News
Norway provides NOK 13 Mn to WFP, UNICEF, and UNFPA in Lanka
The Norwegian government is providing NOK 13 million (approx. Rs. 490 million) to the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sri Lanka to address food, nutrition and protection needs of the most vulnerable children and women.
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt in a statement issued from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said, ‘I am concerned about the food and nutrition crisis we are now witnessing in Sri Lanka. The grave humanitarian situation is having a severe impact on women and children.’
‘Norway’s allocation of NOK 13 million will address the acute need for food, nutrition, and protection in Sri Lanka. The support will be channeled through the UN and targeted towards food security and protection efforts,’ said Minister Huitfeldt.
Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trine Jøranli Eskedal said that, even before the current crisis, Sri Lanka had a significant percentage of malnourished children.The current economic crisis is having an adverse impact on the nutrition needs of pregnant and lactating women and children. In this challenging environment, women and children are also increasingly vulnerable to abuse and sexual and gender-based violence, the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said in a media release.
The UN fears that the situation could deteriorate due to failed harvests and the ongoing economic and political crisis in the country, and could evolve into a full-scale humanitarian crisis. Unless rapid action is taken, the situation could become even worse in the coming months. In light of this, the UN has developed a humanitarian response plan.
Norway will provide NOK 5 million to WFP, targeted towards vulnerable groups. Additionally, NOK 5 million and NOK 3 million will be provided to UNICEF and UNFPA, respectively, for their work to protect children and women.
Norway gives priority to providing protection for children and combating sexual and gender-based violence. These efforts are sorely needed in Sri Lanka to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Commenting on the support, Abdurrahim Siddiqui Representative and Country Director for WFP in Sri Lanka said, “we are grateful to the Norwegian Government for extending a much-needed contribution to WFP’s ongoing response as millions are struggling to meet basic food needs. We need all the support and contribution that we can get to step up our efforts to stall a humanitarian crisis in the making.”
“The current crisis that Sri Lanka faces disproportionately affects children, including their access to education, protection, nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene services. UNICEF’s teams are on the ground, responding to these urgent needs. This contribution from Norway is timely and will enable UNICEF reach more of the most vulnerable children and their families with the vital services they need”, said Emma Brigham, Acting Representative, UNICEF Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the need to prioritize sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence response services, Kunle Adeniyi, Representative for UNFPA Sri Lanka said, “the support received from the Government of Norway will help UNFPA ensure the most vulnerable women and girls including those at risk of gender-based violence are able to access critical health and protection services during the current crisis.”
Globally, Norway is a key partner and donor to the UN, including to WFP, UNICEF and UNFPA. The Government of Norway has a history of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Sri Lanka in times of need, during emergencies such as tsunamis and floods. Norway is also providing continuous support to humanitarian mine action in Sri Lanka.
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
