News
Lanka seeks UK assistance to boost aviation, trade, and energy sectors
By Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
In a pivotal meeting last week, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London, Rohitha Bogollagama, appealed for critical assistance from the UK’s Office of Lord Davies to bolster the aviation industry, enhance trade ties, and advance renewable energy initiatives between the two nations.
The meeting, which took place between High Commissioner Bogollagama and UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka, Lord Davies of Abersoch CBE, primarily centred on reviving British Airways operations in Sri Lanka and securing additional slots for SriLankan Airlines at Gatwick airport. The aim behind these endeavours is to accommodate the surging number of British tourists visiting Sri Lanka and catering to the substantial British-Sri Lankan population residing in the UK, which numbers around 700,000.
Highlighting the burgeoning tourism sector, Bogollagama emphasized the remarkable increase in tourist arrivals, surpassing 1.3 million, with a noteworthy 120,000 visitors arriving from the UK alone. Additionally, he raised the prospect of reconnecting the Scottish population with Sri Lanka’s historic Scottish tea trails, deeply rooted in the island nation’s plantation industry established by Scottish planters.
Moreover, the High Commissioner briefed Lord Davies on the latest developments regarding the IMF bailout package and its impact on Sri Lanka’s political and economic stability. He underscored the country’s strides in achieving short-term stability, attributing this success to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s resilient leadership in navigating various challenges.
In response, Lord Davies commended Sri Lanka’s resurgence, expressing confidence that the approved IMF bailout package, coupled with relaxed exchange controls, reduced bureaucracy in certain systems, and sustained political stability, would significantly bolster investor confidence. He anticipated a substantial surge in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), particularly in sectors such as apparel, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and tourism.
Highlighting the incentives offered to foreign investors within Sri Lanka’s regulatory frameworks, Bogollagama emphasized measures such as eased repatriation of capital and profits from projects under the Board of Investment (BOI), restructuring of State-Owned Enterprises, and initiatives in the Colombo Port City, slated to become an independent economic zone.
To further improve the ease of doing business, facilitate cross-border trade, and streamline customs controls, discussions involved seeking technical assistance from the UK, particularly from experts at His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The focus would be on implementing a ‘Single Window’ system and enhancing digitalization and automation of customs procedures in Sri Lanka.
Turning to Sri Lanka’s commitment to renewable energy, Bogollagama outlined the government’s emphasis on bolstering solar and wind power plants. Notably, plans for a 200 MW floating solar power plant at Samanalawewa were revealed, aiming to cater to a significant portion of the country’s energy needs. Additionally, he expressed Sri Lanka’s interest in collaborating with industry leaders in the UK to venture into Electric Vehicle manufacturing.
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
