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SL scientists clueless about mission of Chinese research ship, says expert
There should be bilateral discussions and agreements on itineraries when foreign research vessels sail to foreign countries, says Prof. Emeritus Ruchira Kumaratunga, who established the country’s first university Oceanography Department at the University of Ruhuna. She said so commenting on the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which has sought permission to dock and resupply in Sri Lanka.
“There must be a discussion between the Chinese and Sri Lankan scientists and researchers involved. For example, what will be done, what kind of information will be gathered and where the collected information will be stored. This is not the first time that a research ship has arrived in Sri Lanka. I have even been involved in discussions when Norwegian marine research vessel, Fridtjof Nansen arrived,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said that Ruhuna University had engaged with Chinese research vessels in the past. Prior to her retirement from the university, she was involved with the discussions with Chinese scientists, she said.
“However, the manner in which the collected data is stored is problematic. There is no report on the previous Chinese engagement with the university on the university website. On the other hand, Fridtjof Nansen data can be accessed by anyone,” she said.
Kumaratunga said she had written to the Minister of Justice before the approval for the ship was granted, asking him a few questions on the Chinese research vessel.
“The VC who held the discussions with the Chinese is now sick. The main geologist involved in the discussion is now a resident of the US. The university itself is not sure who will engage with the Chinese. The current VC also has no idea. I wasn’t involved in the discussions. I think academics of the Oceanography Department must be informed when such discussions are taking place,” she said.
The emeritus professor said that the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said the Chinese vessel would work with the University of Ruhuna. However, given that the academics at the university seem to be clueless about the research vessel, Kumaratunga said she was apprehensive about the Chinese vessel.
“Not a single permanent academic at the university is aware of who will be involved in the research. Who will take part in the research, and where will the data repository be? Sri Lanka needs to have access to the data,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said Shi Yan 6 would study the ocean floor owned by Sri Lanka and information on the ocean floor must be closely guarded. There can be many resources that Sri Lanka can extract, she said.
“Are there Sri Lankans who know what equipment that the Chinese will bring? First of all, we need to train our scientists. They need to know what equipment the foreign scientists will use. The data must be shared with us,” she said.
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
