News
Chethana Joshi Tiwari crowned Mrs India 2023 in Colombo
Mrs. India Inc in collaboration with hospitality partner – Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, hair and make-up partner – Ramani Fernando Salons, exclusive local producer – Jigsav and agency of record – Cyaniq Consulting & Advisory on Thursday hosted the grand finale of the 4th edition of Mrs. India at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre with the participation of 72 contestants from various parts of India vying for the glamorous title.
The panel of judges included Bollywood stars Malaika Arora, Dino Morea, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Cherag Bambbot and Bhawna Rao. South Asia’s pop sensation – Yohani graced the stage with a special performance, draped in a signature outfit by Lovi Sarong, captivating the audience and celebrating beauty, grace and diversity. The event was produced locally by creative producer and entertainment executive – Dilanjan Seneviratne in partnership with the franchise owner – Mohini Sharma, the National Director of Mrs. India Inc.
“This year’s edition of Mrs. India is truly a special one for us and a milestone of our extraordinary journey. We have successfully taken our pageant to the international stage here in Sri Lanka, showcasing the talent, cultural diversity and beauty of women from all around India. I’m thrilled for the winners of this year’s event and want to extend my warm congratulations to each and every one of the contestants and finalists. I also have to extend my sincerest thanks to the event partners and everyone else who supported us in making this vision a reality. Last but not least, we are all thoroughly impressed by the brand of hospitality Sri Lanka has extended, and we are confident our paths will inevitably intertwine in the near future,” commented Mohini Sharma, National Director – Mrs. India Inc.
The grand finale witnessed the crowning of Chethana Joshi Tiwari as Mrs. India for the year 2023 and also saw the crowning of Disha Shetty, Sohini Rohra, Nikita Satya and Roohi Marjara as first, second, third and fourth runner-ups respectively. The winners will have the prestigious opportunity to represent India at the global pageants later in the year.
“It’s been the realization of a long-held vision to contribute towards hosting an event of this scale and nature in Sri Lanka. I fully believe that Sri Lanka is a prime destination to hold international events, and this is just the start of what I’m sure we will achieve in this industry going forward. I had the privilege of working with a truly capable team and received the support of many individuals and brands on this journey. I’m thankful to everyone who helped us bring this event to Sri Lanka including Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, Lovi Sarong, Certis, Cyaniq, and my team at Jigsav for producing the event,” commented Dilanjan Seneviratne, Creative Director & Entertainment Executive – Jigsav.
The event saw 72 contestants vying for the title alongside the musical performance from Yohani and captivating dance performances by Aseka Wijewardena and her troupe of highly capable dancers showcasing the cultural identity of Sri Lanka to the distinguished audience in attendance.The evening concluded an after-hours celebration of the event at the Cinnamon Grand with the participation of the glamorous audience, jury and attendees.
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
