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Sri Lanka has potential to benefit and learn from closer engagement with Vietnam
Sri Lanka and Vietnam have the potential for closer engagement, Ambassador Ho Thi Thanh Truc said at an event marking Vietnam’s National Day on Sept. 2 while a senior foreign official said there was much to learn from the rapid economic advancement of the South East Asian nation.
Co-operation between Sri Lanka and Vietnam had grown steadily over the years in bilateral trade, investment, high level visits and expanding people to people contact, it was oted at the celebration.
“This includes co-operation in multilateral forums consistent with our shared interests,” Ambassador Truc said during an open air event by the statue of the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in Colombo to mark the Vietnam’s National Day. “I believe there are greater opportunities for co-operation between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.”
Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh declared independence from France on September 02, 1945 and Its 77th National Day was celebrated last week in Colombo.The statue of late President Ho Chi Minh was erected in Colombo 2013. He had passed through Sri Lanka on his travels to Europe in 1911, 1928 and 1946. Vietnam started economic reforms under the banner of Doi Moi (renewal) from 1983.
“Following Doi Moi, Vietnam’s notable achievements in every sector has been made possible thanks to opening and integration measures, overcoming challenges, as well as the assistance of our international friends,” Ambassador Truc said.
Sri Lanka’s Additional Foreign Secretary Saj U Mendis who had served in East Asia as a diplomat said in the 1980s Vietnam and Sri Lanka were similar in some ways. But Vietnam has since fundamentally changed its economy and image.
“Today if someone mentions Vietnam anywhere in the world they would say it is a country with immense economic, commercial and investment opportunities,” Mendis said.
Vietnam now had a gross domestic product of 410 billion dollars, external trade of 650 billion US dollars and had trade agreements including with the US, EU, Japan and regional trading blocs.
“Few countries have bilateral trade bigger than their GDP,” Mendis said. “Vietnam is an economic powerhouse in the region. Sri Lanka has much to learn from the impressive and imposing economic and social advancement and developments.”
“Sri Lanka is eager to be engaged in all aspects and enlarge economic, trade and commercial activities, benefiting both countries and other peoples,” he added.
Several Sri Lanka apparel firms had invested in Vietnam. Several Vietnamese firms were involved in hotels and construction in Sri Lanka. Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Vietnam grew to 460 million US dollars in 2021 from 287 million US dollars in 2020.
If Sri Lanka could capture only 0.001 percent or one thousandth of Vietnam’s import market, the island could eliminate its trade deficit with the country, Mendis said.About 9.6 million Vietnamese travelled overseas each year before Covid. If Sri Lanka could attract one out of 200 tourists, the country could draw 50,000 tourists a year, he added.
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
