News
Revival of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre
After a lapse of several years caused by the Covid Pandemic and the Economic Collapse in Sri Lanka, the Mahatma Gandhi Centre is being revived. During the period the Centre was closed, two Presidents – Dr Mohamed Saleem and Mr. W.B.A. Jayasekera passed away. They were instrumental in conducting medical camps specially in the North and East Provinces.
They had had active support of four Senior Committee Members of the Swarajya Foundation, Maj. Gen. Kamal Fernando , Hon. U.B. Wijekoon , Prof. Sirinanda and Col. Faiz ur Rahuman who have since then also passed away.
Patron of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre inaugurated in 2006, Mr Navin Gooneratne, called for the revival of the activities which can benefit the country, while strengthening ties between India and Sri Lanka with many programs planned for the future.
The Chief Guest at the Commemoration of the Mahatma Gandhi Day on Tuesday (Jan. 30) held at the Light of Asia Centre in Pelawatte was the Director of the Indian Cultural Centre, Prof . (Dr) Ankuran Dutta , who was enthusiastic in planning the future programs with the target of celebrating the hundredth year of the Mahatma’s visit to Sri Lanka which will be in 2027.
After observing silence as a mark of respect to those departed , a lamp was lit by the Chief Guest in honour of Gandhi.
The Author and respected senior lawyer Mr A.P. Kanapathypilai was nominated as the new President supported by three Vice Presidents – former Governor of the Northern Province – Retd. Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri , CEO of Ashok Leyland – Mr Umesh Gautham and former Mayor of Colombo – Mr Omar Kamil . The Secretary General unanimously elected was former Governor of the Central and Uva Provinces, Mr Maithri Gooneratne P.C. with Mr Dian Abeyewardene as Assistant Secretary and Mr. Shantha Athulathmudali as Treasurer.
A seven-member Working Committee with leading personalities in several fields were also nominated and agreed to carryout the many programs to be implemented from this year.
Mr Maithri Gooneratne made opening address on Gandhi’s philosophy that is relevant in today’s world in confusion and conflict. Prof. ( Dr ) Ankuran Dutta responded followed by a rendition of a song that was part of the routine on all occasions in Mahatma Gandhi’s events . The event came to a close with the celebration of the Birthday of the Chief Guest .
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
