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COPA suggests obtaining assistance of tri-forces and CDF to mitigate human-elephant conflict
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has recommended that the help of the Civil Defence Department be enlisted to minimise incidents of human-elephant conflict.
It was revealed at a recent COPA meeting that Sri Lanka had the highest number of elephant deaths in the world due to the human-elephant conflict.
To mitigate that situation, the COPA stressed the need to obtain the services of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Civil Defence Department to assist agrarian organisations and the villagers in the construction and maintenance of elephant fences and elephant trenches required to reduce the human-elephant conflict.
The COPA observed that the human-elephant conflict had worsened over the decades.
The recommendations are in a report presented recently by COPA chair Prof. Tissa Vitarana to the first session of the ninth Parliament.
The COPA revealed that although the average number of elephants killed per year, due to the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, was 272, in 2019, it had risen to a record 407. It was also revealed that although the average number of human deaths due to human-elephant conflict was 85 a year, but 122 people had died in 2019. Therefore, the Committee stressed the need for immediate action on this issue.
The COPE has asked the Department of Wildlife Conservation to abandon the old policy which has so far failed and to implement the policy formulated by Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, who is an expert on elephants.
According to the report, the policy of constructing an electric fence and trapping elephants is a failure because only female elephants and calves are trapped.
The report also mentions that it has been revealed that male elephants bigger in size are responsible for causing harm to humans and crops.
Presenting the report to Parliament, Prof. Vitarana said that although the government had allocated large sums of money, from the annual budget, for the prevention of the human-elephant conflict, the problem had taken a turn for the worse. Therefore, the old policy which results in costing the government a large amount of money should be changed immediately, the COPA chair has said.
The report has mentioned that it is the duty of the Wildlife Department to prepare an action plan to reduce the human-elephant conflict and pointed out the importance of obtaining the consent of the Mahaweli Authority and the Forest Department when obtaining lands for the construction of elephant reserves. (SI)
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
