News
New Adikarana Sangha Nayake of Great Britain
By Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
The Buddhist community in Great Britain gathered in joyous celebration as Ven. Makure Mangala Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the East London Buddhist Cultural Centre (Lumbini Vihara), Deputy Head Priest of Makandura Sri Saranankaramaya, and Vice President of the Sri Lanka Sangha Sabha of the United Kingdom, was officially bestowed with the distinguished title of “Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka” of Great Britain.
This prestigious honour was conferred upon him by the eminent Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera, the spiritual leader of the Malwatta Chapter of Siam Nikaya.
The Sannasa, symbolizing the appointment to the esteemed position, was ceremoniously presented to venerable thero by the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in London. The position of “Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka” of Great Britain had been vacant since the passing of the revered Most Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Thera.
To mark this momentous occasion, a felicitation ceremony took place at the Lumbini Vihara on July 15, 2023. The event was graced by the presence of several esteemed dignitaries, including the Chief incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, Most Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Thera. Joining him were the Head monk of Birmingham Maha Vihara Dr. Vitharandeniye Kassapa Thera, the Head monk of French International Buddhist Centre and Chief Sangha Nayaka of France, Dr. Paravahera Chandra Rathana Thera, Head monk of Manchester Buddhist Vihara Pidiville Piyatissa Thera, Head monk of Birmingham Jethavana Vihara Keppetiyagoda Gunavansa Thera, Thawalama Bandula Thera of London Buddhist Vihara, Head monk of Anuradhapura Sambuddha Jayanthi Vihara and Chief Sangha Nayaka (Asgiriya Chapter) of Northern & Central Province Nugethenne Pannananda Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweliseya temple and Chancellor of the Rajarata University Eethalawetunawewe Gnanathillaka Thera, Head monk of Allenmethiyarama, Kirulapona, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, and other esteemed members of the Maha Sangha.
Ven. Makure Mangala Nayaka Thera’s new role holds great responsibility, the legacy of the late Most Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Thera shall be carried forward. The felicitation ceremony witnessed a large gathering of devoted followers.
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
