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National Law Week concluded after a series of events
The National Law Week, an important annual event organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), was held from Sept 25 to Oct 1. Starting with provincial programmes at selected Bars around the country, the ceremonial session took place on 28 September at the Courts Complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo, with the presence of high-level attendees including Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, President of the BASL Kaushalya Nawaratne, Chairman of the Legal Aid Commission Rohan Sahabandu PC, and Chairman of the Law Week Committee U.R. de Silva PC, a UNDP release said.
The National Law Week, organised by BASL, is of high significance in the legal calendar of Sri Lanka. It is a week-long programme that aims to promote awareness about the legal profession, educate the public about their legal rights and responsibilities, and foster a better understanding of the law in society. This year, the National Law Week partnered with the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union in Sri Lanka, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka, and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the Chairman of the Law Week Committee U.R. de Silva noted: “The National Law Week serves as a platform to promote legal literacy, create awareness about legal issues, and strengthen the legal profession in the country. It plays a vital role in enhancing legal education, fostering public trust in the judiciary, and ensuring access to justice for all”.
Noting the support of the EU-funded initiative, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka Dr Johann Hesse commented: “An efficient and inclusive justice sector is critical for social cohesion. The European Union is funding the JURE project and works with UNDP and UNICEF to promote home-grown reforms and institutions to improve access to justice for all and bring the sector closer to the people”.
The provincial programmes included the Bars of Batticaloa, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Ratnapura and Vavuniya as well as several others, and culminated in the official ceremonial session leading to interactive activities held in Colombo. The array of activities included public lectures, seminars, workshops, and panel discussions on different legal topics. Additionally, schoolchildren had debating competitions in the regions and were also invited to visit the courts and witness selected court processes. Renowned legal professionals, academics, and experts in various fields of law were invited to share their knowledge and insights with the participants, bringing public institutions and the public closer.
Commenting on the role of the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, noted: “Promoting access to justice for all is a defining pillar in our work, in particular working with women, children, the poor and persons in vulnerable situations. The lineup of activities of the National Law Week is catalytic, needed, and innovative as they bring the justice system closer to the people who need it most. I would like to sincerely commend the openness of the Bar and members for the initiative as it is very much in alignment with the UN’s vision on people-centred justice.”
Demonstrations of how the day-to-day court processes are conducted so the public can see and learn through experiencing it are vital to bridge the knowledge gap between the justice system and the public’s understanding of its operations.
A booklet was also published in local languages, by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, to help enhance knowledge of the general public on key laws in the country.
The National Law Week saw the participation of well over 3,500 people over the course of the seven days it was operational throughout Sri Lanka. The activities and programmes contribute to enriching the legal legacy that is not restricted to the hearings in a court complex but brings the justice system closer to the people who need it most.
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
