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Red Cross offers Peradeniya undergrads hands on experience re-charging ground water
SLRCS hosts a Knowledge and Experience Sharing Field Visit for the Agriculture Students of UoP in response to the Ground Water Recharging for Disaster Preparedness ProjectSri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), Sri Lanka’s largest humanitarian organisation, hosted a two-day residential programme for undergraduates from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya (UoP) in Galgamuwa, SLRC said in a news release las week.
“The residential workshop was a knowledge and experience sharing field visit organised as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Empress Shoken Fund-funded Ground Water Recharging for Disaster Preparedness Project, which is being executed by the Kurunegala Branch of SLRCS,” it said.
“The programme commenced at the SLRCS Kurunegala Branch’s training hall with an introduction to the organisation, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and the Ground Water Recharging for Disaster Preparedness Project.
“In the initial discussion, the students were separated into three groups: agriculture engineering, soil and agriculture, and social science aspects. The students were instructed to gather information and uncover results with a preference for their chosen groups, and to submit their findings at the end of the residential workshop.
“On their field trip in Galgamuwa, the students spoke with village personnel and beneficiaries, while SLRCS resource personnel accompanied them to raise awareness about groundwater recharging linked to CCA and DRR. The students enjoyed, while learning far more than they could have imagined.
“As discussed at the initial stage, the students presented their findings with great enthusiasm at the Irrigation Training Institute (ITI) in Galgamuwa, using PowerPoint presentations, videos, and discussions. The students’ communication and analytical skills based on their findings were greatly appreciated by the resource personnel and staff of SLRCS.
“The Ground Water Recharging for Disaster Preparedness Project is developing 65 homesteads in the Ihala Palukadewa region, with 42 of them now running extremely effectively. These home gardens could be used to assess the success and feasibility of the project’s groundwater recharge technologies.
“The project’s positive influence on people’s mindsets, as well as the rise in soil moisture level owing to groundwater recharge, is strongly represented in these existing homesteads. The project’s indirect advantage is that it will help to alleviate the present economic crisis and food shortages.”
Branch Executive Officer of the Kurunegala Branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Sarath Wickramasinghe said: “It was a pleasure to work on the project with the Faculty of Agriculture at the UoP. My team has worked relentlessly via the project for a better environment for the people. One of the key goals of the project is to raise awareness and capacity, and being able to interact with students is confirmation that the project’s execution is in good hands, since they represent the future of this specific industry. We are excited to continue working together to help Sri Lankan communities thrive in the future”.
The release explained that one of the primary goals of the Ground Water Recharging for Disaster Preparedness Project is to raise awareness and capability. To accomplish this goal, the initiative has recommended conducting awareness-raising and training programmes for key stakeholders.
These programmes were created to promote both knowledge and views about the necessity of ground water recharge. The target stakeholders were grouped into three categories: community, school, and university. Programmes were held for each level, using appropriate resource personnel and methodologies.
“After visiting these locations, we realised the need for ground water recharge in villages. We were given the opportunity to visit these locations and see for ourselves the effects of such a project and its success in people’s lives as a result of the SLRCS’s knowledge and experience sharing programme. Not only in the long term, but also in the near future. We are appreciative of the opportunity and hope SLRCS continues success with similar programmes in the future”, added the Final Year Undergraduate, Faculty of Agriculture, UoP, Sunimali Attanayake.
“Percolation pits, Percolation Trenches, Lock and Spills, and Percolation Wells are four techniques utilised in the groundwater recharging project to enhance groundwater levels using rainwater. The National Water Supply Drainage Board (NWSDB) recommends these approaches, apart from that, the Agriculture Instructor in charge of the region was informed about all of the construction, and the Department of Agriculture provided direction through them.
“The digging and trenching were finished first, followed by the installation of gutters and pipes. The project is anticipated to recharge the groundwater from these constructions, allowing for the development of home gardens and water catchment areas. As a result, the type of groundwater charging unit received by each beneficiary is governed by the location, size, and land use,: the release said.
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
