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German investors interested in Sri Lanka’s health sector – envoy
German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Holger Seubert has told Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella that investors from Germany, which has a most advanced healthcare system in the world, are keen to invest in Sri Lanka’s health sector, including pharmaceutical manufacture.
The Ambassador has pointed out that such investors are already active in Sri Lanka and it would be very important if it is promoted more extensively.
The German Ambassador made this observation when he called on the Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella at the Ministry of Health recently and commended the program of the Health Ministry led by the Minister.
He pointed out that there were investors interested in sectors including pharmaceuticals and their investments were at a high level and therefore it is important for Sri Lanka to focus on that.
He has pointed out that the year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Germany and it is timely to launch a series of programs, especially in the field of health.
The Ambassador has said that the work of the Maternity Hospital to being built in the South under the name of Helmut Kohl, a former Chancellor of Germany will be completed soon and that German trained technicians will be deployed for training in the Orthopedic Unit of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
He has also pointed out that the work on the proposed oxygen factory at Kerawalapitiya could be started soon.
The German Ambassador has also observed that the provision of booster vaccine in Sri Lanka is a very important and timely step and it would be extremely important to provide it, especially to those in the tourism industry.
Minister of Health Rambukwella said that taking steps to provide the booster vaccine would have a more positive effect and vaccinating people in the tourism industry after giving the booster shots to the frontline health workers would immensely help the tourism industry as well as the country’s economy.
The Minister told the German Ambassador that not only Sri Lanka’s home treatment system for Covid was more successful, but it also received international acclaim and that the World Health Organization (WHO) had pointed out that Sri Lanka had set an example to the world.
Minister Rambukwella said that local and foreign investors in particular had been given the opportunity to invest in the country and plans were afoot to manufacture a large number of needed drugs in the country within the next few years.
Representing the German Chamber of Commerce, Andreas Hergenroether, Head of the German Chamber of Commerce and Malintha Gajanayake, Head of Institutional Affairs at the Embassy were also present on the occasion.
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
