beneficial as the LIOC employees also gained valuable insight into various new initiatives being undertaken by Indian Oil Corporation in India specially pertaining to female employees. The vibrant interaction has opens new channel of communication between IOCL and LIOC employees which is likely to be beneficial for both the organisations through better exchange of ideas and best practices.
The visiting group also had the pleasure of meeting the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay, who warmly welcomed the entire group and shared with them the several positive strategic initiatives that Government of India has undertaken and intends to undertake with an aim to strengthen the socio-political relationship between India and Sri Lanka. His Excellency also appreciated the IOCL›s unique initiative to organise a visit of the women officials to Sri Lanka which is a sign of further strengthening the mutual admiration between the two countries.
Aarohi team was enthralled by the fascinating landscapes unfolding the mesmerising natural beauty of the Island nation as they visited Tooth Relic temple, Sigiriya Rock, Gangaramaya temple, Lotus tower, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Independence Square, Trincomalee Deer park apart from several other prominent locations enroute their travel destinations.
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
