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Rotary donates critical care equipment to ETU
In yet another significant medical initiative, Rotary has handed over critical care equipment to the value of Rs.35 million for the expanded Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This project was undertaken by the Rotary Club of Colombo West in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Hamamatsu South, Japan together with Rotary Districts 3220 and 2620 along with a grant from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The new equipment would almost double the patient handling capacity.
The newly-equipped ETU was formally opened on the 24th of January 2024 by the Rotary International President 2023-24, Gordon R. Mclnally along with senior officials of the Ministry of Health, including the Secretary and the Director General, as well as members of the Rotary organization including the District Governors from Japan – District 2620 and Sri Lanka – District 3220 and the Presidents of the Rotary Club of Hamamatsu South, Japan and the Rotary Club of Colombo West.
The ETU was previously an 8-bed facility in an area of 400 square feet serving patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provided emergency care only to around 100 critically ill patients per day. As many as 50-75 patients who required immediate care were deprived of the unit’s facilities because of the lack of resources – space, beds, and equipment. Due to the limited number of beds to accommodate more patients and prevent overcrowding, the ETU was compelled to expedite the emergency care given to critically ill patients with quick transfers to wards. This resulted in less than optimum care for the patients needing more careful and meticulous attention.
The provision of larger and well-equipped facilities had therefore been a top priority, and the necessary infrastructure issue was resolved when the unit moved into the recently constructed OPD building at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This new wing was donated by China-Aid of the Peoples’ Republic of China to cater to the high demand for medical treatment and to upgrade public sector healthcare infrastructure. In recognition of this move, Rotary took the initiative to provide the equipment needed for the expansion.
The new equipment and fresh safety protocols introduced will help in scaling up the operations of this unit to be identified as Emergency Department (ED), a concept followed in developed countries, where all acutely ill patients will be channelled through the ED first and assessed in short time windows prior to transfer to a relevant facility.
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
