News
Children’s vaccination drive kicks off
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government was planning to finish vaccinating children between 12 and 19 years of age by the end of October, Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwelle said yesterday at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
The vaccination drive kicked off with the inoculation of children over the age of 12 suffering from comorbidities at the Lady Ridgeway, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Hospitals. A 14-year-old girl was the first to be vaccinated.
“We started this initiative after the Director General of Health Services issued guidelines. The first to be inoculated are the children with comorbidities. We are using the Pfizer vaccine. Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Hospitals were chosen because there are a large number of children with comorbidities in the two districts,” he said.
The Minister said that there were some discussions on the best vaccine to use among children between 12 and 15. Until that discussion is solved, those with comorbidities and those between 15 and 19 would be vaccinated, he said.
Meanwhile, Chair Professor of Paediatrics Shaman Rajindrajith of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Colombo, who was also present at LRH, urged parents to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible.
“There are very little side effects. However, if something happens a consultant paediatrician will be on call. The vaccination cards indicate a hotline and if there is any problem, parents can call us. On the first day of the vaccination (24) I will be the person answering the phone. So, don’t worry, we are ready for anything,” he said,
President of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said that over 100 children had arrived at LRH. He said that there were between 30,000 and 50,000 children with comorbidities in the country.
“First we will vaccinate those with comorbidities, so that they can resume schooling. Then we will vaccinate those between 15 and 19 and then those between 12 and 15. We will get the consent of the parents and a medical specialist will check the child before vaccination,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Dr. G. Wijesuriya said that there were adequate vaccines available for all and that they would vaccinate everyone who turned up at the hospital. “There is no need to worry. We have enough vaccines. Parents can register their children through our website. They can reserve a time and get children vaccinated under specialist healthcare. We will use Pfizer and before vaccinating a specialist will check the child. If the child has high fever, diarrhoea or nausea, we will not vaccinate them,” he 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
