News
Army Chief: Areas outside Gampaha, too, at risk
Alleged delay in responding to corona alert under probe
Authorities probing devastating coronavirus eruption at the Brandix apparel factory are inquiring into the alleged delay on the part of the Minuwangoda MOH Office to respond after Brandix in late September brought to its notice an unusual number of workers falling sick.
The Island
learns that the delay was partly due to the transfer of the MoH shortly before the coronavirus eruption. However, MoH Dompe had been directed to oversee Minuwangoda, in addition to those already assigned for duties at Minuwangoda.
Sources said that all aspects were being inquired into including possible oversights. It was a collective failure on the part of the local apparatus rather than an individual, they added.
However, they hadn’t been able to find out how a coronavirus eruption took place at the Brandix facility, sources said.
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera told the media early this week that it would be a very difficult task to identify who had got infected first among the Brandix workers.
The number of infections could be several thousand although approximately 1,100 persons had tested positive so far, vast majority of them Brandix employees. Police headquarters said that the person who supplied food to the Minuwangoda police station, too, had tested positive. The police identified his son as a Brandix worker. Later, nearly 100 officers and men attached to Minuwangoda police had been subjected to RT PCR tests while services were suspended, temporarily.
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva appearing on Derana yesterday morning said that only 48 Sri Lankans working at Brandix facility in India had been brought back although there were reports of 60 returnees. Responding to Derana anchor, Chatura Alwis, the Army Chief, who is also in charge of Covid Task Force, said that all of them had been quarantined at a hotel in Kosgoda and made to undergo to RT -PCR tests. Asked who conducted the tests, Lt. Gen. Silva said that the procedures were followed though he couldn’t respond to that query. Subsequently, Chathura Alwis, having checked with Brandix revealed that tests had been conducted by Durdens Hospital.
The Army Chief said that as detections had been made in many areas outside the Gampaha District, those living in areas outside the high risk region covered by continuing police curfew should be cautious. Those living in areas outside Gampaha too faced serious risk, the Army Chief warned. So far, the curfew covered only the Gampaha District.
On Wednesday night, a person while being moved by the Army to a quarantine facility died of a heart attack.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana told Derana some of those high risk groups were yet to voluntarily submit themselves for RT PCR tests. (SF)
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
