News
EU funds Euro 2 mn project for the benefit of needy families
The European Union together with its implementing partner World Vision has launched the socio-economic recovery project GRACE (Grassroots Conflict Prevention) at the Divisional Secretariat in Wattala on Monday (03).
Wattala is one of the many communities that will benefit from this grant of 2 million Euros over an 18-month period. The other areas of intervention will include Kalpitiya, Nawagaththegama and Mundalama (Puttalam District) and Ja-ela (Gampaha District).
The following is the text of an EU statement issued yesterday (04): “Set in the broader context of EU support towards the socio-economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis, the GRACE project will support over 130,000 individuals including women and young people with training on conflict resolution and improve their income opportunities.
Speaking at the launch, Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives stated, “Sri Lanka is in the midst of a severe crisis, which hits certain Sri Lankans harder than others. This is why the EU is working with World Vision to identify those most affected. Within these communities, the EU is paying particular attention to women and young people for them to fully contribute to cohesion efforts. We will also work with natural mediators to mitigate the risk of tension due to the economic crisis. We will also provide support to small and medium enterprises to create new employment opportunities for the many rather than the few”
The project will build on the medium to long-term assistance, also focusing on the promotion of early warning and conflict transformation, violent conflict resolution and economic stabilisation of vulnerable households. It will also engage faith leaders through trainings and community dialogues.
“The past few years have been very challenging for vulnerable communities,” says Dr. Dhanan Senathirajah, the National Director of World Vision Lanka. “People can no longer afford food for their families and schooling for their children, which brings them higher levels of distress. World Vision Lanka welcomes this new project which looks to support families with their income opportunities and aims to build social cohesion.”
Currently, the EU is also supporting another project focusing on the immediate life-saving and protection needs of households most affected by the economic crisis. Implemented by World Vision, ACTED and Save the Children, the project works with 60,000 vulnerable individuals including 4,200 households for multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) and 840 households for cash for protection. With these interventions, percentage of households with acceptable food consumption has already increased from 67% to 78% within the last few months. “
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
