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Don’t take seafood off the menu – Round Island urges concerned consumers
While Sri Lanka grapples with the after effects of the MV X-Press Pearl marine disaster off the South and West coasts of the island, the Ministry of Fisheries has assured citizens that in suspending fishing activities from the affected coasts, all seafood that makes its way to the markets has officially been declared safe for consumption.
In light of recent events, and in order to reel in greater confidence towards the fisheries industry as a whole, Round Island – the consumer face of Oceanpick (Pvt) Ltd.- has put in place additional safety and precautionary measures to ensure that its seafood retains the quality and freshness it has come to be associated with, both locally, and overseas.
In addition to being approximately 380 nautical miles away, and on the far side of the island from the MV X-Press Pearl incident, Round Island’s sustainable offshore oceanic farms north of Koddiyar Bay are also protected from the open ocean currents. In spite of this current geographical advantage, Round Island has employed 24-hour on-duty staff at its farms to continue to monitor both the water and the condition of its fish for even the slightest anomalies; having to date observed none.
Residual testing of fish stocks are being conducted each week, and additional testing of waters around its farms to monitor quality parameters have been put in place as a long-term safeguard. As a further preventive measure, the company plans to set up water monitoring stations in key locations along the eastern seaboard, north and south of Trincomalee, so as to provide early warning of any undue changes to the environment.
Round Island is also working closely with marine agencies such as the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) for knowledge-sharing initiatives as well as to gain insight on any changes to the marine environment on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the company will be collaborating and partnering with institutions such as the Ocean University of Sri Lanka to expand its coral reef monitoring network to cover the east coast, as a means to accumulate vital data on marine life, benthic zones, and water chemistry.
“Ever since word of the disaster spread, we have had to respond to many queries and concerns about the quality and safety of the fish we produce,” said Daniel Richardson, Head of Operations at Oceanpick. “Even though our farming sites have been unaffected by the MV X-Press Pearl fire, we are proactively taking every precaution to ensure that our seafood, as well as those of fishing communities across the island, will be more than just fit for consumption in the years to come.”
Pioneering Sri Lanka’s entry into marine aquaculture as the first BAP-certified barramundi aquaculture facility in South Asia, Oceanpick was founded in 2011 with the intent to best utilize the island’s pristine seas to responsibly farm superior quality barramundi (modha) for local and international markets; while also alleviating the pressure on native wild stocks.
Round Island remains confident of the aquatic conditions on the east coast of Sri Lanka, and are committed to providing transparency and accountability to all of its partners, stakeholders, and consumers when it comes to delivering on fresh and wholesome seafood.
All Round Island products continue to be available at select supermarket chains, through its delivery partners UberEats and PickMe, and for direct order through its website (www.roundisland.lk)
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
