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National Foundation Day Celebration of Republic of Korea held in Colombo
On 5th October 2022, the Korean Embassy led by Korean Ambassador, Santhush Woonjin Jeong hosted the National Foundation Day Celebrations of the Republic of Korea, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. It is a monumental year to commemorate the 4354th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean nation, against the backdrop of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Sri Lanka celebrated this year, The National Foundation Day reception was celebrated with the participation of many Korean nationals, Sri Lankans and friends of Korea.
Among the dignitaries, the gracious presence of the Chief Guest, Minister of Education, Susil Premajantha, Speaker of the Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chief of Defence Staff, Attorney General, IGP, Governors, Secretaries, Ambassadors and diplomats further contributed to strengthening the bilateral cooperation of Korea and Sri Lanka. Members of the business community with ties to Korea, Sports and cultural dignitaries, Korean ODA directors and media organizations were also present at the event to felicitate this occasion. Korean residents including Um Kyung-Ho PUAC President also took part in the celebrations.
The Korean National Foundation day ‘Gaecheonjeol,’ marks the origin of the first Korean Nation by the legendary founding father Dangun in 2333 BCE on October 3rd of every year. It is a special occasion for Korean nationals living worldwide. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the National Foundation Day Reception was not held in the last two years. The grand celebration held this year on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations has served as an opportunity for the two Asian friends to develop the bilateral cooperation to new heights. The official ceremony started with the National Anthems of both Sri Lanka and Korea performed by the Sri Lankan Navy Band.
Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Jeong stated that, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all Korean nationals, Sri Lankans and friends of Korea in Sri Lanka for attending today’s event. It is my great honour to host this wonderful occasion after a hiatus of two years. The Republic of Korea was once known as an aid-recipient nation in the past. We started from nothing, from ruins, devastated by the Korean War. Today, Korea has risen to the 10th largest economy and the 7th biggest exporter in the world. This year we celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our two countries. At this juncture, I remind you that the relations between our two countries have continued to evolve and develop in a whole spectrum of fields of mutual interest. Now is the time to realize the potential of this beautiful country and achieve our common goals together. It is an opportune moment for Korea and Sri Lanka to deepen and widen exchanges, learn from each other’s experiences and intensify mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Minister Premajantha congratulated Ambassador Jeong for the National Foundation Day of Korea. He stated, “Korea has emerged as a peaceful country with a vibrant democracy and a rich cultural heritage. We are proud as an Asian country to say that Korea has progressed in her journey as a developing country to a developed nation through the economic miracle, popularly known as ‘Miracle of Han River.’ Sri Lanka too wishes to draw from be guided and to emulate the economic miracle of the Republic of Korea, towards achieving our goal of socio-economic development. Korea has remained consistently as an invaluable development partner of Sri Lanka contributing to the development priorities of the Sri Lankan government especially in the fields of education, transportation, water management and rural development.” Hon. Minister further highlighted the Sri Lankan government’s initiative to adopt Korean language for advanced level classes and introduction of the Korean language for the university entrance examination from 2023. The Minister commended the paper donations by the Korean community in Sri Lanka to the Department of Examinations during the difficult times. Furthermore, the Minister expressed the deep appreciation to the government of Korea for providing much needed employment opportunities to Sri Lanka and looking after their welfare.
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
