News
CIPM’s premier National HR Conference is back
Themed “Navigating the HR Horizon, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka is gearing up for its premier National HR Conference 2024 (NHRC 2024), addressing the critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Human Resources. After the unprecedented convergence of pandemic aftershocks, economic turbulence, and evolving employee expectations. HR professionals must stay ahead of the curve to create workplaces that adapt and thrive in this dynamic environment. This event, taking place on June 5th and 6th at the Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, will welcome participants from the Sri Lankan HR Fraternity who are expected to exceed 800 executives.
Nick Jonsson, who is the Keynote Speaker at NHRC 2024, is an expert in business networking, mental health advocacy, and personal development. He is the co-founder of Executives’ Global Network (EGN) across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. His best-selling book, “Executive Loneliness,” and recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice 2023 showcase his impact. As an accomplished Executive and Life Coach, and Ironman athlete, Mr. Jonsson’s commitment to excellence and mental well-being sets him apart as a leading figure in fostering resilience and well-being.
Technical Sessions, led by industry luminaries, to sharpen skills and elevate strategic thinking will be facilitated. These sessions will provide practical insights and strategies for participants to apply in their own organisations. The Technical Sessions will be led by global corporate and industry heavyweights including Dr. Tanvi Gautam, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Thilanka Abeywardena, Damitha Jayasinghe, MD. Howard Nicholas, Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Jehan Perinpanayagam, Dr. Romesh Ranawana, Ms. Amanthi Perera, Hiran Cooray, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Isuru Gunasekera, Bani Chandrasena, Dr. Sweta Adatia, and Zahara Ansary.
Under the umbrella of this year’s theme – Navigating the HR Horizon – there will be four areas that will be looked into. This conference focuses on the integration of generative AI (GenAI) in human resources (HR) management, highlighting its potential to revolutionise HR processes. GenAI can create content, analyse vast data, and uncover hidden talent trends, thereby streamlining operations and providing valuable insights.
Employee wellbeing is another key topic, emphasising the importance of HR’s role in promoting healthy work habits and mental health support in our increasingly digital world. The conference also underscores the importance of employee engagement for a sustainable future, advocating for a people-centred management approach and the integration of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) principles. Lastly, the conference explores the role of responsible leadership in sustainability, emphasising the need for adaptability, proactiveness, and resilience in today’s dynamic landscape.
“In this dynamic realm, staying ahead is crucial to creating a workplace that meets the evolving needs of employees and organisations. Now is the time for HR teams to assess how they can make the most significant impact on their organisation’s future,” said CIPM Sri Lanka President Ken Vijayakumar.
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
