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Buddhist delegation praises Pakistan for its commitment to preserving Buddhist heritage
Maj. Gen. (R) Saad Khattak meets the delegation on its arrival in Colombo (pic courtesy Pakistan HC)
The Chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple Ven Dr. Assaji Thera said that Pakistani authorities were keen on the views expressed by a delegation of Buddhist monks during a recent visit to Pakistan. The Ven Thera said so on his return to Colombo on Monday (26).
The following is the text of a statement issued by the Pakistan High Commission yesterday: “The Most Venerable Buddhist Monks delegation on a goodwill visit to Pakistan from 19-26th April, 2021 returned to Colombo on Monday 26th April and were received by the High Commissioner of Pakistan Major General (R) Muhammad Saad Khattak along with other senior officers of its High Commission in Colombo at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
While welcoming the Most Venerable Monks on their return, the High Commissioner Maj. Gen. (R) Saad Khattak said that the highly successful tour was organized by the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo and was the culmination of ongoing efforts for enhancing people-to-people contacts and Buddhist religious tourism between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner expressed his gratitude to the Most Venerable Monks for undertaking the tour and the Government of Sri Lanka for facilitating the same. He also appreciated the role and efforts of the security forces, the National Heritage & Culture Division and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad for conducting the visit in the most befitting manner. He underscored that the meetings of the Monks with the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan reflected the strong bilateral relations and deep commitment of the leadership and people of Pakistan towards Sri Lanka.
On behalf of the delegation, the Venerable Dr. Assaji Thera, Chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and for the personal involvement of the High Commissioner of Pakistan in extending immense support in arranging the tour, which provided an invaluable opportunity to visit and experience the glorious Buddhist heritage and relics in Pakistan. He highlighted that the Pakistani authorities and officials gave top priority to their comfort and safety during their stay and were also keen on their views and recommendations on improving facilities for Buddhist pilgrims in the country.
The accompanying coordinating official from the Sri Lankan side, Dr. Asela Wickrmasinghe, highlighted Pakistan Government’s vision to develop Buddhist tourism between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to which end the visit of a group of 11 senior Buddhist monks was organized by the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo in order to explore the Buddhist heritage in Pakistan. He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the High Commission for this initiative and for the wonderful and enthusiastic hospitality of the Pakistani people towards Sri Lankans during their visit. He further highlighted that they were able to witness first-hand the respect that Pakistani citizens have for other religions and their keenness to preserve Buddhist heritage in the country. He also highlighted that as a result of the linkages built with various stakeholders during the visit, arrangements were in process for a Buddhist pilgrimage visit of Sri Lankans to Pakistan in the near future.
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.
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