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Fishing issue: TN delegation expected here soon
A delegation from Tamil Nadu is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka soon to finalise modalities to auction fishing vessels seized by the Sri Lanka Navy. Indian High Commission spokesperson Eldos Mathew Punnoose has said in a statement that dealt with High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay along with two Mission officials visiting the State of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry from 21-24 November 2021.
The following is the text of the statement: “In Tamil Nadu, the High Commissioner paid a courtesy call on Governor of Tamil Nadu Thiru R. N. Ravi.
High Commissioner called on the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru MK Stalin. The High Commissioner apprised the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and senior officials of Tamil Nadu of key matters related to people-to-people relations between India and Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner also called on the Minister for Fisheries – Fishermen Welfare and Animal Husbandry Thiru Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management Dr. Palanivel ThiagaRajan and Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non Resident Tamils Welfare Thiru Gingee K.S.Masthan in Chennai.
On the first day of his visit (21 November), the High Commissioner visited the coastal town of Rameshwaram and interacted with the local fishing community on the issues faced by Indian fishermen. Government of Tamil Nadu officials briefed the visiting High Commissioner on the infrastructure and other facilities they had developed for deep sea fishing in the district. The High Commissioner also utilised the opportunity to visit the old ferry harbour in Dhanuskodhi that had catered to people-to-people connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner visited Sri Lankan Rehabilitation Camp in Thiruchirapalli and interacted with the Sri Lankan refugees accommodated there.
At a trade and investment event organised by the South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the High Commissioner interacted with the Tamil Nadu business community on the importance of close collaboration to harness trade and investment opportunities for Indian business in Sri Lanka.
In Puducherry, the High Commissioner called on the Lt Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan and also on Chief Minister of Puducherry Thiru. N. Rangaswamy, apart from meeting senior officials of the Union Territory.
In the constructive discussions held with the senior officials of the State Government of Tamil Nadu and other stakeholders, it was agreed to facilitate early holding of India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries as well as interactions between Fishermen Associations of both the countries. The High Commissioner was informed that a team from Tamil Nadu would visit Sri Lanka for finalising modalities for auctioning the unsalvageable Indian fishing boats in various Sri Lankan harbours.
The visit of the High Commission officials to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry afforded useful opportunities for furthering discussions on a number of aspects of importance to the peoples of India and Sri Lanka in the spheres of trade, commerce, connectivity, tourism – especially collaboration in agriculture, organic farming, fisheries, aquaculture, food processing, green and renewable energy, shipping and ports, medical tourism and cultural exchange.”
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
