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Eulogy delivered by Santhosh de Zosya at the requiem for Santha De Zoysa- a Eulogy
Amma Dearest – you were our queen mum! It is said death ends a life not a relationship. You had a very staid upbringing with a Convent education in Colombo and public school in England.
Later on while reading for your degree at the Peradeniya Campus, your heart was captured by that dashing prosecutor. Both of you hailing from the Sunny Golden shores of the south found romance in the cool of the green hills.
Out of this holy alliance you bore two children. Even if I may say so, two stunning assets. Modesty they say is unbecoming at a time like this.
You handled life’s challenges with serenity. Trials and Tribulations you never took seriously. You knew they were transitory. You shared Kipling’s view that success was a mere impostor!
Your balanced approach to life gave you the ability to enjoy life the way you wanted.
Never did you refuse anybody in need. You were never a taker but a giver Over the years, the charitable handouts I witnessed you giving were immeasurable. I am told the first cheque signed by you was a donation to Lanka Mahila Samithi. However, you were extremely private about it.
You led a good life. I am told you were the cynosure of your contemporaries when driving around in your swanky red M.G. Your spell in the travel trade earned you many accolades from counterparts locally and internationally.
At work, your secretary told me you had never raised your voice to her. You were very accessible to all employees of Monaro and ready to sort out a problem at anytime. Your desk was always neat and tidy and you never passed the buck.
You cut a fine figure walking into a party or a more solemn occasion with equal dignity. Glamour and Style you did not clamour for. It came naturally to you.
Your love and passion for animals put you in the role of a hockey Mum! Some of them you bred. You got your thrills and spills when your horses sprinted to victory or dropped dead while on course.
You enjoyed riding them in your younger days. Lately, your little pet poodle winning at the dog shows put you in a champagne drinking mood. They were nurtured by her with absolute tenderness.
As a friend, she cherished friendships and the consensus is that her beauty was honesty. As a hostess, you made any guest feel royal.
As a mother, she taught us life was the greatest test of endurance!
You put your artistic flare to good use during the time Sri Lanka had a closed economy. I remember organizing our birthday parties was a challenge. You had to hunt for white sugar and wheat flour. I have memories of you calling around going into every nook and cranny in search of these. Once the challenge was overcome, you produced the most beautiful cakes.
My friends still remember the individually painted birthday cards and the attractive packages of take away gifts which were extremely novel.
She was empowered which made her a great lady.
Asjitha, your grandson, when learning of your death said “Amma, you must step into her shoes which may be too large but I will help you fill them in a small way”.
You were always there for your cousins, nieces and nephews. Having their best interest at heart.
Your demise was handled by one of the deadliest assassins of modern times.
Amma dearest, I shall not cry because it is over, but smile because it happened.
Today, we celebrate your life and ask St. Peter to open the pearly gates wide so that God welcomes his dear child, who leaves us with no regrets into his Kingdom which is eternal.
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
