News
Runaway pollution of ground water here threatening existence of many beyond next decade
Pesticides, herbicides, industrial and toilet waste all dumped in the ground freely.
By Ifham Nizam
Water resources in Sri Lanka do not have an owner, and there is no proper system to control groundwater which is one of the major stumbling blocks to prevent water pollution countrywide, said Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage yesterday.
Speaking at a discussion in Colombo, Withanage who is also the Senior Advisor of the Center for Environmental Justice, Ecologist and President of Friends of the Earth (FOEI) International Organization stressed that it is necessary to enforce the existing laws and regulations.
“The reason for this is that toilet waste, insecticides, waste produced by industries, all contribute more or less to water pollution, from the lowest level people to the factory owners. It should be said that it is not possible for many to exist beyond the next decade without stopping water pollution,” he added.
He stressed that the only thing that can save clean water sources for the future is only through the implementation of proper and timely laws.
“There is a limited amount of hygienic drinking water in Sri Lanka. Due to the daily increase in the amount of water consumed for drinking water as well as hygiene, the consumption of water is increasing today. Only 47% of the drinking water consumption is tap water. The rest of the water consumption comes from wells, canals, etc. Crops that threaten water are often cultivated in Sri Lanka. Among them, the main one is paddy cultivation,” he added.
CEJ’s Managing Director Dilena Pathragoda said that everybody should dedicate more than usual to protect the limited water resources! World Water Day has been celebrated since 1993 with the aim of taking action to solve the global water crisis for drinking and sanitation of the 2.2 billion people living without safe water.
He said the United Nations (UN) designates a theme on this day and this time `Be the change you want to see in the world is its theme’. It means that the change that needs to be made must start with yourself. It is strongly hoped to encourage them to work towards changing the way water is consumed and managed. Today the world has put all the garbage on the water.
“The streams that used to flow freely then have been polluted today. We have to make a strong commitment to restore the water systems without life. A number of problems have arisen due to the greedy desire to drink,” he added.
The incident of Rathupaswala can be pointed out as an example of a struggle for the right to drinking water in our country, Withanage said,
He also said that if taken numerically, the tank system is about 40,000. Even today, Sri Lanka has not been able to set up a conflict-free system in such a way that the basic water needs of people are provided.
He expressed concern that groundwater is used without proper management. Out of the 103 rivers located in the island, it has not been possible to assess whether the water of any river is suitable for drinking.
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
