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KOICA ICT Laboratory for students from vulnerable community in Matara Technical College area
The Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has initiated a small scale project to establish an ICT Laboratory at Matara for students in the vulnerable community of that area, to ensure affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education along with increasing the number of youth who have necessary ICT skills for employment and entrepreneurship, KOICA said in a media release.
It said: The ceremony was held with the participation of Country Director of the KOICA Sri Lanka office Mrs. KIM MYUNGJIN, Principal of the Matara Technical College S.J. Basnayake, KOICA Volunteer for Korean Language Kang Jung Hoon, Co-worker for KOICA Volunteer Program at Technical College Matara Ruwanmalee Jayaweera, along with beneficiaries, instructors and academic staff on 10th November 2023 at Matara.
The targeted beneficiaries of this project were students within the ICT stream at the Technical College and prospective students unable to participate in education due to a lack of educational equipment. In addition to this, the project is conducting special courses to enhance the digital literacy for people with disabilities and the elderly in Matara. In consideration of the common mandates on and interests in the Sustainable Development, Goal No. 4. Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for both quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
The Principal of the Matara Technical College stated that “KOICA Sri Lanka and Technical College Matara have a fruitful relationship and projects of this scope are necessary for the upliftment of quality education and development. There are many students who do not have access to ICT equipment and KOICA’s assistance towards access to quality education is invaluable and greatly appreciated”. Korea’s various development assistance programs helped in many ways to develop the living condition of the citizens of Matara area and expressed his gratitude to KOICA and the people of the Republic of Korea.”
The Country Director of KOICA Sri Lanka office KIM MYUNGJIN expressed her best wishes to the beneficiary citizens of the Matara Technical College area and stated that Korea will continue its ODA programs towards Sri Lanka; which will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.”
The KOICA, the grant aid division of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea is the Korean government agency for grant aids under the mission of “mutual development cooperation leaving no one behind.”
KOICA Sri Lanka Office has been implementing a variety of development projects and fellowship programmes since 1991 and currently supporting various grant projects including COVID-19 response projects to fight against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka in conjunction with the Sri Lankan Government, Korean NGOs, and International Organisations.
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
