News
No endemic birds on critically endangered species list
By Ifham Nizam
Out of the 19 species of birds listed as critically endangered, five are breeding residents while the remaining 14 are breeding residents with a migrant population, and the Red List category applies only to the breeding population, an avifauna expert has said.
None of the endemic species have been listed as Critically Endangered species. Out of the 14 species of breeding residents with migrant populations, the breeding population of 11 species is restricted to the Palk Bay coastal zone. Eight out of this 11 species are known to breed only in the Adams Bridge Marine National Park.
Out of the remaining three species, breeding population of blue-tailed bee-eater is restricted to the southeastern part of Sri Lanka.
Professor of Zoology Dr. Devaka Weerakoon, one of the foremost authorities of Realist Data studies/birds told The Island that out of the 32 breeding residents with migrant populations assessed, 23 (75%) were threatened, which indicates that the breeding populations are small and restricted to few locations, which is the reason for placing them in one of the three threat categories. However, the migrant population of all these species are listed as least concern on a global scale.
Launching the National Red List: The Conservation Status of the Birds Sri Lanka 2021, the expert stressed that completing the Red List assessment is only the end of the beginning.
Prof. Weerakoon also said that there are number of follow up activities that should be done to accrue the full benefit of Red List assessments. These include improving the overall Red Listing process, improving the National Species Database, updating the Global Red List for the endemic species, implementing programmes to recover populations of threatened species, develop and promote a research agenda for threatened species and mainstreaming the national Red List into ongoing cross-sectoral initiatives.
Among the many taxa that are found in Sri Lanka, birds are perhaps the most attractive faunal group. The avifauna of Sri Lanka comprises, 522 species belonging to 23 orders, 89 families, and 266 genera. Of these 522 species, 244 have breeding populations of which 34 are restricted to Sri Lanka (endemic). This rich avifauna of Sri Lanka is globally recognized with six Wetlands of International Importance 70 Important Bird Areas and 82 Key Biodiversity Areas.
The high diversity seen among avifauna of Sri Lanka can be attributed to a wide range of topographic and climatic conditions that prevail in Sri Lanka that has given rise to some unique bioclimatic zones. Further, abundance of water due to large number of natural and manmade wetlands, association with multiple land masses during its evolutionary history, the current location at the southern end of the central Asian flyway and Sri Lanka being a continental island have also contributed to the evolution of a wide range of terrestrial, aquatic, coastal and marine habitats that can provides an array of different ecological niches that have been invaded by birds.
The Red List is one of the best indicators of the health of a species as it is an assessment that takes into consideration most of the internal and external factors that influence the long term survival of the species being assessed. It is a very useful tool that provides the basis for planning conservation action as well as policy and research directions.
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
