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Cardinal calls for Christmas sharing in crisis-hit Lanka
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has urged Christians to share a meal with the hungry poor this Christmas as millions in this crisis-hit nation island nation struggle to put food on the table.
The situation in the island nation is “precarious,” Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, said while addressing media people on Dec. 19 at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo.
He said a large number of families do not have proper sustenance, pointing to a recent study that a family of four requires 120,000 Sri Lankan rupees (US$371) to cover monthly expenses, but the average monthly income of a family is only US$241.
“So with that kind of money, they cannot manage meals let alone the schooling of children, or pay for electricity, water, cooking gas and other things,” the 76-year-old cardinal said.
A lot of borrowing “goes on all the time, even pawning one’s silver and gold. So a lot of people are under great stress,” said the leader of the country’s 1.5 million Catholics.
Christians, the majority of them Catholics, account for seven percent of the 22 million people in the nation, which is experiencing its worst economic crisis in its history.
The continuing crisis has led to unprecedented inflation, the near-depletion of its foreign exchange reserves and shortages of medical supplies, and price hikes of essential commodities such as cooking oil, rice and fuel.
“It is a situation that we cannot ignore when we are celebrating Christmas because Jesus Christ as a symbol was born in poverty,” said Ranjith, a vocal critic of the government’s economic policies.
Jesus Christ lived the life of “a person from an average poor family” and was a “mendicant who walked streets, with his disciples behind him, they had enough to eat and sustain themselves. When we think of Jesus as a poor man, we must show a lot of respect for the poor during Christmas celebrations,” he said.
He urged Catholics, all other Christians, as well as other people of goodwill “to share your Christmas this year … with the poor in your neighborhood or your surroundings.”
Ranjith also urged them to cut down “as much as possible … unnecessary expenditure on decorations, gifts and other things. We are not saying not to give gifts, but do not waste.”
He also asked them to invite the poor “to share a meal with them” on Christmas Day.The cardinal said he had advised parish priests in Colombo archdiocese to organize feeding programs for the poor at Christmas.
he said he plans to participate in a feeding program on Christmas Day to share his meals with the poor “in fraternity with those who suffer hunger.”
He wished the gathering a “very happy Christmas” but reiterated that “happiness does not lie in drinking, eating and merry-making alone.”
“Inner happiness you can draw on by giving up something to make another person happy,” the cardinal said.
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
