News
GL at launch of SL-UK Chamber of Commerce
by Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris was the main speaker at the launching of Sri Lanka – UK Chamber of Commerce held at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on Oct. 26.
Among the distinguished guests present were British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s special trade envoy to Sri Lanka, Lord Davies of Abersoch, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton OBE and officials from the UK Department of Trade and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Speaking at the event, Minister Peiris said former British Prime Minister Theresa May used the phrase “Global Britain” in 2016 at a Conservative party conference. “Now the time has come to give meaning to that phrase.”
“After Brexit, Britain is earnest in her endeavour to find new markets, new countries to strengthen economic and commercial relations with and I would venture to suggest to you this evening that there is no country better than Sri Lanka for Britain to take a long hard look at when it comes to strengthening, deepening and enriching commercial and business relations”, he asserted.
He said: “British entrepreneurs in every way feel unreservedly comfortable in Sri Lanka because in every walk of life you will find that British values, customs and traditions profoundly influenced Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka has managed to vaccinate 82% of the eligible population against Covid. We started manufacturing pharmaceutical products in our own country. We have been using a large amount of foreign exchange to import saline. We manufacture drugs that are required by our own population and we shall soon be able to sell the surplus to the Maldives and several countries in East Africa.”
Comparing labour laws of SL and Britain, he said that, “during the last seven months or so, there has been a draft of legislation enacted by the Sri Lanka Parliament with regards to the minimum age at which children can be employed, conditions of service in factories, imposing of absolute prohibitions on the employment of children in what are regarded as hazardous industries.”
Peiris said that the UK is seeking for FTAs with the US, Australia, New Zealand and India. “It may not be at fruition until next March at least. We are already in Free Trade Agreements with India and Pakistan. If a British company were to establish a business in Sri Lanka, it will have a total waiver of duties if it sells to India and Pakistan.
“It is our firm resolve by 2030 to ensure that our 70% of energy requirements come from renewable sources. By 2050 we have realistic expectations our country will be carbon-free. The Commonwealth has recognized Sri Lanka as the Blue Economy Champion.”
Dr. Lakmini Mendis, Minister (Commercial) at the High Commission said that going back to 2020 in the post-Brexit and Covid context, doing business with Britain was unimaginable. So forming this this Sri Lanka – UK Chamber of Commerce was an achievement.
“The UK is an important trading partner for Sri Lanka and vice versa for trade, investment and tourism, with a well-established bilateral trade relationship spanning decades. We understood the importance and the need for a platform or a forum for the UK companies who are doing business in Sri Lanka to engage (with each other)”, she said.
High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena said: “The United Kingdom is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost economic partners. Currently, it is our second most important export destination, the second source of inbound tourism and one of Sri Lanka’s top ten investors.
“It was felt that the need for a Chamber of Commerce was long overdue to crystalize this important business relationship. Despite being severely curtailed by the Covid 19 pandemic over the past 18 months, officials of this Mission together with our dynamic business community worked tirelessly for this project to come to fruition” she said.
She expressed her appreciation for the unstinting support given by the main British investors in Sri Lanka, HSBC, London Stock Exchange Group, De La Rue and those who have volunteered to serve on the Chamber’s first board. She requested all those doing business with Sri Lanka to join the Sri Lanka-UK Chamber of Commerce and support them in making the relationship even stronger.
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
