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GL appreciates Indian assistance for Sri Lanka
India celebrates 73rd Republic Day
High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay hosted a reception at India House, residence of the High Commissioner, for friends of India on 26 January 2022 to mark India’s 73rd Republic Day. More than 500 guests attended the event, which was held in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocol.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Special guests included former President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, more than 10 Cabinet Ministers besides several State Ministers, MPs cutting across party lines, distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, senior officials, industry and media leaders, among others.
Welcoming the dignitaries, the High Commissioner noted that Sri Lanka occupied a central place in India’s foreign policy and emphasised that millennia-old ties across language, culture, history, etc., were the mainstay of the bilateral relationship. He reiterated that India would continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as per their requirements. He mentioned about the plans to mark the milestone of 75 years of Independence of both countries through joint events.
A special video message by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was also played at the event. He stressed that India and Sri Lanka shared a special relationship and alluded to the close economic cooperation between the two countries in the recent past. He expressed confidence that the understanding between the leadership which is complemented by the deep people to people ties will impart further momentum to the bilateral relationship.
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris remarked that India had touched every aspect of lives of Sri Lankans and its economy. He underlined the breadth of India’s development assistance projects which cover wide ranging areas such as health, education, infrastructure, etc. He defined the bilateral relationship as one rooted in ‘loyalty, friendship, goodwill and mutual concern’ and anchored in ‘values, convictions and cherished beliefs’.
Narthana Bandham’ – a unique dance ensemble, conceived and choreographed by Deshanethru Dr. Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan, blending the best of Indian and Sri Lankan dance forms – was performed by Aru Sri Theatre. The Army Band of Sri Lanka played melodious tunes from India and Sri Lanka during the event.
Commemoration of the 73rd Republic Day of India forms a part of celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence-Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), across the globe. The High Commission is commencing a series of special events dedicated to AKAM from 26 January 2022 – 4 February 2022. The events will include a mega cultural event, unveiling the bust of Rabindranath Tagore at Sri Palee Campus of University of Colombo, felicitation of winners of the International Quiz on Buddhism, trade promotion event, etc.
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
