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SL will commence exporting smart meters this year: Minister Alahapperuma
Minister Alahapperuma inspects the system control at the Ante LECO factory, also in the picture Power and Energy Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera
By Ifham Nizam
Sri Lanka should be able to dream and realise her dreams; and in so doing, she faced many social and economic challenges, Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said when he visited Ante LECO Suhuru Manu factory in Bandaragama.
Ante LECO Metering Company (Pvt) Ltd. is a subsidiary of LECO, where 70 per cent of the shares are owned by LECO and 30% by Ante Meter Company Ltd. of China. This is the only Energy Meter Manufacturing Company here and it will supply the total requirement of household electricity meters to the Ceylon Electricity Board and LECO -Lanka Electricity Company.
Since January 2018, Ante LECO has expanded its operations to produce smart meters for the local market here. Its smart meter has been tested and certified by KEMA Laboratory, in the Netherlands.
Minister Alhapperuma said LECO had a unique identity among the state institutions. “As the head of the Electricity family, I am very happy about that. As a vital sector, our biggest challenge is to ensure that the country’s power needs are met so that its development goals can be achieved. It has been almost three decades since the smart meter arrived in Sri Lanka. The world is moving fast.”
Alahapperuma said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had opened the Ante LECO factory at a time when the country was fighting a war against terrorism. “Today, we should express our gratitude to him for that. As a government, we seek to create a Sri Lanka free from fossil fuel by tapping renewable energy.
The Minister also stressed that the technical challenge of storing energy generated from renewable sources would be handed over to LECO. “This institution was established in 2008 on a concept of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a solution to the electricity meter crisis here. The company first started producing electro mechanical meters in 2008. Then in 2014 the company took it to the next level and started manufacturing electronic gauges. In 2017 the company was transformed into a smart meter factory.
“This enabled CEB to produce the required meters and more than 40% of the total meter production process commenced. The company aims to complete the entire gauge manufacturing process in the country this year and export our products to foreign countries, becoming a competitive international gauge manufacturer.”
Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Athula de Silva, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of LECO, Dr. Narendra de Silva, General Manager, Ceylon Electricity Board and Nalinda Illangakoon, Deputy Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board were also present on the occasion.
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
