News
French Government aid tranche to Sri Lanka through AFD exceeds Euros 172 million
by Steve A. Morrell
Agence Francaise de Development Group (AFD), a development bank and cooperation agency, owned by the French government, implements France’s policy on development finance.
The institution’s mandate encompass extending development financial assistance to the public sector to accelerate growth and transition towards a more sustainable world.
AFD’s Country Director Reda Souirgi, with the Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Eric Lavertu and Deputy Head of Mission, Aurelien Mailet explained a wide cross section of development aid projects ongoing and projected for implementation that would benefit Sri Lanka, at a news conference in Colombo recently.
The Ambassador said irrigation projects for improvement included flood control and providing safe drinking water.
Discussions are continuing with farmers in Trincomalee and Batticaloa for the implementation of the planned irrigation projects with tangible benefits to them on completion, he noted.
“We also discussed the projects with the Bishops of Trincomalee and Batticaloa and the Eastern University for further inputs before going ahead with their implementation”, the envoy further said.
The Mundeni Aru Basin development project has also been included for implementation in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts, he said.
Introducing Country Director Reda Souirgi, the Ambassador said he assumed duties in the Embassy two months ago to take charge of AFD development projects. He is an engineer with wide experience to implement such projects.
Souirgi said he joined AFD in 2015 and was active in implementing projects in Senegal, Cote d’ lvoire, Tunisia and Colombia. He also worked in Latin America, the Caribbean, and West and North Africa. He brought to bear his experience serving in those countries to benefit needs for implementation in Sri Lanka.
He said that AFD funding began in 2005. Sri Lanka was the first Asian country to benefit from the projects, which included water supply, energy, roads and bridges, local development and vocational training.
In addition, the initiative covered the construction of four grid substations, supplementing the national grid through renewable power generation, micro hydro plants and producing cheaper green power. Green power development co-financed by the Asian Development Bank in the water and sanitation sectors are expected to benefit 146,000 families in the eastern part of Greater Colombo, he said.
“We are also looking at energy efficient water treatment plants”, Souirgi stressed.
French assistance towards implementing the projects exceeded 172 million Euros, he noted, adding that the aid was not a grant but was payable to the government of France on easy payment terms. With a grace period of seven years, the funds have to be paid back in 25 years, he further said.
‘White elephants’ will not be financed under the French aid program, he said, while explaining that requests by the government are assessed in detail with their feasibility and implications evaluated before funding is approved based on their beneficial conclusion.
The program also included promotion of tourism with emphasis on SMEs and assistance to entrepreneurs in the sphere. The micro credit scheme, a segment of the aid tranche, focused on the production of dry fish and employment to women. Such schemes will be implemented in Galle, Beruwala and other coastal areas.
Sanitation and clean water projects in Jaffna and especially building reservoirs in the north will result in about 10,000 hectares of farm lands being irrigated to benefit the farming community. There will also be support to farmers and promotion of on–farm water efficient practices. International standards will be observed to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of the projects, Souirgi assured.
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
