News
Lankan producer makes casting call to Lankan talent in the UK
By Sujeeva Nivunhella
reporting from London
Actor and film producer Saman Alankara is set to embark on his next cinematic venture, choosing the picturesque landscapes of England as the backdrop for his upcoming film. Alankara, whose latest creation, “Madura Katu” (Pleasing Thorns), recently premiered in London, is reaching out to aspiring actors and actresses of Lankan descent living in England to join him in this exciting project.
In an exclusive interview, Alankara expressed enthusiasm for providing opportunities to Lankans living in England who possess untapped acting talents. “There are Lankans living here with the necessary talent but no opportunities (to appear on film),” remarked Alankara, underscoring his commitment to fostering talent within the community abroad.
Originally a landscaper, Alankara stumbled into the world of acting unexpectedly. Recalling his entry into the industry, he shared, “I was invited to act in ‘Adi Vegayen Awith’ by director Srilal Wickremage. It was a single-episode teledrama. I ended up playing the main role as well as serving as the producer.”
Over the years, Alankara has demonstrated his acting skills in three teledramas, including “Hara Kotiya,” “Sillara Samanallu” and “Sudde,” along with five feature films “Aluth Palama,” “Jaya Sri Amathithuma,” “Nim Him”, “Hora Uncle”, and the recently premiered “Madura Katu.” Additionally, he has played roles in two stage plays, “Chaura Samagama” and “Api Dangakariyo,” with several of these productions being produced under his banner, Alankara Films.
Beyond the entertainment industry, Alankara is the owner of the landscaping and construction company “Salaru Associates.” He emphasized the company’s expertise in building walls with stones, a technique applied in numerous projects including hotels, zoological gardens, and private residences owned by distinguished Lankans.
Looking ahead, Alankara is gearing up to screen his film “Hora Uncle” upon his return to Sri Lanka, marking another milestone in his multifaceted career. As he ventures into shooting his upcoming film in England, the seasoned actor and producer are poised to provide a platform for Sri Lankan talent abroad, bridging the gap between aspirations and opportunities in the world of cinema.
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.
