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Canada and JICA joins UNDP to open Mobile Interactive Space on Women’s Empowerment in Jaffna
Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Sri Lanka, Tetsuya Yamada, and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota along with Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, Linda Ehrich visited the Jaffna leg of UNDPs mobile interactive exhibition space, ‘A Journey of Transformation and Women’s Empowerment’. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, Chief Secretary of the Northern Province along with other Government representatives were also present at the inauguration of the exhibition, which is open to the public from the 13th to 15th March at the Jaffna Cultural Centre.
This is the 4th stop as a part of the traveling interactive space, which has now been showcased in Kandy, Kurunegala and Colombo last week, in line with International Women’s Day. Born from an initiative sparked during the 16 Days of Activism campaign last year, the exhibition was also attended by local government and civil society representatives in the area.
This exhibition has evolved into a dynamic platform for social dialogue and empowerment with the support of the Government of Canada and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, celebrating the resilience of Sri Lankan communities supported through UNDP Sri Lanka’s efforts across the years through the support of multiple partners, to address barriers to gender equality and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). This includes featured champion stories from the UNDP led Crisis Response Facility during the socio-economic crisis that brought together private sector and donor partners, including funding from JICA, through which support was provided to enhance food security and rapid medical procurement initiatives.
During the visit to the North, JICA Chief Representative and UNDP Resident Representative also visited other UNDP-led resettlement projects in Palaly and met with beneficiaries of the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) funded backyard poultry initiative in Mullaitivu. UNDP’s Resident Representative also made key visits to the Waste to Energy unit at the Vavuniya General Hospital, the Jaffna Public Library, and the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha to review the efforts and progress of the European Union funded Capacity Development of Local Government (CDLG) project.
JICA has been a longstanding partner of UNDP, especially in the areas of agricultural modernization, climate adaptation and women’s economic empowerment. The field visit aims to further explore common areas of interest and partnership opportunities to serve the people of Sri Lanka.
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
