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EP Governor on where Province has gone wrong despite all its potential
The Eastern Province blessed with huge amounts of resources remained one of the poorest provinces of the country owing to inaction and lethargy of officials, Eastern Province governor Anuradha Yahampath said yesterday.
Addressing a meeting at the Batticaloa District Secretariat to formulate a sustainable development plan in accordance with the vision of the Vistas of Prosperity programme, the Governor said: “This province accounts for 25 percent of paddy production of the country. Its fishers harvest is 25 percent of the total catch of the country. The milk production, too, is very high, but the province remains one of the poorest in the country. What is the reason for this mismatch? We have not been able to help people reap the benefits of their efforts and the resources the province has.”
The Governor said that the incumbent government was capable of bringing about a change that was hoped by the people. “This government has leaders capable of developing the country. It is led by those who won the war – a feat that had been only a dream for many because the former governments had the mindset that the war would never be won. Not even the international community thought that our leaders could achieve it. We could have done so because people all alike stood behind the government and supported its war effort. I am sure that the people will stand firm with their unwavering support if they are convinced that we are genuinely engaged in developing this country,” she said, adding that the fault lies in the hands of officials who could not commit themselves hundred percent to developing this nation.
“My objective is to turn this province into a centre of development. We must understand that time is not a luxury we have and must make use of time wisely to improve the conditions that leads to the despair of people. We should set an example by committing ourselves to this task and then people will follow suit.
“Today, I summoned this meeting for you to meet a team of experts who had worked with dedication to formulate the Vistas of Prosperity programme. I too worked with them and other experts of the Viyath Maga and know that they share the vision of not leaving the task of developing this nation and bringing the country on par with developed nations to another generation. We must be the change and that will ensure that change will take place.”
Prof Praveen Abhayaratne, Prof Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, Chairperson of the Central Environment Authority Attorney-at-Law Darshani Lahandapura, Senior Lecturer Sampath Vahala, former Deputy Director of Customs Samantha Gunasekera, Engineer Ravi de Silva, Arjuna Perera, Madhawa Boteju, Anushka Kumara, Chief Secretary of the Province Tusitha P Wanigasinghe, Secretary to the Governor L.P. Madanayake, all secretaries of the provincial ministers and directors of the provincial institutions were present on the occasion.
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
