News
Dr. Alan Lightman’s Inspiring Lecture at the American Center Colombo Highlights U.S.-Sri Lanka People-to-People Ties
Colombo, May 31, 2024 – The U.S. Embassy is proud to support the visit of acclaimed American physicist and best-selling author, MIT professor Dr. Alan Lightman, to Sri Lanka. On May 31, Dr. Lightman delivered an inspiring lecture at the American Center Colombo, attended by members of Sri Lanka’s academic, arts and sciences community and First Lady Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe. Dr. Lightman’s lecture focused on spiritual materialism, our feelings of connection to nature and other people, reflecting on our cosmic insignificance, as well as the immense significance of our unique position as observers of, and in, the universe. The American Center event fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas and highlighted the enduring cultural ties between the two nations.
During his visit to Sri Lanka, Dr. Lightman paid tribute to his late friend, Sri Lankan artist Jayantha Premachandra, by inaugurating an exhibition organized by the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation. The exhibition celebrates the creative legacy that Premachandra had planned to present in Boston before his passing. Dr. Lightman’s visit symbolizes the power of art to forge connections and underscores the United States’ commitment to deepening mutual understanding between Sri Lankans and Americans.
Welcoming Dr. Lightman to Sri Lanka, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung stated, “As both a renowned theoretical physicist and a novelist, Dr. Alan Lightman bridges the gap between art, the humanities, and science. His lectures on the creative and scientific processes, the role of intuition and imagination, the work of Einstein, the meeting of science and faith, and the wonder and fragility of human nature—what it means to be alive—resonate deeply with us all. We are honored to host visionary Americans like Dr. Lightman at our American Center to engage with audiences, strengthening the ties between our nations and fostering mutual understanding.”
In Sri Lanka, the United States actively supports engagements like Dr. Lightman’s through our network of American Spaces located in Batticaloa, Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy, and Matara. These vibrant hubs promote educational growth, cultural exchange, and social development. Our American Spaces network serves as centers of intellectual engagement, providing free access to a wide range of resources, including books, digital materials, multimedia content, and online databases. These spaces offer students, researchers, and enthusiasts opportunities to expand their horizons, engage in discussions, and collaborate on projects that contribute to educational and social progress. The American Spaces also host a variety of free programs, workshops, and events focused on English language learning, entrepreneurship, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and American literature and history. These activities not only enhance participants’ skills but also foster a deeper appreciation for diverse thoughts and ideas.
Dr. Lightman is a visionary American physicist and international best-selling author who bridges the gap between science and the arts. He explores the intersections of science, spirituality, and philosophy. A graduate of Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Lightman has held prestigious roles at institutions including Cornell, Harvard, and MIT. His novel Einstein’s Dreams was an international bestseller and has been translated into over thirty languages. Both a distinguished physicist and an accomplished novelist, Lightman was the first professor at MIT to receive a joint appointment in the sciences and the humanities. Beyond academia, he founded the Harpswell Foundation, which empowers women leaders in Cambodia and beyond through education and leadership training.
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
