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Lanka and the Netherlands consolidate bilateral cooperation
he inaugural session of the bilateral political consultations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands at Foreign Ministry level was convened on Tuesday 05 April, 2022 on a virtual platform, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
The consultations coincided with a year-long program jointly organized by the Embassies of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in Colombo and in The Hague to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The two sides engaged in productive discussions on a multitude of areas of bilateral and multilateral interest comprising political cooperation and the exchange of high-level visits; trade, investment and tourism; air connectivity; climate change; capacity building and training of the public service; women’s empowerment; cooperation in defense, education and agriculture; as well as cultural cooperation.
The two sides reiterated their mutual interest in further consolidating trade and prosperity through engagement in the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka apprised the Netherlands of progress in reconciliation including the PTA reform process. The discussion identified a number of areas of follow up, with particular attention to development cooperation.
Sri Lanka appreciated the support extended in multiple spheres by the Netherlands through its development cooperation portfolio, as well as the market access provided for Sri Lanka’s exports to the Netherlands via the EU GSP plus scheme.
Recalling historical relations spanning 400 years, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands deliberated on enhancing cultural cooperation through technical assistance in the restoration of Dutch heritage sites, cooperation between museums and the national archives and discussions on ongoing on the restitution of artifacts.
Sri Lanka acknowledged the support rendered by countries in Europe through the European Union and bilaterally, in addressing the shared challenges posed by Covid-19.
The Consultations were co-chaired by the Additional Secretary/ Bilateral (West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Manisha Gunasekera and the Director General/Asia and Oceania (DAO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Karin Mössenlechner.
The Netherlands delegation included the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka Tanja Gonggrijp, the Head of South Asia and South-East Asia/ Department for Asia and Oceania Max Valstar and senior officials from the Netherlands Foreign Ministry. The Sri Lankan delegation included the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Aruni Ranaraja, Director General Europe/ Varuni Muthukumarana and senior officials from relevant line Ministries/agencies and the Foreign Ministry.
The second session of bilateral political consultations between Sri Lanka and Netherlands will be held in The Hague, the Netherlands in 2024.
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
