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Sri Lanka moves towards adopting first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security with the support of Japan and UN Women
Colombo, Sri Lanka (6 December 2022) – This morning, MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and the Head of UN Women in Sri Lanka, Ramaaya Salgado presented Sri Lanka’s first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) to Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, State Minister of Women and Child Affairs.
“This action plan provides a clear roadmap to provide targeted support for women who have been affected by conflict and crises. Its adoption is a critical step forward in ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind in recovery efforts”, said Kumarasinghe.
As the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security goes into its twenty second year, its reach – both globally and regionally – has grown significantly, with an increasing number of countries formulating and implementing National Action Plans developed in consultation with G7 countries’ representatives in Sri Lanka including Japan, women’s groups and civil society.
With its own National Action Plan now ready for Cabinet adoption, Sri Lanka stands poised to join the number of states committed to implement the Women, Peace and Security Agenda which calls for greater participation of women in peacebuilding and recovery efforts.Emphasizing this, Ramaaya Salgado, Head of Office at UN Women Sri Lanka noted, “peace and development can only be sustainable when women have an equal seat at the table and when their voices are included in decisions that affect their lives”.
The National Action Plan is based on consultations in each of the 25 districts with women who were directly and indirectly affected by conflict, local government officials, and representatives from civil society and local activists. It was developed with technical support from UN Women as part of a 3-year joint partnership between the Government of Japan, the Government of Sri Lanka and UN Women on the ‘Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Sri Lanka’ funded by the Government of Japan.
MIZUKOSHI, Ambassador of Japan emphasized; “the Government of Japan encourages the timely adoption of this National Action Plan by the Cabinet and hopes its implementation to ensure practical measures for protection and empowerment of women in Sri Lanka”.
The adoption of the National Action Plan will provide a key framework to address issues affecting women and girls in Sri Lanka, as it is very much relevant to how Sri Lanka adapts and responds to the crisis and its challenges.
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
