News
SRI LANKA’S CROCODILES: Living Fossils
By Dr. Anslem de Silva
6 pm, March 24, 2022, at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH
Often called living Fossils, crocodiles are considered to be one of the most successful species living on Planet Earth today. They have survived, virtually unchanged, for over 100 Million years. Crocodiles are also the largest reptile in Sri Lanka, famed for being one of the best places to watch ‘Mugger Crocs’ in all of Asia.
Recently, crocodiles have hit the headlines in Colombo, and beyond, with social media doing their best to demonize these ancient creatures who merely follow their instincts, one of which is to keep away from humans. Humans don’t always, however, respect the domain of crocodiles, and that is when the trouble starts.
Who better to explain all of this to us than Dr. Anslem de Silva, He is the current Regional Chairperson of the Crocodile Specialist Group IUCN/SSC for South Asia and Iran. For nearly 60 years, he has worked extensively on the reptiles and amphibians of Sri Lanka and has, to his credit, nearly 500 publications on various aspects of herpetology – these include almost 60 books, and chapters in prestigious publications (some published in the UK & India).
In 2013, he organized the World Crocodile Conference in Negombo. In that same year, he published a comprehensive 254-page book on Sri Lanka’s Crocodiles. He has also published dozens of research papers on them. He conducted the first island-wide survey on Human-Crocodile Conflict, including of crocodile burrows. In 2007, he was the Consultant for the WWF/American Red Cross Partnership on Crocodile Conflict in the Nilwala River, around Matara. In 2018, he was also a Consultant for the development of an ‘Action Plan for mitigation of Human-Crocodile Conflict in the Andaman Islands’, prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India. Currently, he is working on the ‘Mugger Crocodile ‘Crocodylus palustris Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan’ for the IUCN/CSG.
In 2019, in recognition of his contributions towards herpetology, and conservation the IUCN/SSC awarded Dr. De Silva with their highest honour, the Sir Peter Scott Award of Conservation Merit, the first and only Sri Lankan to receive this accolade.
In the course of his lecture, Dr. De Silva will address the following:
1. Crocodiles in Sri Lankan archeology and history.
2. Traditional techniques in the treatment of injuries sustained from crocodile attacks, including a ‘charm’ to protect one against crocodile attacks, dating from the 14th Century
3. The identification of the different species in Sri Lanka, and of their behaviour, including interesting accounts of their communal fishing techniques and ‘Crocodile Houses’ (S. ‘Kimbulgewal’).
4. The Human-Crocodile Conflict; is a serious issue that is often not adequately addressed. This includes tips on escaping from a crocodile’s ‘grip’, should you ever be in the unfortunate situation of being attacked by one!
5. The Importance of Crocodiles: how crocodile blood is used to treat anemia, produce the most powerful antibiotics, and many other aspects of their significance, including that of the crucial role they play in maintaining the natural balance of the eco-systems they live in.
The monthly lecture of the WNPS is supported by the Nations Trust Bank. We are happy to recommence our physical lecture at the BMICH whilst continuing both Zoom and FB live for the benefit of the members who connect from across the Island and the World.
The lecture is open to both members and non-members. Entrance free, we kindly request the members to follow all health and safety requirements at BMICH
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
