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Senior academics and conservationists express fears over Pidurutalagala slopes
A group of top level academics and environmentalists have written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing grave concern about the degradation of the Mahakudugala Conservation Forest located in the uppermost on the slopes of Pidurutalagala, the country’s highest mountain.
“The numerous waterways that begin on its steep sides provide water, all year round, to the communities that inhabit the eastern escarpment of the Central Highlands, and to the rich biodiversity its forests host, high in endemism,” they have said in an open letter.
The text of their letter: “You have openly expressed your commitment to the protection of the watersheds of Sri Lanka,recognizing their vital importance for slowing, cleaning, filtering and storing water by allowing it to absorb into the ground. This process improves water quality, reduces risk of flooding, reduces risk for invasive species to establish and increases resilience within a changing climate; all vital for the future health and prosperity of this Nation.
“Your Excellency has also expressed your belief and intent in honouring Sri Lanka’s legally binding commitment to the three Rio Conventions, with the ultimate and essential intent of addressing climate change. With these noble intents, it may be horrifying for you to learn that both of the above ideals are being compromised on the slopes of this country’s highest mountain; Pidurutalagala. The numerous waterways that begin on its steep sides provide water, all year round, to the communities that inhabit the eastern escarpment of the Central Highlands, and to the rich biodiversity its forests host, high in endemism.
“And why is this survival disaster, for humans and nature, playing out? For growing apples!
The Proposed Apple Farm
“The proposed Apple Farm is situated in the Maha Kudugala GN Division of the Pidurutalagala Conservation Forest located entirely within the uppermost watershed, mainly of the Kurundu Oya, at an elevation range of 1500 m – 2100 m (over 5000 ft.) The land area of the Farm is 126 ha consisting of three blocks each of 89 ha, 12 ha, and 5 ha respectively. It has, however, never been used for the growing of apples, but for other agricultural purposes. Any clearing of these lands, for whatever purpose, has detrimental consequences to the ecological balance of this region, and the services it gives to the local communities downstream of it.
“In terms of hydrological importance, the Pedro Reserve was ranked Number Three (No. 3), just behind the Peak Wilderness and the Knuckles Range, of all the natural forests in Sri Lanka surveyed during the National Conservation Review (NCR 1996) conducted by the IUCN-The World Conservation Union with funding from the FAO. The main reason for gaining such a high rank is the contribution of fog interception by the natural forests to feed the streams originating from them, thus ensuring year-round water security. According to the IUCN-sponsored NCR (1996), the total fog contribution foregone by converting forest into agricultural land use is about 860,000 cubic meters per annum.
“This is why this land is so important and as a body of concerned Conservation / Environmental Groups, Scientists and Researchers, we plead with you to use your high office to prevent the destruction of a vital mountain forest, and upper watershed, for growing apples. Our deep concerns, and reasons for addressing you directly like this, are summarized in the attached paper, for study by your science advisors. We have also made suggestions for possible strategies that will not only help preserve this fragile, yet vital, forest for posterity, but also greater gain to the human communities that depend not only on this mountain forest, but others like it.
“We thank you for your time, and sincerely hope that you will not let this vital piece of Sri Lanka be exploited and destroyed, for the short-term profit of just a few.”
The signatories are: Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke, Prof. Siril Wijesundara, Mr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, Prof. Enoka Kudavidanage, Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, Dr. Sandun J. Perera, Dr. Suranjan Fernando, Mr. Hemantha Withanage, Centre for Environmental Justice and Mr. Jehan Canagaretna, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society
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
