News
More than half of elephant deaths cold blooded killings
By Ifham Nizam
More than half of the elephants that lost their lives in the country were killed for the sake of killing them, said Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage, adding that they were killed like rats.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting at the Hector Kobekaduwa Research Centre in Colombo yesterday to submit “A Proposal to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka”, Withanage said that the sole aim of the proposals should be to protect the elephants while making sure no injustice was caused to the farmers.
He said that introducing farmers’ insurance schemes would be of paramount importance while also promoting sustainable agriculture.
Withanage strongly criticised people with political connections being the biggest problem for the Department of Wildlife, in controlling illegal activities in the elephant corridors.
While pointing out that more than 400 elephant deaths take place annually, he said a tragic incident took place in 2019, where seven elephants belonging to the same herd were found dead at Hiriwadunna reserve in Habarana which drew immediate attention of the public.
Legal action was initiated to investigate the incident and advocate for justice. As per the request by the Court of Appeal, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) conducted a rigorous public consultation process with the aim of finding solutions to Mitigate human-elephant conflict.
In 2022, there were 443 elephant and 145 human deaths due to the increasing conflict between humans and elephants in Sri Lanka.
Almost 90% of elephant deaths are caused by human activities. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is classified as an endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red Data Book in 2021. Due to the estimated 50% decrease in Asian elephant population over the last three generations and the rapid reduction in the extent of their habitat, Asian elephants have drawn the attention of conservationists from all over the world.
The current distribution of elephants in Sri Lanka is mainly in the dry zone, which comprises 60% of the island, and very limited in the wet zone (Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve and Adam’s Peak Sanctuary).
Majority of the protected areas in the country are situated in the dry zone, however, elephant home range extends beyond the national parks.
Based on the results of an elephant census carried out in 2011, Sri Lanka is home to about 5,787 elephants. An accurate and reliable data is not available after 2011.
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
