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Australia and FAO partner to improve the nutrition status of families affected by COVID-19 pandemic
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) with the backing of Australia is providing vegetable seed packs to around 46,000 vulnerable families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. This is to enable selected families across the country to improve their nutritional status by establishing home gardens and urban agricultural systems. This is made possible with funding of USD 100,000 from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as part of Australia’s support for Sri Lanka’s response to, and recovery from, the impacts of COVID-19, Australia HC and FAO said in a joint statement issued yesterday
“Food systems globally are under pressure as a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting vulnerable households in almost every country. Australia recognises the importance of food security and is pleased to provide support for agricultural home gardens and urban agriculture systems to communities in Sri Lanka, in partnership with FAO” stated Second Secretary, Australian High Commission Danielle Cashen.
The seed packs distributed through the programme contain a variety of nutrient-rich vegetable crops that can help combat micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, vitamin A and folic acid deficiencies, which are prevalent in Sri Lanka. Families with pregnant and lactating mothers, infants, children, adolescents and senior citizens are prioritized in the seed distributions rolled-out by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health. The programme also received the support of the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the Scaling-up Nutrition People’s Forum.
“Job losses, declining incomes and other setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have made food, particularly nutritious food, less affordable for some, especially the poor,” said FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan. “The distribution of seeds and knowledge to establish home gardens will assist more families to access safe and nutritious food as well as create avenues for income generation. It will also augment the home-gardening programme initiated by the government.”
“The generous contribution by the Government of Australia has enabled a holistic response from the UN in Sri Lanka to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its socioeconomic impact on communities. We know that vaccines alone cannot win the fight against the pandemic. Food and nutrition should be an integral part of COVID-19 response and recovery in Sri Lanka where malnutrition continues to be a serious problem, especially among children under five, young girls and women of reproductive age,” reiterated UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy.
FAO also facilitated a series of training of trainers sessions to promote nutrition-sensitive agricultural home gardens, Food Based Dietary Guidelines, healthy cooking and eating habits to drive public awareness and behavior change. The sessions conducted by the Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Health and the Dieticians Association of Sri Lanka, were mainly for Midwives, Agricultural Instructors and Civil Society Organizations such as Mother Support Groups to educate and mobilize them to train beneficiary families. Agricultural Instructors have been mobilized through the Provincial Departments of Agriculture to provide technical knowhow from planning a home garden, to cultivation and harvesting.
DFAT and FAO are supporting the Government of Sri Lanka by contributing to a coordinated approach across multiple sectors to ensure nutritious food for the most vulnerable populations, both during and after the pandemic.
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
