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Embarking on a ‘Green Roadtrip’ seeking environmental justice
The inaugural session of the ‘Green Roadtrip’, a project to mobilise communities for environmental justice across the country, was successfully held in Colombo recently. This series of events will be implemented by the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy of the University of Colombo, through the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF Sri Lanka, facilitated by the Ministry of Justice.
The UNDP has said: The opening ceremony of the ‘Green Roadtrip’ series was presided over by Senior Professor H.D. Karunarathna, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo; along with Prof (Dr.) Sampath Punchihewa, Dean, Faculty of Law; Prof (Dr.) Kokila Konasinghe, Director, Centre for Environmental Law and Policy; and representatives from UNDP.
Speaking at the occasion, Senior Professor H.D. Karunarathna remarked on the value and importance of this initiative at a juncture when environmental issues have become a global challenge. “JURE has provided the perfect platform for the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, to embark on this new initiative by promoting environmental awareness among the public authorities and youth communities,” he further added.
The initial segment of this programme was for public officials from provincial level and local government authorities representing the Western Province, covering national pollution control laws, environmental protection license, public nuisance issues and environmental duties in legislation pertaining to local governments. Guest lectures from experts in the field, such as Hemantha Vidanage, Senior Advisor to the Centre for Environmental Justice and Dr. Rathnayaka, Deputy Director of the Central Environmental Authority, further enriched the programme. The sessions encouraged interaction and idea-sharing among the participants and was concluded with an awarding of certificates for all participants.
The third day of the event targeted youth groups, with around 85 youth participants representing various universities, clubs and societies, participating. The session topics selected for youth participants covered environmental justice and sustainable development and saw the lively participation and interaction of the youth groups.
Speaking at this inaugural event in Colombo, Maheshi Herat, Technical Specialist (Civil and Criminal) of the JURE Project, UNDP stated, “Environmental degradation and its impact, can have harrowing implications on the well-being of people, including their right to life. JURE partnered with CELP to enable this countrywide roadtrip to take place, which will create awareness on environmental justice and empower those who are in positions of authority to take the best course of action.”
With the initiation of the Green Roadtrip in Colombo, the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy, University of Colombo, is on the path to engage with government bodies and youth groups in all provinces around the country, discussing laws and legislation surrounding environmental law, concept of environmental justice, environmental rights, sustainable development goals, role of government in addressing environmental issues, sustainable energy and the green economy. Specially curated sessions will also be held to address area-specific environmental issues, during this roadtrip.
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
