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New Chief of Staff Maj Gen Jagath Kodithuwakku assumes duties
Maj Gen Jagath Kodithuwakku took office as the new Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Army, effective from Wednesday (8). He is one of the most senior veterans in the organization and is also the Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
As the 60th Chief of Staff of the Army, he symbolically placed his signature in an official document at his new office in the Army Headquarters during a brief ceremony amid religious blessings, conducted by Ven (Dr) Mabulgoda Sumanarathana Thero and other formalities. Lighting of the traditional oil lamp and performance of religious observances added significance to the inauguration.
Mrs Shiromala Kodithuwakku, family members, Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks were present at the occasion.
Maj Gen Kodithuwakku held many significant appointments in the Army as the Commander Infantry Brigade, General Officer Commanding of Infantry Division, the Quarter Master General of the Sri Lanka Army and the Commander, Security Forces Jaffna before he took office as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army on 12 December 2021.
He was born on 26 November 1967 in Galle and is a proud product of St. Aloysius College, Galle. He joined the Army on 27 October 1986 as an Officer Cadet to the Regular Intake 26. After completing basic training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy and the Pakistan Military Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the 3rd Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
During his illustrious military career, he has served varying appointments in different capacities, mostly in high intensity operational environments, in which he was recognized as a valiant infantryman. Throughout his career, he has been an excellent commander, instructor and a thorough staff officer. He is a personality with strong attention to detail with considerable leadership abilities.
Maj Gen Kodithuwakku is a strong communicator, advocate counsellor, and relationship developer. He is a graduate of the University of Colombo and holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Advancement. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Security Studies from the University of Bradford in UK. He is a professional counsellor and holds an Advanced Certificate in Guidance and Counselling from the Institute of Psychological Studies. Owing to his exceptional negotiating skills, he has been awarded the membership at the Sri Lanka Institute of Professional Counsellors. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, USA, where he completed the Comprehensive Crisis Management. His overseas exposures in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Mongolia, Indonesia and USA widened his horizons of professional knowledge further.
Also, he completed Mastering Education of Strategic and Resilience Studies at the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia. He has also attended the Pacific Area Security Sector Working Group (PASSWG) training programme at the Mongolian Armed Forces Special Operations Command, Pacific Joint Special Operations University in Mongolia. Further, he is the country representative for the International Convention on prohibition cluster munitions in Geneva, Switzerland.
At present he is providing a great contribution to uplift and maintain the Sinhalese martial art, namely the “Angampora” by being the Chairman of the Army and National “Angampora” Committees.
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
