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Interactive session between IMC and Lankan Consulate General in Mumbai
Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai and the Indian Merchant’s Chamber (IMC) organized an interactive session between the committee members of the IMC and the Mission officials recently (Nov 09) at the auditorium of the IMC in Mumbai. Consul General of Sri Lanka to Mumbai Dr. Valsan Vethody graced the event as the chief guest, and he was warmly welcomed by President Juzar Khorakiwala and Director General of the chamber Ajit Mangrulkar upon his arrival. The purpose of the event was to interact with the officials and the committee members of the chamber to explore possible opportunities in expanding trade, investment and tourism between Sri Lanka and the western region of India.
During the welcome address, the President of the IMC while highlighting the longstanding multifaceted bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and India, underlined some of the major promotional activities that IMC has successfully completed in collaboration with the Mission, such as the webinar on “India – Sri Lanka current business environment, opportunities for joint collaborations for Agri and Processed Food Sector” organized on 29 September 2020″ and about the business delegation from the IMC to Sri Lanka in 2017.
In the keynote address the Director General of the IMC sounded curious to know about the developmental reforms laid out by the Sri Lankan government, the sectors opened for the investments and about the present economic situation in Sri Lanka, especially in the context of various adverse media reports in the Indian media. He also underlined the IMC members’ interests for the participation in the economic development process of Sri Lanka on a win-win economic equation favorable for both the parties.
Addressing the gathering and answering the inquiries raised by the committee members, Consul General explained about the present situation in Sri Lanka. During his address, he highlighted the GOSL’s successful vaccination campaign, measures taken by the government to welcome the international travelers and to revive the tourism industry; the investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka such as the pharmaceutical zone, textile zone, the port city, opportunities in fisheries & agro-sector; favorable investment climate; improving economic situation; air connectivity and the potential for furthering the trade and investment activities and he clarified the adverse propaganda on the Hambantota harbor, the Port City and on the ‘so-called Chinese geo-strategic interest in Sri Lanka’. He went on to clarify the adverse media reports on foreign currency issue in Sri Lanka stating that it’s not a structural issue, but only a short-term liquidity issue due to the covid pandemic and that the central bank of Sri Lanka has already begun the process of normalizing the situation.
When inquired about China’s growing geo-strategic influence in Sri Lanka, Consul General Dr. Vethody clarified that we Sri Lankans are proud of our sovereignty and integrity and we will never be subservient to any other nations, and the ‘so-called Chinese economic presence in Sri Lanka’ is purely due to economic factors. He cited the examples of how Sri Lanka finished the separatist war despite mounting foreign pressure from powerful nations and the incidents of how a Chinese ship with undeclared radioactive material was sent out of Hambantota harbor and the recent incident of Sri Lanka not accepting the fertilizer consignment from Chinese company as the samples were tested contaminated. He invited Indian investors to participate to capture the opportunities in Sri Lanka without making up presumptions afterwards. All the participants were invited to attend the upcoming investment seminar organized by the Mission in association with the Confederation of the Indian Industries (CII), Gujarat Chapter).
IMC is a long-standing business association with rich heritage in Mumbai. Most of the major business establishments and industrialists in Mumbai and the western region of India, such as Reliance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Godrej, etc. are the members of the IMC. It has a membership base of over 5000 members and over 150 trade associations affiliated to it. The chamber was established on 07 September 1907 by few Indian Merchants, to fight for the rights of the local businesses’ interests. In recognition of the Chamber’s contribution to nation building, Mahatma Gandhi accepted honorary membership in 1931.The foundation stone of the Chambers’ building in Churchgate at Mumbai was laid by Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Chamber’s core function during the present time is to provide policy inputs and to promote interests of industry and economic growth of the country.
Consul General was assisted by Consul (Commercial) Sandun Sameera of the Mission during the visit.
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
