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Pathfinder proposes a Medium and Long-term Strategy for Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka with Indo-Japanese Collaboration
The official launch of the Report on “A Medium and Long-term Strategy for Indo-Japanese Collaboration to Support the Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka”, prepared by the Pathfinder Foundation with the assistance of a panel of experts, was held, in Colombo, last week. Foreign Minister, Ali Sabri, was the chief guest while Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, and Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki were also present.
The event was organized in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva and attended by representatives from several government and private sector agencies. Bernard Goonetilleke. Chairman, Pathfinder Foundation; handed the Report to Minister Ali Sabry, a Pathfinder news release said.
The report has suggested a strategic response to transforming the economy, focusing on four priority sectors in which Indo-Japanese collaboration is sought to put the country on a sustainable growth trajectory for a structural shift, it explained.
In his welcome remarks, Pathfinder Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, while thanking all the experts who contributed to the report, highlighted that two countries – India and Japan as very close development partners of Sri Lanka, who have much to contribute to reviving Sri Lanka’s economy.
He added, “India’s interest in the welfare of the country and its people was evident in the granting of generous credit and other facilities amounting to almost 4.0 billion US dollars in the recent past to overcome the economic crisis. Likewise, Japan has been a country which had generously provided economic support going back many decades”.
Foreign Minister Sabry highlighted some important points for consideration. He urged all think tanks, such as Pathfinder Foundation, to look into areas a typical politician would not comprehend and push for necessary changes. He also reiterated that a politician should have the humility to listen and learn from experts on the subject, encouraging think tanks to engage with the public and share populist policies.
High Commissioner Bagley pointed out that Sri Lanka occupies a unique place in India’s foreign policy mainly due to India’s neighbourhood-first policy. He added that India stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in overcoming the current economic crisis. Ambassador Hideaki also expressed his sincere hope that this year will be the beginning of an economic revival providing a springboard for future development for Sri Lanka. He also mentioned that Japan had been a long-standing partner in Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic development.
Before the report’s launch, Dr. Dayaratna Silva, Executive Director of the Pathfinder Foundation, introduced the 120-page report explaining its main thrust and the rationale for sector selection as the key drivers for structural transformation of the economy. Sector experts made presentations at the technical sessions covering the role of the four sectors in transforming the economy, existing policy framework gaps, and key recommendations for triangular cooperation.
The topic of session one was Low–Carbon Power Generation, which discussed renewable energy, LNG and the utility of grid – connectivity between Sri Lanka and India. The lead speaker of the session, Eng. Gamini Senanayake provided important perspectives on the subject. The second session covered the Development of Trincomalee as an Energy Hub, presented by Mr. T.F. Nimal Perera and Prof. I. M Dharmadasa who joined the event via Zoom and contributed his ideas on the future of green energy and issues relating to the proposed nuclear power generation in Sri Lanka.
Technical sessions continued with Mr. Rohan Masakorala and Dr. Dimantha De Silva (via Zoom) explaining their recommendation on the Logistics and Connectivity sector, which included ports, railways, airports, and ferry transportation. The final session included valuable insights on Education by Prof. Siri Hettige, followed by recommendations for the Tourism sector by industry experts Dr. Vipula Wanigasekara and Dr. Malraj Kiriella. The technical sessions concluded with Eng. Sena Peiris and Mr. Nihal Cooray, speaking on an important topic of “Training and skills development”.
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
