News
Maj Gen Upul Perera re-elected as SLESA President
The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association was held on Sunday, 30 April 2023 at Eagle’s Lakeside, Attidiya amidst nearly 550 members gathered from 48 affiliated associations and Maj Gen Upul Perera, was unanimously re-elected as the President of the Association for the fifth consecutive year. Along with him, others who were elected for the Board of Management were Major General Mahinda Ambanpola as Vice President (Army), SA Ariyaratne (Master Chief Petty Officer) as Vice President (Navy), Wing Commander Malinda Wijenayake as Vice President (Air Force), Lt Col Ajith Siyambalapitiya as Secretary General and Major Shanthilal Kankanamge as the Treasurer of the association.
Sri Lanka Ex -Servicemen’s Association (SLESA) is the largest single veteran organization of retirees of Tri Forces, headquartered at Bristol Street, Colombo 1. SLESA was formed in 1944, with an objective of fostering the spirit of comradeship and esprit de corps among all ranks of Ceylon Ex – Servicemen who served in world wars one 1914 -1918) & two ( 1938 – 1945) in order to provide assistance & promote their welfare. The active membership of SLESA, both male & female, is well over 50,000 at present. The SLESA was incorporated by Act No 8 of 1976 of Parliament and it was a much significant recognition to the Association. This was again amended to suit the requirements as Act No 42 of 1992. In line with the Parliamentary Act, the SLESA is governed by its own rules constituted at the General Assembly.
Elected President, Major General Upul Perera has served the Sri Lanka Army as a commissioned officer for nearly 35 years and has held numerous strategic appointments in the Army prior to his retirement as the Deputy Chief of Staff in December 2010. He is a member of the Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers and has done his engineering and management studies locally as well as overseas and possesses a vast knowledge in both fields.
After retirement, he joined the Private Sector and is currently serving as a Consultant for a leading company in the Island. He has also contributed his services as the President of the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka, President of United Nations Association of Sri Lanka and President of Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball and Softball Association and currently is serving as the President of Institute of Automotive Engineers of Sri Lanka in addition to his appointment as the President of Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association. He has also functioned as a Director / Councilor of Asian Association of Management Organizations and functions, at present, as a Council Member of International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies.
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
