News
Parliament makes it compulsory to have two credits and simple pass in A/L Bio stream for SLMC registration
by Saman Indrajith
A regulation under the Medical Ordinance to make it compulsory for obtaining two credit passes (C) and one ordinary pass (S) in G.C.E Advanced Level Biology stream to be registered with the Medical Council of Sri Lanka was passed on Tuesday (3) in Parliament.
Another regulation under the Act was passed on the same day amidst the objections of JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who suggested that the resolution should be added to the Ordinance allowing it to be subjected to amendments yearly. Therefore, he further suggested that the matter should be referred and discussed at the Consultative Committee and made open to amendments prior to the passing of the second Resolution.
However, Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out in Parliament that the government did not see eye to eye with Dissanayake and that the resolution should be passed in Parliament as agreed at the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
The two resolutions were passed in Parliament and objections raised by the JVP leader were recorded.
Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, in her reply, said that passing the two resolutions was a contemporary requirement. She pointed out that medical education met the stipulated standards.
Responding to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, the Health Minister said that the appointment of the Director General of Health was done properly. She said it was approved by the Cabinet.
The Minister said the Medical Council ban on degrees offered by three Russian universities would be investigated as soon as possible in response to the question raised by the Chief Opposition Whip. She emphasised that measures had been adopted to lift the ban temporarily.
She said that thus far 25 labs had been established to conduct PCR tests following the COVID-19 virus eruption in the country. More than 8,000 PCR tests were now being conducted daily, she added.
Minister Wanniarachchi explained to the House that the delay in adding amendments to the Quarantine Act had been due to the need to conduct a comprehensive study thereon. The amendments added to the Act provided the police with the authority to arrest those who violated health guidelines. She said she expected maximum public support to beat the virus.
Minister Wanniarachchi said that the World Bank had provided USD 128 million until 2023 and out of that about USD 35 million had already been spent on health care, and another USD 22 million would be spent.
The Quarantine Act applied to the entire country, the Health Minister said. The public places as mentioned in the recently issued Gazette notification referred to open public places in particular, she said.
The Minister said that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka had been significantly controlled and the participation of all MPs without division to control the situation was necessary. She said why 60 per cent of COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka were asymptomatic was not known. The situation in the Gampaha District was under control, she said, adding that she hoped that the situation in the entire country would be brought under control soon.
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
