News
Govt. settling fuel debts – Minister
By Ifham Nizam
The government has allocated nearly USD 80 million for settling debts, related to fossil fuel purchases, and for further fossil fuel intake, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told journalists yesterday, adding that 10 fuel shipments would arrive here within days.
USD 11 million had been paid to Lanka IOC on 30 June for the procurement of 7,500 MT of diesel, Minister Wijesekera said.
Prepayments had been made for two other companies, namely Indian Coal Energy that would supply 40,000 MT of auto diesel between 08 July and 09 July.A shipment of 40,000MT from Vitol is scheduled to reach the country between 11 and 14 July 11.
Wijesekara said that USD 28 million had been paid for that consignment, while another USD 49 million was slated to be paid on 08 July.Wijesekera also said that they were also expecting two more fuel shipments, containing both petrol and diesel either on 22 or 23 July.
Providing an update on the availability of fuel in the country, he said nearly 12,774 MT of diesel, 1,414 MT of petrol 92 octane, 2,647 MT of petrol 95 octane, 233 MT of super diesel, 500 MT of aviation fuel and 29,000 MT of furnace oil were in stock at present.
The Minister said that they are expecting the following fuel shipments this month:
July 08-09: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco),
July 11-14: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco)
July 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC),
July 22-23: 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval)
July 22-23: 40,000 MT of petrol (Ceypetco),
July 29-31: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC) and
August 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC)
Nearly 110,000 MT of diesel, 70,000 MT of petrol and 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval) will arrive in the country, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Lanka IOC said it was expecting three shipments of petrol and diesel in Sri Lanka this month and in August. The first shipment is expected between 13 and 15 July. The second shipment is expected to reach between 29 and 31 July, while the third shipment is scheduled to arrive between August 10 and 15.
Each vessel will be carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of fuel, according to Lanka IOC Chairman Manoj Gupta. All these shipments will be arriving from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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
