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It’s About Time – an informative experience of history
It’s About Time, a traveling history museum in Sri Lanka which was brought to life in early 2019, has now returned in a compact and unique capacity, with two celebratory and informative installations inside a mobile container! The exhibition will be located on the premises of the University of Colombo (Colombo 3), at the Faculty of Arts entrance via Philip Gunawardena Mawatha (Reid Avenue) on 14-22 February 2022, from 9am to 5pm, daily.
The exhibits include ‘The Archive of Memory’, which is an ever-evolving archive of everyday people’s stories and their affiliation to an object that evokes a memory of a historic moment. This exhibit was particularly important to showcase as it was launched 70 years after Sri Lanka had gained its Independence. It invites you to participate as a humble onlooker, who may eventually contribute to the archive should you have a story of your own. It is presented in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
The second exhibition titled ‘A Window into Sri Lankan History’ is a critical overview of the historical developments that led from the collapse of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom until 1948 – the end of colonial rule. Senior lecturer of the History Department of the University of Colombo, Dr Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, leads the research in this initiative. Dr Dewasiri has been developing this narrative over the past 4 years with in-depth archival research offering new perspectives to modern history. This exhibition will be presented in Sinhala.
Starting in February 2019 and touring four districts with over 18,000 visitors, the museum showcased a variety of interactive art and cultural exhibits, audio-visual material, and a series of performances and activities for all age groups in Moratuwa, Weerawila, Nittambuwa and Jaffna. The museum took audiences on a journey through different facets of Sri Lanka’s history since independence, to celebrate the country’s diversity and recognize the role we play in shaping history.
Apart from the aforementioned installations that are free to visit between 14-22 February at 9 am – 5 pm, there will also be scheduled events that will be taking place. This includes two significant launches. It’s About Time’s next medium, a virtual museum that the public can access on a mobile device, will be previewed and launched on 18 February at 4:30 pm at the exhibition while the book ‘Biography of Sarath Wijesinghe’ written by Hemamali Wijesinghe will be launched on 22 February from 4:00 to 6:00pm in the Colombo University’s open space.
Thirteen unique short films made by local emerging and established filmmakers will also be screened on themes of memory and minorities of Sri Lanka. The film screenings will take place on 17-21 February from 3:00 to 4:30pm at the exhibition. All event features will be accessible in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
The museum is organised by an initiative called historicaldialogue.lk, a platform of Sri Lankan professionals working towards a critical and constructive approach in dealing with the past. For more information visit www.historicaldialogue.lk. historicaldialogue.lk is supported by Strengthening Reconciliation Processes in Sri Lanka (SRP), a programme jointly funded by the European Union and the German Government. SRP partners with the government of Sri Lanka, and is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the British Council.
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
