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Rajeev Amarasuriya speaks at Kigali Global Dialogue 2023
Attorney Rajeev Amarasuriya joined the Plenary Session on “Managing Debt and Looking at alternatives in Development Finance” at the Third Kigali Global Dialogue 2023 held in Kigali, Rwanda co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, (ORF) America, and the Rwanda Governance Board.
“This year’s dialogue was an official outreach event of the G20 under India’s Presidency,” a news release on the event said.
The Kigali Global Dialogue brings together policymakers, academics, civil society, and the private sector from around the world to deliberate and devise solutions to critical sustainable development challenges facing the global community. The platform is unique because it brings together delegates and speakers from more than 70 countries, it amplifies perspectives from the across geographies.
Amarasuriya spoke on the vital role multilateral agencies play and the need for countries in financial distress to reach out to them early and that there was no room for experimenting in the present stressed and stretched Ecosystem.
When looking at avenues of alternate debt, he stated that low and middle Income countries in the global South were not seeing their full potential because some basics such as systems of good governance, accountability, being corruption free, consistent government policies, the ease of doing business are not adequately in place.
He also touched on the potential of diaspora funding and the need to build confidence in the diaspora to invest their monies in their motherland. In this respect, he proposed looking at the creation of independent agencies, either country specific or wider, to route diaspora funding, which would provide the necessary confidence to the diaspora.
Speaking in relation to debt, and some of the causes for the situation in Sri Lanka, he raised the issue of the need for lenders and borrowers to be more responsible. Whilst the multilateral agencies still follow the procedures and processes, he observed that there have been instances where bilateral and private lenders sometimes do not.
He mooted the proposition of developing an eco system where liability could also be imputed on the lender, and in this direction, proposed the formulation of international best practices for lending and borrowing by states and even an international convention in this respect. It was his view that such practice must incorporate the principle that if a lender had recklessly lent knowing the project will not generate the requisite return or was destined to fail, then that the lender was also culpable and was responsible to take part of the liability in a situation of debt distress.
He also flagged the concept of the responsibility of a nation towards the citizens of another nation, even within the lending eco space and drew relation to the Sustainable Development Goals and Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.
The other Members of the Panel included Kampeta Pitchette Sayinzoga, the CEO, Rwanda Development Bank, Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director, Ecobank Camaroon, Tetsushi Sonobe, Dean and CEO, Asian Development Bank Institute, Nagesh Kumar, Director Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) India and the Session was Moderated by Rachel Toku Appiah, Director Program Advocacy and Communications, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Africa.
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
