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Automakers wait and watch as crisis worsens
Top executives at Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor and Mahindra Finance which have operations in Sri Lanka said it’s a challenging environment to do business but they remain committed to the Sri Lankan market, and are hoping that the situation will improve over the next 3-4 months, Times of India reported.
Experts said some companies may mull de-scaling operations or even pull out of the country if the situation doesn’t improve in the near to medium term.
The distributors said there has been a reduction in per day production as the political and economic crisis escalated in the country.
They said the ground situation is very different.
“We have to fend for ourselves and get foreign exchange to import kits and keep assembly lines running,” said Nalin Welgama,Executive Chairman of Ideal Group, a leading automobile dealer.
Import of vehicle kits is currently heavily restricted in Sri Lanka owing to the foreign currency shortage. Industry executives said that shipment of vehicle kits, including those of light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses, has declined sharply, as the country grapples with precariously low forex reserves and fuel shortage.
While Tata Motors has been exporting vehicle kits to distributors in Sri Lanka, others such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and TVS Motor have local assembly operations in the country.
“We have to go with the flow,” said Rakesh Sharma, executive director of Bajaj Auto.
“TVS, through its partnership with TVS Lanka, remains committed to the potential of the Sri Lankan market. While the current situation presents challenges, we are hopeful that they will be overcome,” said Rahul Nayak, vice president, international business, TVS Motor Company. “In the meantime we are committed to taking care of our existing customers with service and spare parts.”
Ramesh Iyer, vice chairman of Mahindra Finance, said the company is monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautions. “The situation in Sri Lanka has led to a natural slowdown in business operations. Our commitment to the Sri Lanka market is for the long term and we are hopeful that the situation will improve soon, he said.
People in the know said that with the collapse of the administration, there is very little financing activity at the NBFCs and most are instead giving loans against gold.
A spokesperson for Tata Motors said the company is hopeful that the country recovers from the crisis soon. The company sells a wide range of products in Sri Lanka–from the 750-kg Ace to the 45-tonne Prima trucks.
In January this year, the Sri Lankan government had approved the purchase of 500 buses from Ashok Leyland for its transport board. In August 2019, Mahindra & Mahindra had set up assembly operations in Sri Lanka with the Ideal Group to produce the KUV 100 mini sport utility vehicle (SUV) and Bolero Maxi pickup truck.
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
