News
Colombo University moves to check students taking any grievances to social media raises fears
The University of Colombo has introduced a set of social media guidelines that students now say are stifling and infringing on their freedom of expression. A spokesman for the students said they would take up the issue with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka shortly.
University officials were not immediately available for comment.
The guidelines issued on 28 March 2021 states that students must not openly criticise issues that arise due to the “services, rules/regulations of the university, or staff members”, on social media.
“As a registered student of the University of Colombo, you are kindly requested to protect and safeguard the reputation of our University. If you are not satisfied with some services, rules/regulations of the university, or staff members, you should not criticise openly in social media. You can communicate your concerns to your counsellors, academic coordinators/tutors, or other officials of the university and seek a feasible solution. Problems cannot be solved by criticizing on social media,” the guidelines say.
The University also warns students that legal action can be taken against them if they “have participated in false propaganda intentionally or unintentionally,” and warn students to be weary in taking part in protests organized by social media because that might “bring disrespect to the reputation of your University.”
Given below are the rest of the University’s social media guidelines:
“Every citizen has freedom of speech and expression. However, it should not be used to attack organizations, groups, or individuals by posting hate speech, sharing others’ critical or sensitive messages, expressing opinions that will create suspicion or social unrest within the wider society using social media. If you have contributed to or assisted in such activities using social media, you would face disciplinary action.
*It is very important not to disturb academic activities through social media by posting answers for questions or requesting unauthorized assistance from others when engaging in academic activities. For example, sharing answers to assignments/exam paper questions through social media is unacceptable. Disciplinary action will be taken against individuals who disturb academic activities.
* Some may assume that it is ‘safe’ to engage in wrongful activities using a bogus identity/account and this method will protect the actual person. Technology and tools are available to trace the real identity of such persons. Authorities could identify the person, the actual device, and physical location if and when necessary. Therefore, we strongly advise you not to engage in unauthorized or illegal activities using a bogus identity.
* If you publish digital contents as the University of Colombo on social media using the University name, logo, or any other university intellectual property such as scanned books, past papers, etc., prior permission from the Registrar’s office is required. If you use the University of Colombo Logo, you must follow the Logo guidelines.
* Your communications in social media must not include offensive or derogatory posts, blogs, images, videos, or comments relating to gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, disability, reassignment, sexual orientation, religious base or national security.
* You must not post someone else’s images, videos, or any other digital contents without the proper permission of the original content publisher. You should also not share any copyrighted material without proper approval from the respective publisher(s).
* It is important to recognize that online conduct is governed by the same laws, policies, and rules of conduct that apply to all day-to-day activities. The University of Colombo urges students to be aware of the potential risks when making personal information public, to think about future implications and possible consequences of all posts, and to ensure safety through responsible and conscious decisions when using social media.
* It is your responsibility, to protect your social media accounts and for being aware of third-party applications that share your personal information to the public. If you need technical advice that protects your social media accounts, the university IT experts are available to help you”
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
