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Reconciliation efforts, accountability process dominate New York discussions
Prof. Peiris meets SA, Indonesia and UK counterparts
Sri Lanka, facing a fresh accountability investigation at the behest of HRC Chief Michelle Bachelet, as announced at the 48th session of the Geneva council, has discussed ongoing post-war reconciliation efforts and the accountability process with South Africa. Prof. Peiris also deliberated the same with the British Minister of State for South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon. Both meetings took place in New York on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris and South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Dr. Naledi Pandor have taken up the issues at hand at the Permanent Mission of South Africa. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, a former Commander of the Navy.
Prof. Peiris has pointed out that Sri Lanka had closely looked at South Africa’s rich experience and unique history in the areas of reconciliation and truth. Having acknowledged that many aspects were particular to South Africa’s own national experience, Prof. Peiris said Sri Lanka had carefully reflected on some aspects of this experience.
Prof. Peiris briefed Dr. Pandor about Sri Lanka’s own initiatives, including its own Office of Missing Persons and Office of Reparations and their contribution towards Sri Lanka’s post conflict development and national unity. Both mechanisms had been set up in terms of the 2015 Geneva resolution co-sponsored by the then Yahapalana government.
Minister Pandor has declared that South Africa was pleased to share their experiences and lessons with countries looking to address post conflict issues and noted they were presently sharing some elements on reconciliation with South Sudan and that they were still involved with issues related to the return of remains of many who had died in the freedom struggle outside South Africa and that they continued to learn lessons in addressing past human rights abuses and on issues related to reparations, amnesty and justice.
War-ravaged South Sudan was recognized as the newest country in the world on July 09, 2011. The declaration was made in the wake of a six-year peace process based on a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005. However, the Security Council, having determined that the situation therein continued to constitute a threat, established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) to consolidate peace and security and to help establish conditions for development.
Foreign Minister Peiris underscored the need to adapt South Africa’s inspiring national experience to each country’s unique circumstances and challenges. The Minister noted that Sri Lanka was also looking at similar issues, related to post conflict, to bring matters to a closure, following the end of the conflict.
Minister Peiris invited his counterpart to visit Sri Lanka to expand on the rich bilateral relations between the two sides. Minister Pandora also extended an invitation for the Minister to visit South Africa and renew close ties.
Prof. Peiris was on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s delegation to UNGA.
Prof. Peiris has discussed a wide range of issues, including trade, investment opportunities available in the Port City and elsewhere, resumption of tourism, and matters relating to development and reconciliation with particular reference to relations with Tamil expatriate groups. The UK is home to the influential Global Tamil Forum (GTF) that represents expatriate communities.
Minister Peiris briefed Lord Ahmad in detail about the substantial progress on the ground in a variety of sectors by domestic institutions, despite constraints imposed by the Covid pandemic. Lord Ahmad has accepted an invitation extended by Minister Peiris to visit Sri Lanka at his early convenience.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi has emphasised the need to finalise a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) meant to enhance bilateral trade when she welcomed Prof. Peiris to the Indonesia mission in New York. The Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasised the priority should be to strengthen bilateral relations with a special focus on economic cooperation.
Declaring that both Sri Lanka and Indonesia share a keen interest in Indian Ocean security, Prof. Peiris stressed the importance of empowering the Indian Ocean Rim Association and ASEAN Regional Forum. Minister Peiris has also appreciated the cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and staff level consultations with regards to countering terrorism and other forms of maritime crimes. (SF)
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
