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Chinese presence in India Ocean region under close watch: India
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar yesterday said that at any given point in time, 4-6 PLA Chinese ships, along with research and fishing vessels, are on sail in the Indian Ocean, but they are under a “close watch” for want of maritime security, Indian media reports said.
Responding to a volley of questions, at the annual Indian Navy Day press conference, in New Delhi, on China increasing its naval capabilities to dominating maritime presence, Admiral Hari Kumar said, “There are a lot of Chinese ships which operate in the Indian Ocean Region. We have about 4-6 PLA Navy ships, then some research vessels which operate. A large number of Chinese fishing vessels operate in the Indian Ocean Region. We keep a close watch on all developments.”
“Recent events, like the Russia-Ukraine war, have demonstrated that we cannot be dependent on others for our security requirements. The government has given us very clear guidelines towards being Aatmanirbhar,” the Navy Chief said.
“All our focus remains directed towards making the Indian Navy fully Aatmanirbhar by 2047,” he added, elaborating on efforts to achieve indigenization in the Indian Navy. Responding to increased movement of Chinese ships, in the Indian Ocean region, the Navy Chief said that it keeps an eye on all developments in the region to ensure Indian interests are protected.
“Our job is that India’s maritime interests are protected and we see that they don’t do anything that goes against the Indian interests,” added Admiral R Hari Kumar. Terming the induction of Agniveers into the Indian Navy a transformational move, the Admiral said that 3,000 Agniveers have joined the forces, of which 341 are women Agniveers.
He said that while women will join as sailors for the first time, all branches of the Indian Navy will be opened for women officers from next year. The 341 women sailors will also be trained in the same manner as their male counterparts, he said. “We have inducted 341 women Agniveers. They undergo the same tests, including physical endurance, etc. The women sailors will be deployed on bases, ships and aircraft. They will be trained for everything,” he said.
Responding to a query regarding the status of eight naval veterans, in confinement in Qatar, the Navy Chief said that the issue is being pursued at the highest level. “After joining the Navy, you become a member of the Navy family. Continuous efforts are being made by all the agencies at the highest level to resolve this matter. We hope a solution will be found,” Admiral Kumar said.
The Navy Chief said that this year the Navy’s share in the defence budget is 17.8 percent, which is quite adequate. Capital to revenue ratio was 32:68 which is very good, he added. Admiral Kumar said that the last one year has been operationally very engaging and intense. “Operationally, we had a very engaging and intense time in the last year. A very high operational tempo has been maintained over the last year. Extensive operational deployment helps us in many ways, in honing up our skills, etc.,” he said.
He added that the commissioning of India’s first ever Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, Vikrant, has been the landmark event for the Navy, and for the country. “It signifies persistent efforts of policymakers. It inspires self-confidence among us. It’s a shining symbol of our indigenous capacity,” he said. December 4 is celebrated as Navy Day every year to acknowledge the role of the Indian Navy and commemorate its achievements in ‘Operation Trident’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
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
