News
Over 3,750 Americans visited Sri Lanka Embassy ‘Open House’ in Washington
Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe and the staff of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C. opened their doors for American visitors as part of Passport DC’s ‘Around the World Embassy Tour’ from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturday May 6, promoting Sri Lanka as an exciting tourist destination among over 3,750 prospective US tourists and well-wishers who visited the Embassy during the event as verified by Passport DC, an Embssy news release issued by the foreign office in Colombo said.
“The visitors were treated to traditional Sri Lankan hospitality with a sample of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine including street food while offering them the opportunity to witness live cooking demonstrations in collaboration with the assistance extended by the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau,” the release said.
The Embassy also made arrangements to serve all the visitors a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon tea in a specially set up tea corner that demonstrated different types of Ceylon Tea. In addition, a spice corner was set up for the visitors to learn about and experience the highest quality of different varieties of Ceylon spices that the country could offer.
“The hosts were heartened to witness the large number of visitors queuing up to taste Sri Lankan food and tea throughout the day,” the release added.
Among the activities organized by the Embassy to mark the occasion, a photo opportunity in traditional attire was a highlight among the visitors with many American women queuing up to drape themselves in Kandyan sarees, whilst gents tried on vivid batik sarongs and shirts.
Sri Lankan traditional handicrafts comprising of wooden masks, drums, bags, batik wear, brass items and paintings were on display and proved to be another major attraction for the visitors. Traditional cultural dances and drums that were performed in regular intervals by students from two dancing academies based in Washington DC captivated the guests throughout the day.
The Embassy seized the opportunity in showcasing the diverse tourist attractions of the country by exhibiting vibrant photos as well as continually broadcasting well-chosen tourist-oriented videos portraying pristine beaches, green mountain landscapes, and highlighting Sri Lanka tourism ranging from adventure and wellness to wildlife, catching the interest and attention of all visitors.
On the sideline of gift distribution, a large volume of tourist promotional materials was also shared among spectators. To the surprise of the audience, the first 1,000 visitors who attended the event were offered a large pack of Ceylon tea each as a complimentary gesture from the Embassy which was appreciated by the recipients.
The open house launched under a special event, “Passport DC”, was organized by Events DC in partnership with over 60 foreign Missions based in Washington D.C. including the Embassy of Sri Lanka.
This is a month-long festival in May that pays tribute to Washington D.C.’s thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture. As part of the festival, the first Saturday in May, the ‘International Cultural Awareness Month’ in Washington D.C., is devoted to Embassy open houses, the release explained.
Passport DC is Washington D.C.’s citywide international cultural awareness programme that enables residents and visitors to experience and explore the international culture that flourishes alongside Washington’s renowned institutions of governance, cultural and historic heritage.
Organized annually, Passport DC showcases Washington D.C.’s embassies and cultural organizations with a wide range of performances, discussions, and exhibits. It has become very popular among Americans in the Greater Washington area (Washington D.C., State of Maryland and Northern Virginia, and surrounding metropolitan area), as it gives them a rare opportunity of enjoying many aspects of foreign cultures and traditions in a single day.
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
