News
Save Rayan: Death of Moroccan boy sparks outpouring of heartbreak
(AL Jazeera) Rescue efforts to save a five-year-old Moroccan boy who fell into a dry well on Tuesday had captivated the world, as people followed the painstaking five-day operation to reach him.
Jubilation at the news that Rayan Oram had finally been freed on Saturday evening soon gave way to sorrow when his death was confirmed by local authorities at about 10pm local time (21:00 GMT).
On Twitter, where the hashtag #SaveRayan and its Arabic translation had been trending throughout the Arab world, users left messages of condolence for the boy’s family as well as praise for the rescuers.
Speaking to Al Jazeera at the site of the tragedy, the boy’s mother said she had prayed her son would be rescued. Mohamed Saeid, Ryan’s cousin, said he did not have words to describe the feeling of loss. Atiqua Awram, an aunt, said “my heart is aching for him”.
Imad Fahmy, a volunteer with the Red Crescent, had managed to communicate with the child, who was responsive. “I waited a few minutes and saw that he began using the oxygen,” he said.
Rescuers were able to feed Rayan and provide him with oxygen through an opening in the well and introduce a camera to monitor his progress.
However, efforts to widen the well to reach the boy were fruitless and rescuers opted instead to use diggers to strip away the earth at the side.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco expressed his condolences to Rayan’s parents in a phone call.
“Following the tragic accident which cost the life of the child Rayan Oram, His Majesty King Mohammed VI called the parents of the boy who died after falling down the well,” a statement from the royal court said.
Footage on social media showed Rayan’s body wrapped in a yellow blanket after having been retrieved through a tunnel dug for the rescue.
In a Facebook post, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences to the family.
“Tonight, I want to tell the family of little Rayan and the Moroccan people that we share their pain,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, offered his condolences to Rayan’s family.
“Our sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of the child Rayan and to the brotherly Moroccan nation and to all humanity that grieved for his loss,” Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter.
The UAE’s reaction prompted criticism from those who condemned its involvement in the conflict in Yemen, including Mahmoud Refaat, the president of the Paris-based European Institute for International Law and International Relations.
Social media influencer Amjad Taha, who leads the British Middle East Center for Studies and Research, said Ryan’s ordeal had “unified humanity”.
Twitter users also paid tribute to rescuer Ali Sahrawi, a well-digging expert who had spent hours digging with his bare hands.
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
