News
First ever visit of Buddhist and Hindu Priests from Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia
On the invitation extended by Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al- Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League and President of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars to participate at the Forum titled “Promoting Common Values Among the followers of Religions”, organised by the Muslim World League, an International Islamic Non-Governmental Organisation based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia meant for religious leaders and senior scholars, a delegation led by the Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thera, President of the Mahabodi Society of Sri Lanka and Chief Sangha Nayaka for Japan, Chief Priest–Lankaji Temple, Japan and Chief Priest-Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya, India visited Saudi Arabia from 9 -13 May 2022. This is the first ever visit to the Kingdom by a Buddhist Priest.
The Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thera addressed the above Forum convened on 11 May at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. In his address, Most Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera focused his attention on the similarity of teaching of Lord Buddha and teaching and practices in the Islamic faith. He stated that “Many people would be shocked to think of Islam and Buddism being comparable in anyway and yet if you look closely at their teachings, and their efforts towards peace, they are more similar than one may suspect”. Further elaborating on the teaching of Lord Buddha, the Most Venerable Thera said “Buddhist philosophy is really important for world peace. The mantras and philosophy are valid and useful in everyone’s life not only for Buddhists”.
During his stay in Riyadh, the Venerable Thera also spoke to a few Sri Lankan community members on religious tolerance and understanding. He stressed the importance of positive contribution by the Sri Lankans living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at a time when Sri Lanka faces a critical economic situation.
The Most Venerable Thera also took part in the Vesak Celebration at the Sri Lanka Embassy premises on the 13 May organised by the Sri Lanka Cultural Forum, together with the Sri Lankan community in Riyadh, which included a Bodhi Pooja, and Cultural performance by the students of the Daham Pasala. The Most Venerable monk hailed the Sri Lankan community in Riyadh for scaling down the Vasak celebrations this time and diverting the resources meant for the celebrations for the needy people in Sri Lanka.
He also took part in the Dhana (Alms giving) which was organised at the Embassy on 12 May.
Kurukkal Ramachandra Iyer of the Hindu Religious Department and Ven. Koswatte Palitha Thera also took part in the forum. It is also the first time a Hindu Priest from Sri Lanka has visited the Kingdom.
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
