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HC Moragoda calls on UP CM, proposes concrete mechanism for cooperation in culture and tourism
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda, accompanied by a delegation of senior High Commission officials, paid a courtesy call on the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath on Thursday (28) afternoon at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Lucknow. The Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Government Shri Rajendra Kumar Tiwari and several other key State officials were present at the meeting.
The courtesy call on the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh by the High Commissioner came as part of the latter’s plan to expand Sri Lanka’s footprint at state level to promote greater interactions between Sri Lanka and the states of the Indian Union as stipulated in his policy road map the “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India”.
The Chief Minister extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda and the delegation. During the very cordial discussion that followed, the two dignitaries reviewed the ancient and strong cultural and religious affinities between Uttar Pradesh and Sri Lanka and discussed the ways to further strengthen them. The Chief Minister stated that they were very happy and honoured to have a high-profile delegation from Sri Lanka in the inaugural flight to the new international airport in Kushinagar. The High Commissioner thanked the Chief Minister for the excellent arrangements that were in place for the delegation from Sri Lanka and for the hospitality extended to them.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath observed that six important places associated with the life of the Buddha are located in his state, while the High Commissioner brought to his attention that, similarly, there are a number of sites in Sri Lanka, which are connected to the Ramayana and Lord Rama. The two dignitaries agreed that there is tremendous potential for Uttar Pradesh and Sri Lanka to cooperate in the cultural and tourism sector, and High Commissioner Moragoda proposed a concrete mechanism for collaboration in this regard. The Chief Minister was in agreement with such a mechanism and instructed his senior officials to work closely with the High Commission to realize this objective.
High Commissioner Moragoda invited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit Sri Lanka, which the latter accepted with pleasure.
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India with a population of 24 crores.
Earlier in the day, High Commissioner Moragoda and the delegation visited Ayodhya to ceremonially offer a scared stone or Shila from the Sita Amman Temple premises in Sita Eliya towards the construction of the Ram Mandir Temple in Ayodhya, which could be termed as a historical step in the people-to-people contacts between Sri Lanka and India.
Ram Mandir Temple is being constructed in Ayodhya, at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi or the hypothesized birthplace of Lord Rama, a principal deity of Hinduism.
The scared stone, handed over to the High Commissioner by the Board of Trustees of the Sita Amman Temple and brought to India, was ceremonially offered to the Ram Mandir in the presence of the Board of Temple Trustees led by its Secretary General Shri Champath Rai, senior Hindu priests and other state political dignitaries, amidst chanting of Hindu prayers. The sacred stone was accepted by the Chief Priest of the Ram Mandir, Swami Satyendradas from High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda.
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
