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Sri Lankan Math Whizz-kids to compete at 63rd International Mathematical Olympiad in Norway
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the oldest and the most prestigious of the science Olympiads. Contestants should be both under 20 and pre-university. IMO started in 1959 with Romania hosting seven countries from Eastern Europe. IMO grew in size through the decades and invites over 100 countries nowadays. Each country is allowed to send six contestants alongside a Leader and a Deputy Leader. Approximately half of the contestants are awarded medals, and they are distributed 1:2:3 among Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The contest consists of 2 days of 3 problems per day, while the contestants are given 270 minutes each day. Complete Solutions will receive 7 points per problem, while partial credit might be awarded for significant observations. The problems are classified into four main areas: Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics.
Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation (SLOMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to popularizing mathematics at the school level. It holds Sri Lankan Mathematical Olympiad (SLMO) annually and select and send teams to represent Sri Lanka at international competitions such as International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) and International Mathematics Competition (IMC). For further information about SLOMF : (https://www.slmathsolympiad.org)
Road to IMO :=Sri Lankan Mathematics Competition (SLMC) is the first step of the process. It is a 90-minute test with 30 MCQs. Any school student in Sri Lanka from grade 3 to grade 13 can participate . It’s currently partitioned into 4 age groups. This competition will select approximately 50 students for the SLMCC. Furthermore SLMC selects winners from all age groups and will give medals and distinction awards. SLMC currently has 3000-6000 participants each year. SLOMF wants to expand SLMC further in size.
=Sri Lankan Mathematics Challange Competition (SLMCC). The Invited students will face a 5-problem competition. Top scorers are given Medals and these medals are considered as the pinnacle of National achievements at SLMO. The top 12 are invited to the IMO-TST.
=The Team Selection Test for the International Mathematcial Olympiad (IMO-TST) will choose the IMO Team of Sri Lanka. Its a multi-day Test (2,3 or 4 depending on the year) with 3 problems with 270 minutes each day.
Sri Lanka participated in the IMO for the 1st time in 1995. Sri Lanka has sent 85 participants to the IMO, where 15 have won bronzes. Sri Lanka’s Tally is currently 23 Bronze medals and 53 Honourable mentions. Sri Lanka is yet to win Gold or Silver at the IMO. Sri Lanka will participate at the 63rd IMO in Oslo from 9th to 16th July 2022. Let’s wish good luck to the IMO Team.
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
