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One out of six Lankans now multi-dimensionally poor and bulk of them are in rural areas
Approximately one out of every six (16 percent) persons in the country is multi-dimensionally poor, says the Sri Lanka’s first official national Multidimensional Poverty Index (national MPI).
The National MPI, using data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019, launched last week, shows that more than eight out of every 10 (80.9 percent) persons who are poor live in rural areas.
The National MPI, prepared jointly by UNICEF, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the European Union, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) indicates that poverty levels in districts vary significantly, from a low of 3.5 percent in Colombo to 44.2 percent in Nuwara Eliya. Even for districts with similar MPI values, high-impact policies must consider the indicator composition of poverty, in order to plan the most cost-effective response. Estate areas are pockets of poverty, requiring policy attention, as more than half (51.3 percent) of all people in these areas are living in poverty.
The Executive Summary of the report, titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 Results: National and Child Analyses’ shows that 17.9% of the people, aged 65 years and older, are the poorest age group in Sri Lanka, with the highest headcount ratio (17.9 percent), as well as intensity of poverty and MPI. . Deprivation patterns – and therefore policy and budgetary responses – vary by district and age. The deprivations that require immediate policy attention are the lack of access to health facilities and basic facilities, clean cooking fuels, and safe drinking water.
It says: In 2021, in close consultation with various ministries, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) developed the first official national Multidimensional Poverty Index (national MPI) for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan national MPI is an official permanent statistic of multidimensional poverty that will be updated and published regularly, reported as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 1.2.2, and used to complement the monetary poverty measure. A key population of concern around poverty is young children, whose deprivations in nutrition and cognitive development have lifelong effects. To further probe and support child poverty policies, DCS crafted an individual child Multidimensional Poverty Index (child MPI) for children aged 0-4, which includes exactly the same indicators as the national MPI, plus undernutrition and early childhood development. The national MPI and the child MPI are both based on data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019 (HIES 2019). The HIES 2019 was modified to include key MPI indicators, and will do so in future, permitting updates of both MPIs. Sri Lanka’s child MPI is the first official measure of child poverty that links directly and precisely with the national MPI. The MPI is not just a statistic, it is a policy tool. It provides relevant information to accelerate poverty reduction with limited resources – by informing high-impact budget allocation, focused interventions, policy design and coordination, and poverty monitoring. This report presents the key findings of Sri Lanka’s official permanent national MPI and its linked child MPI, further disaggregated by location, age and sex, and the policy implications of these findings. This report explains why Sri Lanka was motivated to develop multidimensional poverty indices, the process followed to design these policy-salient measures, and the measurement methodology. The national MPI results convey the level and composition of multidimensional poverty, disaggregated by age, area, district, and sex of the household head. The child MPI results delve further into an individual measure for children aged 0-4 that is directly linked to the national MPI, but which exposes particular needs of young children.
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
