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Sri Lanka striving to achieve a better future for every child
- = Children’s Day was firstly started in 1857 by Dr. Charles Leonard in the United Kingdom with the name “Rose Day”.
- =United Nations established Children’s Day in 1954.
- =United Nations provides a theme every year for children’s day.
- =Each country has established a date of their own choice for childrens’ day.
Sri Lanka celebrates Children’s Day annually on October 1. Celebration of this holiday raises public awareness about rights of children.The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 and it entered into force on September 2, 1990. Sri Lanka, as well as other member states signed the Convention that laid foundation for creation of Children’s Day in this country. Children are the key to prosperity and better future of the nation and the country. Taking care of children helps the State to raise its economy to new level.
Many events are organised for celebration of Children’s Day in Sri Lanka. Government and non-governmental institutions and corporates organise various competitions, entertaining events and games for children, who also receive gifts for participation. Newspapers, radio and television have also an opportunity to pay more attention to children and dedicate more programmes and articles to them and their problems.
COVID-19 pandemic has left long-lasting impressions on children’s minds. Online studies, staying at home and restrictions on outdoor physical activities have changed their behaviors. Now post-pandemic challenges include the improvement of children’s behaviors as well. Encouraging actions from parents and teachers can build healthier changes in their behaviors.
COVID-19 lockdowns affected the health of children and created physical fitness problems for them. Staying at home and usage of fast, junk-food and lack of physical activities caused laziness and weight gain in them. Physical training instructors in schools should take serious steps to overcome this challenge of children. Diet and nutrition experts should add their valuable knowledge of healthy foods. It will enhance the kids’ physical and mental performance. All these activities can help children to recover faster from strenuous conditions.
Further, World Children’s Day is an awareness day to children against violence in forms of abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Children are used as laborers in some countries, immersed in armed conflict, living on the streets, suffering by differences be it religion, minority issues, or disabilities.
Notably, “Athwela” the parent sponsored child support scheme organised by Department of Probation and Child Care Services and Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment was launched on August 3, 2022.
Identifying the most vulnerable children through mapping and making interventions under the risk reduction programme, “Raise before Risk”, was conducted on 21st and 22nd September 2022 at Sarvodaya branches in Jaffna and Batticaloa. The programme was conducted for Child Rights Promotion Officers, Child Rights Promotion Assistants and for field officers of World Vision serving in Northern and Eastern Provinces. Resource contribution for the programme was provided by Thanuja Sahanthi Balasooriya, Ratnapura district Child Rights Promotion Officer, and the financial sponsorship was provided by World Vision Lanka. The programme was conducted in partnership with World Vision.
Interestingly, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment received over 3,000 entries for the children’s painting competition organised to mark World Children’s Day 2022.
The selection of paintings was conducted on 23rd August 2022 at the Department of Probation and Child Care Services premises by a competent panel of judges consisting of Sarath Gunasiri, senior lecturer, Suneth Priya Aravinda, senior lecturer and Isuru Suren, assistant lecturer of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
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
