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National Trauma Conference focusing on home and road accidents on Nov. 10-11

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By Harindi Liyanage

Arrangements are in full swing to host the National Trauma Conference – 2023, an innovative initiative spearheaded by the Trauma Secretariat (TS) of Sri Lanka. With the support of Upali Newspapers Ltd as the official print media partner, the conference is scheduled to take place on the November 10 and 11 in Colombo.

To shed light on the significance of this conference, we had the privilege of talking to two influential figures in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system: Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services, and Dr. Indika Jagoda, Director of the Accidents Ward at Colombo National Hospital. In our conversation, they highlighted the concerning rise in accidents across the country.

Over the past decade, the number of admissions to hospitals here has seen a startling trend, with trauma patients topping the highest admissions category. This surge can be primarily attributed to the increasing number of accidents which cover a broad spectrum ranging from road accidents to falls occurring within households, schools, and workplaces.

Dr. Gunawardena pointed out that a significant portion of accident victims belongs to the economically active age group of 15 to 44 years, making it a common issue worldwide. Tragically, every four hours, one life is lost due to traffic accidents, with countless others suffering temporary or permanent disabilities.

The financial burden on the government to treat and rehabilitate these victims, apart from the strain it places on their families, is substantial.

According to World Bank reports, Sri Lanka’s Gross National Product loses between seven to 21 percent due to accidents. This makes it imperative for the nation to collectively work towards reducing accident rate. It’s not just the economic loss; it’s the invaluable human resource the nation loses each time an accident occurs.

The most common types of accidents in Sri Lanka are falls within homes, followed by motor accidents, with motorcycles accounting for 60 to 70 percent of them. Reckless driving, night vision issues, and mental stress contribute to the high number of motorcycle accidents.

Dr. Jagoda emphasized the dangers of using mobile phones while riding motorcycles and highlighted that many women have fallen victim to accidents while riding scooters.

Drunk driving incidents are often reported on Fridays and weekends, and traffic accidents decrease in Colombo during extended weekends when many people leave the city for relaxation. Interestingly, during the last Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays, the number of accidents caused by fireworks and firecrackers reduced significantly due to media warnings.

Despite the successes in accident prevention, the media tends to highlight high accident numbers while overlooking achievements, which could encourage safer behavior, the two health administrators said.

Both Dr. Gunawardena and Dr. Jagoda stressed the importance of first aid assistance for accident victims. They recommended that everyone should receive first aid training and education on the proper methods of transporting victims to hospitals.

Plans are underway to introduce mandatory first aid kits on motorbikes, three-wheelers, and public transport vehicles in an effort similar to the “Stop the Bleed” program in the United States. These kits will be produced locally, and the Colombo National Hospital’s Accident Ward is actively working on this initiative, the two doctors said.

In a bid to further reduce accident-related fatalities, Sri Lanka plans to leverage GPS technology to ensure swift transportation of victims to hospitals. Airlifting victims to hospitals is another innovative approach being considered, which would significantly reduce transport times, potentially saving lives.

These initiatives not only aim to minimize accidents but also enhance Sri Lanka’s reputation as a safe travel destination, supporting the growth of tourism and adventure tourism. Collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police, the Air Force, and private aviation companies is on the horizon to promote these vital safety measures.

Dr Jagoda said that the National Trauma Conference – 2023 would serve as a platform to address these pressing issues, share innovative solutions, and pave the way for a safer Sri Lanka.

“It’s a collective effort to protect lives, boost the economy, and ensure the nation thrives as a secure and attractive travel destination,” he said.



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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development

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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.”

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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees

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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.

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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium

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Left to right, Prof. Arosha Adikaram - Chairperson of the Symposium, UAC Obeyesekere – Chief Executive Officer, CIPM Sri Lanka, Guest of Honor - Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer, MAS Holdings PVT Ltd., Sri Lanka, Ken Vijayakumar, President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Priyantha Ranasinghe,Vice President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Col. Saman Jayawickrama (Retd) – Secretary, CIPM Sri Lanka, Dr Dilanjalee Weerathunga – Co Chairperson of the Symposium

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.

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