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Royal Thai Embassy and UN join hands to support Lankan farmers during Maha season
To address the looming shortage of grains for the animal feed industry and maize based food items due to the ongoing socio-economic crisis in Sri Lanka, as a part of the response efforts through the United Nations (UN) joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo has supported the procurement of a portion of the country’s maize seed requirements working together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In addition to the livestock feed industry, maize is a staple input for food items such as Thriposha and Samaposha, for which the demand for seeds has swelled over recent years.
The UN has since June been responding to the crisis through its joint HNP, which was recently revised to target the provision of life-saving assistance for 3.4 million Sri Lankans, and extended through the end of December. Foreign exchange shortages, and reduced household purchasing power, exacerbated by two consecutive seasons of poor harvests, have triggered a dramatic increase in food insecurity. Twenty-eight per cent of the population – or 6.3 million people – face moderate-to-severe acute food insecurity. The Royal Thai Embassy recognized the immediate need to import Maize seeds and supplement the requirement for the Maha harvest season.
Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka Poj Harnpol handed over the maize seeds to Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera in the presence of Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka and Malin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, along with representatives from humanitarian partner organizations.
Highlighting the role of the Government of Thailand in contributing towards food security needs, Ambassador Harnpol, Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka said: “Thailand supports the concerted efforts of the UN programmes to maintain sustainable livelihoods of the affected Sri Lankans. This contribution is one of the packages of Thailand’s donation to Sri Lanka including medicines, medical supplies, food, and financial support from both the Government sectors as well as people’s sectors from Thailand.”
The procurement of Maize seeds will supplement ongoing overall food security efforts working with farmer organizations in the dry zone districts of Sri Lanka.Commenting on the role of the UN in bringing together stakeholders and facilitating such processes in times of need, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, “The HNP emergency appeal is structured in a way that allows us to work closely with the Government of Sri Lanka, international financial institutions, humanitarian partners and donors to streamline efforts and ensure support reaches those who need it most. The Thai Government’s generous maize donation comes at a crucial time as Sri Lanka approaches the end of the Maha planting season. It also aligns with our focus on supporting production for a sustainable recovery, since it will boost feedstock for the poultry industry, which is a key source of high-quality protein for vulnerable populations.”
Malin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “Through sustainable efforts such as this intervention to boost food production, the need of the hour can be addressed to reduce the risk of food insecurity for vulnerable farmers, who are now empowered to continue their livelihoods while not solely relying on handouts alone. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Thailand in the timely supply of Maize to resource poor farmers in the Dry Zone that are especially vulnerable due to the socio-economic crisis, to look beyond towards critical development efforts.”
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
