News
Floods, landslides, etc., kill seven, two missing
by Norman Palihawadane
Seven persons have been killed by landslides and floods. The deaths have been reported from Matara Deiyahdara, Eheliyagoda, Bulathsinhala and Avissawella. Two person have gone missing.
Three members of the same family including a seven-year-old girl drowned in a swollen canal during heavy rains at Kiriella in Puwakpitiya yesterday. The victims were a 36-year-old woman, her 78-year-old father and her seven-year-old daughter. The incident occurred between 2.00 and 3.00 a.m. yesterday near their house.
Another person died when a mound of earth collapsed on him at Puwakpitiya, Avissawella.
Train services on the Kelani Valley line were distrupted by the collapse of a railway bridge between Waga and Kosgama yesterday.
At least two persons had gone missing in the Thawalama in Galle due to floods, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) sources said, adding that an operation had been launched in search of the two missing individuals.Pregnant women and patients had been airlifted from Neluwa Hospital, affected by floods, to the Udugama Hospital, Galle District Medical Specialist Dr. Amila Chandrasiri told the media.
Relief teams from the Navy and Army were deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations in the Thawalama, Neluwa, Udugama and Hiniduma areas in the Galle District.Two flights arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake were diverted to Mattala Airport due to extreme weather conditions.
SriLankan Airlines flight, UL 309 from Singapore, and an Etihad Airways flight, EY 394 from Abu Dhabi, had been redirected to
Mattala because adverse weather around Katunayake prevented them from landing at BIA, airport authorities said.
Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines has sent a new crew from Colombo to Mattala for the UL 309 SriLankan Airlines flight from Singapore, which landed at Mattala International Airport, to bring the flight back to the BIA.
The replacement had been necessary because the original crew’s shift had expired after a five-hour delay caused by a technical fault, the authorities said.The power supply in several parts of the Galle, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Colombo and Kegalle districts as a precautionary measure due to heavy showers and floods, the Ministry of Power and Energy said.
Meanwhile, Traffic on the Colombo-Kandy main road came to a standstill as a tree fell across the road near the Warakapola town yesterday.Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa asked motorists to use alternative routes.
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) yesterday issued early warnings for landslides in the Colombo, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.
The NBRO warning called on those in these areas to be watchful for sudden appearance of water sprouts, cracks on walls and the ground.
The Department of Meteorology has said heavy showers of about 100mm are likely to occur in some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
The Department of Irrigation said that a major flood situation had developed in the Kelani, Nilwala and Gin river basins. The Department warned that there could be floods in low-lying areas of Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga valleys situated in Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palinda Nuwara D/S Divisions.
Areas including Dehiovita, Ruwanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Homagama, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa, and Wattala D/S Divisions of the Kalu River are at risk of experiencing flood situations.
There is a possibility of floods in low-lying areas of the Gin Ganga valley in Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda, Niyagama, Welivitiya-Divithura, Elpitiya, Akmeemana, Baddegama, and Bope-Poddala D/S Divisions.
Low-lying areas of the Nilwala River valley situated in Pasgoda, Kotapola, Pitabeddara, Akuressa, Athuraliya, Malimbada, Thihagoda, Kamburupitiya, Matara, and Devinuwara D/S Divisions are at risk of experiencing flood situations.
Residents in these areas have been asked to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
Ten Navy flood relief teams have been dispatched to the affected areas of Bulathsinhala, Puwakpitiya, Palindanuwara, Welipanna in the Kalutara district, Thavalama in the Galle district and Akurassa and Panadugama in the Matara district to carry out rescue and relief operation.
In addition, 116 Navy relief teams, including units from the Rapid Action Boat Squadron, Special Boat Squadron, and Navy Marines, are on standby. They are prepared to be deployed immediately to assist the public in the event of flooding.
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
