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GL assures Delhi-resident ambassadors that SL was engaging cordially with UN
“We oppose excessive interference and special mechanisms”
Sri Lanka would continue to engage purposefully and cordially with the UN but opposes excessive interference into the internal affairs of the country, Foreign Minister G. L Peiris last week told a group of 17 visiting ambassadors/high commissioners in Colombo but objected to the setting up of a ‘special mechanism’ by the UN whose sole purpose, he said, was to collect data to use against Sri Lanka.
There was no way of knowing what such data was and therefore we had no opportunity to test the truth in these allegations, he explained.
The meeting followed the presentation of credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the envoys, mostly non-resident Heads of Mission based in New Delhi and concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said.
Prof Peiris welcomed them and stated that the Sri Lankan Government looked forward to strong and substantial relationships with them all.
During his previous tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government felt that there was insufficient representation in the African continent and deliberate efforts were made to strengthen relations with the African countries.
The present Government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also looking towards forming close bonds with the African nations as well as consolidating relations with the African Union, Peiris said.
He briefed the Ambassadors on the current situation and developments in Sri Lanka saying the country had achieved substantial successes even after its planned structural strategies, priorities and frameworks were disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic.
Ninety percent of people over 30 have been double vaccinated and the country is now providing booster shots, he said. We had an efficient health care and delivery system supported by the armed forces who made that sure vaccines reached even remote areas of the country.
The Ambassadors were briefed on the resilience of the private sector which adapted to post-covid needs. The apparel industry, for instance, began producing face masks and PPE kits to meet global demand ensuring that the country’s export income remained stable and jobs were not lost.
In the case of remittances, the minister acknowledged they were affected due to a large number of Lankans working abroad returning home due to the pandemic. He stated that the Government was in discussions with many countries since many now want to return to their jobs.
The Foreign Minister also explained that the country was ravaged by a 30-year conflict saying a conflict of such magnitude is bound to leave residues. It has taken other countries decades to recover and Sri Lanka has made every effort to deal with residual problems.
He listed mechanisms like the Office of Missing Persons, Commissions of Inquiry, ONUR, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka saying that all these were working towards tackling the remnants of the conflict.
On commitment to gender empowerment and gender equality, Peiris said the Human Rights Commission is headed by a former female judge of the Supreme Court and that Sri Lanka is working towards more female representation in decision making.
He called for the empathy of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners present and their backing on international platforms stating that it was important for the UN to support the efforts made by a country to get back on its feet and not pull it down.
Local institutions must be given the space and time to find solutions that sustain the culture and ethics of an individual country Pieris concluded by inviting the mission heads to join the upcoming National Day celebrations in February 2022 and stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to stronger bilateral relations and cooperation in the UN arena.
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
