News
National Muslim Assembly launched with Prof. Kemal Deen as Chairperson
The National Muslim Assembly of Sri Lanka was formally launched at its first annual general meeting held recently at Jetwing Colombo 07.
Inaugurated by a collective of Sri Lankan Muslims from private, business, academic and professional spheres, the organisation is the first of its kind to comprise the four key Muslim ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, namely the Sri Lankan Moors, Sri Lankan Malays, Sri Lankan Memons and the Sri Lankan Dawoodi Borahs.
The National Muslim Assembly (NMA), is a non-political, non-sectarian civil organisation formed with the purpose of providing eminent civil representation in all matters relevant to the community. In so doing, restoring the dignity of the Muslim community by actively demonstrating the community’s commitment towards national integration, national unity and national harmony in Sri Lanka.
Conceptualised by a cross section of Sri Lankan Muslims, referred to as the ‘Architects of the Assembly’, the NMA is intended to function as a catalyst towards working for the common good of not just Sri Lankan Muslims, but for all Sri Lankans alike with a commitment to representation and accountability through the very best talents and resources the Sri Lankan Muslim community has to offer.
The NMA is led by one of Sri Lanka’s most eminent medical luminaries, Prof. Kemal Deen, who serves as Chairperson. Joining him on the Board of the NMA are: Afzal Marikkar (Vice Chair), Khuzaimah Jafferjee (Vice Chair), Zaharine Hameen (Secretary) and Sabry Ghouse (Treasurer).
The NMA is further constituted by the following members: Mohamed Adamaly, Aman Ashraff, Zuraish Hashim, Suhail Jamaldeen, Aisha Sattar and A.G.M. Yaseen.
“It’s time for us to come together as a nation” , Prof. Kemal Deen said, “and the NMA is an unprecedented first step because it is the first civil body to be formally composed of Sri Lankan Muslims from all four ethnic groups. We are united by one common fact, which is that we are all Sri Lankans. And that acknowledgment in itself, is of paramount significance.”
In response to the immediate plans of the NMA, Kemal Deen said: “We have a series of initiatives planned, ranging from education to social upliftment, community awareness initiatives, poverty alleviation and more. We hope to get them underway no sooner COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed; but the end goal is much bigger than that. It is to foster a united nation, through mutual understanding and respect that is achieved by bringing the community to new crossroads and weaving a new fabric that relates and integrates more effectively with the rest of the country. It makes the challenge appear even more daunting, but that’s the point. Challenging ourselves to do better for each other and our nation.”
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
