News
More tourist flights from Ukraine despite lockdown
SLPP Chairman: ‘Economic recovery efforts underway…’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Tourism Ministry yesterday (14) said that a pilot project to bring in over 2,000 Ukrainian tourists was on track in spite of the partial lockdown of Ukraine, ministry sources told The Island.
The government in consultation with relevant authorities here and in Ukraine would continue with the high profile project, sources said, adding that in spite of some delays the flights were coming in.
When The Island pointed out that international media reported a two-week long countrywide lockdown in Ukraine commencing January 8 — a day after the widely celebrated Eastern Orthodox Christmas holiday, sources said that both Ukrainian International Airline and Sky Up operated flights to Mattala.
Sources said that the Ukrainian International Airline flight that had been scheduled to arrive in Mattala yesterday (14) would fly in today (15) along with a previous scheduled Sky Up flight.
In terms of an arrangement worked out by one-time Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga, Sky Up operated its first flight from Kiev on Dec 28, 2020. Of the 12 scheduled flights, Sky up would do eight and the rest by Ukrainian International Airline.
Of those dozen flights, two would be operated on January 22 and 24 after the re-opening of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on January 21.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told a meeting in Moneragala on Wednesday (13) so far approximately 1,200 Ukrainian tourists arrived in the country. In spite of the Opposition warning of a catastrophe, only two visitors had been tested Covid-19 positive, Minister Ranatunga said, in spite of initial hiccups, they were able to manage the project in line with health guidelines.
The SLPP Gampaha District Leader said that the pilot project had enabled them to identify shortcomings and take remedial measures in preparation for the BIA opening.
Minister Ranatunga emphasized that tourist trade couldn’t be allowed to collapse as over 3 million people depended on it. Questioning the Opposition political strategy, Minister Ranatunga said that perhaps some of those opposed to government efforts weren’t really aware of the ground situation.
SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that tourism revival plan was a part the overall measures adopted by the government to restore national economy. Comparing strategies implemented during the first Covid-19 wave in early part of 2020 and the second that erupted in Oct, Prof. Peiris said that tourism, garment trade and foreign remittances suffered gravely due to restrictions that had to be imposed for the safety and security of the people.
Pointing out that the restoration of tourism had to be gradual and in line with health guidelines in place, the Minister said, that the country should really appreciate the Ukrainians coming here. The SLPP Chairman said that it was a message to the world struggling to cope up with the rampaging pandemic.
Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Opposition expected the government to do nothing. What would have happened if the government indefinitely put off Year 5 Scholarship and the GCE Advanced Level examination late last year? Similarly, various interested parties tried to sabotage efforts to re-open schools, the Minister said, the government couldn’t just allow Covid-19 to derail ambitious projects undertaken by the SLPP in Nov, 2019.
The electorate overwhelmingly voted for Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the presidential and the SLPP at the parliamentary polls as they believed in the new administration. Covid-19 had affected government plans but every effort would be made to overcome challenges, the SLPP Chairman said.
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
